Shrilk: When Shrimps and Silk Make Plastic

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Shrilk: When Shrimps and Silk Make Plastic




 

Did you know that shrimp exoskeletons are stronger than steel? Shrimp shells can also be used to make strong, biodegradable plastic – which is exactly what scientists at the University of Central Florida have been doing for the past few years. The team has found a way to turn these small crustacean shells into a useful material, one that can be used to create various products. Because this new type of plastic is made from natural materials, it’s not only sustainable but also eco-friendly. Keep reading to learn more about this interesting research!





Why Shrimp Shells?

First, let’s find out why shrimp shells are such an attractive material for plastic making. Shrimp are abundant and renewable: We can harvest shrimp and then recycle their shells as many times as we want. Shrimp shells are naturally porous: This makes them an excellent material for biodegradable plastic, which needs to be able to break down in the environment. Shrimp shells are already non-toxic: Unlike other materials used to make biodegradable plastic, shrimp shells don’t contain any toxins. This means that shrimp-based bioplastic is safe for the environment and can be used to create edible products.

How is Shrimp Shell Plastic Made?

To make this biodegradable plastic, the team collects the shells of the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. The shells are then ground into a fine powder and mixed with silk protein. The mixture is then placed in a machine called a spherification bath. This machine is used to create small spheres, or beads, of the material. The beads are then placed into a heated vacuum chamber where they melt together and form a sheet of plastic. The resulting material can be used to create a range of different products, including 3D-printed objects, films, and packaging materials.

Why call it Shrilk and not Plastic?

If the new shrimp-based bioplastic is so useful, why not call it plastic? Well, because it’s not really plastic. It’s more like a composite material made from a variety of materials. For example, if you make a bag with shrimp plastic, it’s not actually a plastic bag. It’s a bag made from a mix of different materials. Shrilk, the proposed name of this shrimp plastic, combines the words “shrimp” and “silk.” The scientists who created this new material have suggested that it should be called shrilk rather than bioplastic.

Why Use Shrimp Shells to Make Biodegradable Plastic?

Because shrimp shells are naturally made of cellulose, an important material in biodegradable plastics, they can be used to make a wide variety of sustainable products. Scientists have used shrimp-based bioplastic to create all sorts of interesting objects. They’ve even made a car bumper out of shrimp plastic. The bumper was tested to see if it could withstand impact from a 10-pound bowling ball. When the bowling ball hit the bumper, the shrimp plastic shattered without breaking the bowling ball. This shows that shrimp plastic is an incredibly strong bioplastic.

A Strong and Sustainable Bioplastic

Because shrimp shells are naturally strong and biodegradable, they make great material for creating bioplastic. This new material can be used to create a variety of sustainable products, including edible packaging. Because shrimp shells are toxic-free, they don’t need to be treated with any dangerous chemicals. This means that the shrilk bioplastic is safe to use and can be used to make many different products.

Conclusion

Shrimp shells, which are naturally strong, can be used to make biodegradable plastic. This new bioplastic can be used to create a wide range of sustainable products, including edible packaging, 3D-printed objects, films, and more. Shrimp-based bioplastic is cheap, easy to make, and incredibly strong. Shrimp-based bioplastic is different from regular plastics because it’s made from a blend of materials, rather than one pure material. Bioplastic made from shrimp shells is a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to regular plastics. It may be some time before we see shrilk in action, but it’s clear that it has a bright future!

 

References:

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/02/as-strong-as-an-insects-shell/

https://wyss.harvard.edu/technology/bioplastic/

https://www.livescience.com/42804-shrilk-bug-inspired-plastic-made-from-shrimp-shells.html

 

Credits:

Adityan Arumuganainar (SY Manufacturing)

Aashay Godbole (SY Mechanical)

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