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Pollution-free plastic developed by CIPET scientists
SCIENTISTS AT the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) have developed a new kind of plastic film and sheet which would not only be pollution free but also has varied uses in agriculture and defence and in covering underground and open pipes and cables.
SCIENTISTS AT the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) have developed a new kind of plastic film and sheet which would not only be pollution free but also has varied uses in agriculture and defence and in covering underground and open pipes and cables.
A senior technologist of CIPET, Dr Kamaljeet, during his visit to the city, told HT that a ‘Mulch plastic Film’ was developed which could be used to cover the crop to protect it from heavy rain and frost without affecting the moisture level in the plants and the penetration of required sunrays through it to the plant and soil. Similarly, covering sprouted plants with the help of a Low Density Polythene would assist the growers to keep the germination process protected and the new saplings could easily be conserved and transported to distant parts.
Besides, this film could be used as ignition tap, sewage bag, and several other such joints of the cables and pipes.
He further said that another variety of polythene known as TPC could be used to cover the train windows and other vehicle windows which needed bulletproof material. The TPC was fully bullet proof and was transparent too, he added. He said research to develop a biodegradable plastic was in progress and at present this kind of plastic was produced by adding corn flakes and starch. The plastic was pollution-free and was easily degradable. At CIPET’s Nagpur center, research was in the pipeline for producing diesel from plastic waste. He said plastic was a futuristic material which would be in high demand in the country.
He said at present per capita consumption of plastic was around 4.5 kg but by 2010 the it would go up to around 9 kg.
Citing an example of the growing use of plastic, he said efforts were afoot to replace heavy brick and china clay toilet seats with plastic material. Attractive toilets could be made with fiber reinforced plastic sheets. Soon these toilets would be created on the experimental basis in some big cities.