Harvard researchers have created a tough, low-cost, biodegradable material inspired by insects' hard outer shells.
Harvard
researchers
have
created
a
tough
,
low-cost
,
biodegradable
material
inspired
by
insects
'
hard
outer
shells
.
The material's inventors say it has a number of possible uses and someday could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic.
The
material
's
inventors
say
it
has
a
number
of
possible
uses
and
someday
could
provide
a
more
environmentally
friendly
alternative
to
plastic
.
The material, made from shrimp (') shells and proteins produced from silk, is called "shrilk."
The
material
,
made
from
shrimp
(
'
)
shells
and
proteins
produced
from
silk
,
is
called
``
shrilk
.
''
It is thin, clear, flexible and strong.
It
is
thin
,
clear
,
flexible
and
strong
.
A major benefit of the material is its biodegradability.
A
major
benefit
of
the
material
is
its
biodegradability
.
Plastic's toughness and flexibility represented a revolution in materials science during the 1950s and '60s.
Plastic
's
toughness
and
flexibility
represented
a
revolution
in
materials
science
during
the
1950s
and
'60s
.
Decades later, however, plastic's very durability is raising questions about how appropriate it is for one-time products such as plastic bags, or short-lived consumer goods, used in the home for a few years and then cast into a landfill where they will degrade for centuries.
Decades
later
,
however
,
plastic
's
very
durability
is
raising
questions
about
how
appropriate
it
is
for
one-time
products
such
as
plastic
bags
,
or
short-lived
consumer
goods
,
used
in
the
home
for
a
few
years
and
then
cast
into
a
landfill
where
they
will
degrade
for
centuries
.
What is the point of making something that lasts 1,000 years?
What
is
the
point
of
making
something
that
lasts
1,000
years
?
Shrilk not only will degrade in a landfill, but its basic components are used as fertilizer, and so will enrich the soil.
Shrilk
not
only
will
degrade
in
a
landfill
,
but
its
basic
components
are
used
as
fertilizer
,
and
so
will
enrich
the
soil
.
Shrilk has great potential, the inventors said.
Shrilk
has
great
potential
,
the
inventors
said
.
Materials from which it is made are plentiful in nature, found in everything ranging from shrimp shells, insect bodies to living plants.
Materials
from
which
it
is
made
are
plentiful
in
nature
,
found
in
everything
ranging
from
shrimp
shells
,
insect
bodies
to
living
plants
.
That makes shrilk low cost, and its mass production possible should it be used for products demanding a lot of material.
That
makes
shrilk
low
cost
,
and
its
mass
production
possible
should
it
be
used
for
products
demanding
a
lot
of
material
.
Work on shrilk is continuing in the lab.
Work
on
shrilk
is
continuing
in
the
lab
.
The inventors said the material becomes flexible when wet, so they're exploring ways to use it in wet environments.
The
inventors
said
the
material
becomes
flexible
when
wet
,
so
they
're
exploring
ways
to
use
it
in
wet
environments
.
They're also developing simpler production processes, which could be used for non-medical products, like for computer cases and other products inside the home.
They
're
also
developing
simpler
production
processes
,
which
could
be
used
for
non-medical
products
,
like
for
computer
cases
and
other
products
inside
the
home
.
They're even exploring combining it with other materials, like carbon fibers, to give it new properties.
They
're
even
exploring
combining
it
with
other
materials
,
like
carbon
fibers
,
to
give
it
new
properties
.
Harvard researchers have created a tough, low-cost, biodegradable material inspired by insects' hard outer shells. The material's inventors say it has a number of possible uses and someday could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. The material, made from shrimp (') shells and proteins produced from silk, is called "shrilk." It is thin, clear, flexible and strong.  A major benefit of the material is its biodegradability. Plastic's toughness and flexibility represented a revolution in materials science during the 1950s and '60s. Decades later, however, plastic's very durability is raising questions about how appropriate it is for one-time products such as plastic bags, or short-lived consumer goods, used in the home for a few years and then cast into a landfill where they will degrade for centuries. What is the point of making something that lasts 1,000 years?  Shrilk not only will degrade in a landfill, but its basic components are used as fertilizer, and so will enrich the soil.  Shrilk has great potential, the inventors said. Materials from which it is made are plentiful in nature, found in everything ranging from shrimp shells, insect bodies to living plants. That makes shrilk low cost, and its mass production possible should it be used for products demanding a lot of material.  Work on shrilk is continuing in the lab. The inventors said the material becomes flexible when wet, so they're exploring ways to use it in wet environments. They're also developing simpler production processes, which could be used for non-medical products, like for computer cases and other products inside the home. They're even exploring combining it with other materials, like carbon fibers, to give it new properties.