Clear paper-based material holds boiling water and can deteriorate in deep sea within a year
The nature of the shape of the TPB. (a) Preparation scheme and appearance for cup-shaped TPBTEX. The liquid-filled TPBTEX was photographed within 30 minutes of filling the hot coffee. (b) Preparation protocol and appearance for straw-type TPBTEX. The liquid-filled TPBTEX was photographed within 30 minutes of filling the ice butterfly peaty. Credit: Science Advances (2025). doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads2426
A team of biomaterial engineers, environmental resource experts, and industrial design researchers from many institutions in Japan have developed biodegradable materials that can hold clear, boiling water. Their work has been published in Science Advances magazine.
Previous research shows millions of tons of plastic are stacked in the environment, including the seabed. For this reason, scientists were looking for better biodegradable alternatives. With this new initiative, the researchers have developed a clear, paper-based biodegradable material that can withstand liquids even after heating for hours, allowing plastic cups, straws and other everyday objects to be exchanged.
The researchers began with standard cellulose hydrogels to create the materials. After drying, the material was treated with an aqueous lithium bromide solution to solidify the cellulose into the desired shape. Researchers point out that the final product is as thin as the walls of a plastic cup, or as thick as desired. They describe the material as TPB, a transparent 3D material made solely of cellulose.
Manufacturing of TPB. (a) Preparation scheme for TPB. “Powder” and “textile” refer to cellulose fibers that are not woven with MCC, respectively. Millimeter-thick TPB (with a thickness of 0.7 mm is shown on a smartphone (138 mm x 67 mm) and 1.5 mm is shown in the inset) was prepared by drying centimeter-thick cellulose hydrogels produced by cellulose dissolution and aggregation in aquatic solutions. Credit: Science Advances (2025). doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads2426
In testing the ingredients, it worked similarly to standard drinking straws, with no signs of collapse in paper straws that have been in use for a very long time. They also said that the cup made using the material leaked just a little after three hours, stopping the plant-based resin coating from leaking.
The researchers also tested the biodegradability of the materials in marine environments. They made several sheets of ingredients, placed some in shallow water, and the others in very deep places. Previous studies have shown that the material takes longer to deteriorate due to deep cold. They discovered that within 12 months the new material had completely deteriorated at the deepest part of the ocean.
Closed loop recyclability. (a) TPBTEX (“Original”), solvent recycled TPBTEX, material recycled TPBTEX, and solvent material recycled TPBTEX of about 10 cm before leaves, haze values. Credit: Science Advances (2025). doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads2426
The final test included how well the materials could be recycled. The researchers decided that it could be done easily enough, but after it melted and reformed, it became less transparent.
Details: Noriyuki Isobe et al, fully circular shaped transparent plaid boards with closed-loop recyclability and marine biodegradability from deep to deep sea, Science Advances (2025). doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads2426
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Quote: Clear paper-based materials can retain boiling water in the deep sea within a year (April 10, 2025) obtained from https://news/2025-04 on April 12, 2025, and degrade in the deep sea.
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