Marine-biodegradable polymer decomposes by 92% in one year, rivals nylon in strength

Nylon-based products such as clothing and fishing nets are notoriously slow to degrade, especially in marine environments, contributing significantly to global ocean pollution.

A Korean research team has now developed an innovative material that can be produced using existing manufacturing infrastructure and effectively addresses this problem. The research is published in Advanced Materials.

A joint research team led by Dr. Hyun-Yeol Jeon and Dr. Hyo-Jeong Kim at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Senior Researcher Sung-Bae Park, Professor Dong-Yeop Oh at Inha University, and Professor Je-Young Park at Sogang University has developed a high-performance polyester-amide (PEA) polymer that decomposes by over 92% in one year under real marine conditions, while maintaining strength and flexibility comparable to nylon.

This material is not only scalable and recyclable, but also applicable to a wide range of uses such as textiles, fishing nets, and food packaging.

Unlike conventional biodegradable plastics that suffer from low durability and heat resistance, the PEA polymer combines ester (for biodegradability) and amide (for toughness) linkages in an optimal ratio. This design offers both high degradability and mechanical durability.

Image source: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT).