ETH researchers turn plastic waste into adhesives for demanding joints

ETH Zurich researchers have made adhesives from standard plastic bags and bottles whose bonding strength meets requirements for industrial joints in vehicles or equipment, according to research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The method adds polymer chains with new chemical functions to polyethylene and polypropylene. Light activates chlorinated solvents, creating reactive sites on the plastic chains where additional polymers can grow. The single-step process does not require expensive special reagents, catalysts or high temperatures. ETH has patented the method; the adhesive is a first-generation product.