Research Forum

Global contamination with microplastics places a burden on humans, animals, and the environment. In the funded project “Modified polyurethanes for reducing microplastics,” scientists are searching for a solution: Innovative, degradable polyurethanes are to be developed under the leadership of Dr. Bert Volkert, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research. The project is being funded with €150,000 over a two-year period.

Plastic pollution on land and in the sea is caused by primary and secondary microplastics. While the former are encountered for example as product-specific microparticles in cosmetics and cleaning products, secondary microplastics arise in the degradation and abrasion of larger objects, especially plastic waste, tire abrasion, or the wear of synthetic textiles.

Microplastics accumulate not only in the environment at large, but also within aquatic and terrestrial organisms. They are then absorbed in turn by humans when consuming these organisms or through inhalation. Nevertheless, drinking water is the main source: According to estimates, individuals ingest 12,000 to 190,000 microparticles each year. Once in the body, microplastics can have adverse effects on health such as inflammation, oxidative stress, or toxic reactions.

Addressing the increasing burden on the environment from microplastics calls for a holistic approach that combines political measures with technological innovations. The scientists from the funded project “Modified polyurethanes for reducing microplastics” are specifically focusing on sustainable microencapsulation with the polymer polyurethane.

Today’s microcapsules containing polyurethane are used for example in self-healing, corrosion-resistant coatings. Since they release undesirable microplastics during degradation, modified microcapsules using bio-based monomers with predetermined breaking points are to be developed in the new funded project. Under certain stimuli, such as heat or acids, they can then be broken down in a controlled manner. The new polyurethane microcapsules will be degradable in a customized process or can be recycled for use in other applications.