Ethan Clarke
Plastic is a generic term for a large group of semi-synthetic or synthetic materials. Transparent plastic is made of polymers, which are long molecules, all entangled together. When plastic is bent, these polymer chains are stressed and stretched out, allowing them to align and crystallize, blocking light and making the plastic appear opaque. This process of crystallization is responsible for the change in transparency when plastic breaks. Additionally, plastic does not truly break down over time; instead, it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which can have harmful effects on the environment and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Transparency | Occurs when light travels through a uniform medium |
| Transparent plastics become opaque when broken as the polymer chains crystallise, blocking light | |
| Plastic breakdown | Plastic does not break down, it breaks up into smaller pieces (microplastics) |
| Microplastics are <5mm in size and can be harmful to wildlife | |
| Microplastics can be carried by wind and ocean currents | |
| Microplastics can be found in the ocean, in the soil, and in the air | |
| Plastic breakdown is caused by sunlight, oxidation, friction, or animals | |
| Burning plastic is the only way to make it go away | |
| Recycling plastic can reduce its environmental footprint | |
| Types of see-through plastic | Polycarbonate, acrylic, PETG, PVC |
| Strength | Polycarbonate is considered "unbreakable" and is 30 times stronger than acrylic |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic breaks into microplastics
Plastic is a generic term for a large group of semi-synthetic or synthetic materials. It is made up of polymers, which are long molecules entangled together. When plastic is in its natural state, it is see-through or amorphous, similar to glass. However, when plastic is bent or broken, these polymer chains are stressed and stretched out, allowing them to align and crystallize. Crystallization blocks light from passing through, causing the plastic to become opaque.
This process of plastic breaking and becoming opaque is not limited to transparent plastic. All plastics can break down into smaller pieces, and this process can be accelerated by factors such as sunlight, oxidation, friction, or animals nibbling on the plastic. As the pieces become smaller, their total surface area increases. Eventually, plastic can break down into microplastics, which are small plastic particulates measuring less than 5 mm in size. These microplastics are not visible in water and will either float or sink depending on their composition.
The presence of microplastics in the environment is a growing concern for both environmental and human health. Microplastics can be carried by ocean currents, caught up in ice, and even transported by wind, leading to microplastic "rain" in even the most remote regions of the world. They have been found in the deepest places on Earth, far below the surface of the water. The concentration of microplastics in the environment is increasing, and it is likely that the ingestion of these particles by humans and other animal species is also on the rise.
Microplastics can have harmful effects on ecosystems and organisms. Once ingested, the smallest particles, known as nanoplastics, can spread throughout the body and potentially reach vital organs, including the brain. Nanoplastics may impact reproductive success over multiple generations or make organisms more susceptible to other toxic substances. With plastic pollution everywhere, the potential negative consequences of microplastics and nanoplastics are severe.
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Microplastics are harmful to animals and humans
Transparent plastic becomes opaque when it breaks due to the alignment of polymer chains. Plastics are made of polymers, which are long molecules entangled together. In this natural state, the material is see-through, but when the plastic is bent, the polymer chains are stressed and stretched out, allowing them to align together. This alignment leads to crystallization, blocking light and making the plastic appear opaque.
Now, when it comes to the topic of microplastics, there are indeed concerns about their harmful effects on both animals and humans. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. This breakdown can occur due to various factors such as sunlight, oxidation, friction, or even animals nibbling on plastic. The issue is that microplastics are pervasive in the environment, and their concentration is increasing. They can be carried by wind and water, spreading to even the most remote regions of the world.
Aquatic organisms, including invertebrates and fish, are particularly affected by microplastics. In invertebrates, microplastics cause a decline in feeding behavior and fertility, slow down larval growth and development, increase oxygen consumption, and stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species. In fish, microplastics may lead to structural damage to vital organs like the intestine, liver, gills, and brain, while also impacting metabolic balance, behavior, and fertility. The degree of harm depends on particle sizes, doses, and exposure parameters.
Terrestrial mammals, including humans, are also impacted by microplastics. Studies have shown that microplastics can accumulate in the bodies of living organisms, including humans. While the data is still emerging, there are indications that microplastics can spread throughout the body and potentially reach organs like the brain. Additionally, microplastics can absorb and carry various pollutants, enhancing their negative effects. The long-term health consequences of chronic exposure to microplastics are a significant concern for both animals and humans.
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Sunlight breaks down plastic
A recent study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found that four different types of post-consumer microplastics collected from the waters of the North Pacific Gyre dissolved into organic carbon when placed under a solar simulator. This study adds to the growing knowledge that plastics may not be as persistent in the environment as previously thought.
The breakdown of plastic by sunlight can lead to the production of tens of thousands of water-soluble compounds or formulas. These compounds can be harmful to the environment, and their impacts on aquatic ecosystems and biogeochemical processes such as carbon cycling are not yet fully understood.
The rate at which sunlight breaks down plastic depends on various factors, including the size of the plastic pieces and the concentration of plastic in a given environment. For example, in smaller water sources such as rivers or streams, the byproducts of plastic degradation may be more concentrated and potentially more harmful.
Additionally, the presence of additives and chemical formulations in plastic can also influence how it breaks down under sunlight. While sunlight can aid in the physical fragmentation of plastic, it can also chemically alter it, producing transformation products that no longer resemble the original material.
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Plastic crystallisation blocks light
Plastic is a generic term for a large group of semi-synthetic or synthetic materials. Plastics are made of polymers, which are long molecules entangled together. In this state, the material is see-through, known as amorphous, and is the reason glass is see-through too. When you bend plastic, you stress and stretch out these polymer chains, allowing them to align together. In this state, the polymer chains can crystallise, blocking light.
Crystallisation is the process of creating an ordered structure of atoms or molecules. When polymers crystallise from an amorphous state, they do not form a single crystal. Instead, they form thousands of small crystalline domains, separated by amorphous regions. This is unlike diamonds and other transparent gemstones, which are single crystals with no boundaries between crystalline domains. Thus, when light passes through, it passes through uninterrupted, making them optically clear.
However, in the case of plastics, the light bounces off at the interface of differently oriented "patches" of macromolecules, making semi-crystalline polymers opaque. This is why transparent plastic becomes opaque when it breaks.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have been inspired by living organisms to create a plastic that is rigid in some places and soft in others. They were able to control and change the structure of a plastic-like material, using light to alter how firm or stretchy the material would be. This ability to control crystallisation and, therefore, the physical properties of the material, is potentially transformative for wearable electronics or actuators in soft robotics.
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Transparent plastic becomes opaque when it breaks
Crystallization is the process of creating an ordered structure of atoms or molecules. When transparent plastic is subjected to stress or deformation, it can turn opaque or white. This is because the deformation introduces small cracks or micro-cracks into the material, scattering the incident light and making the deformed areas appear white. The process of forming these opaque areas when stress is applied to a polymer film is known as crazing.
The transparency of plastic occurs when light travels through a uniform medium. Semi-crystalline polymers are generally opaque because light bounces off at the interface of differently oriented "patches" of macromolecules. Reinforced polymers also exhibit this opaque quality. However, if the dimension of reinforcement is nanometric, this rule no longer applies, and the material can be transparent.
The type of plastic also plays a role in its transparency or opacity. For example, polycarbonate is a synthetic plastic known for its toughness and durability. It is considered "unbreakable" in most applications due to its high impact strength. Polycarbonate is often used in applications where impact resistance and see-through properties are essential, such as exhibits, displays, signage, skylights, and windows.
To restore the transparency of broken plastic, one can try heating it. The heat allows the polymer chains to move back into their relaxed, amorphous position, potentially turning the plastic transparent again.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics are made of polymers, which are long molecules entangled together. In this state, the material is see-through. This state is known as amorphous. When you bend the plastic, you stress these polymer chains and stretch them out, allowing them to align together. In this state, the polymer chains can crystallise, blocking light and making the plastic appear opaque.
Plastic does not biodegrade; it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics, and the process continues until the plastic is no longer visible. Microplastics can be carried by wind and water, spreading everywhere, including the ocean, remote regions, and the human body.
Plastic breaks down due to sunlight, oxidation, friction, or animals nibbling on it. Accelerated life testing (ALT) is used to study how plastic breaks up by mimicking the impact of heat, humidity, sunshine, and pollution over its lifetime. UV degradation from sunlight causes plastic to become brittle, change colour, look chalky, and eventually crack and break up.
Common plastic waste found in the environment includes single-use items such as cigarette butts, food wrappers, bottles, bottle caps, shopping bags, straws, stirrers, and abandoned fishing nets. These items are often not properly disposed of or managed and end up in oceans and landfills, contributing to the plastic pollution problem.
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