To test their ideas the team mixed a solution of casein with glyceraldehyde and sodium montmorillonite and vigorously stirred the result to get rid of the bubbles before freezing it at 80C below zero. Once frozen, the material was placed in a freeze-dryer that removed all the water from it over the course of four days. It was then cured for 24 hours in an oven at 80C above zero.
为了验证他们的想法,研究小组将一瓶酪蛋白溶液与甘油醛及蒙脱土进行充分混合以去除气泡并在零下80度下进行冷冻。在冷冻后,将此材料在冷冻干燥机中放上4天以去除所有水分。随后,再将其在80度烤箱中存放24小时。
The researchers report in Biomacromolecules that their new material matches the stiffness, strength and compressibility of expanded polystyrene, a common packaging material that is thebane of many a rubbish dump. However, unlike polystyrene, it goes away once it has been dumped. An initial experiment suggested that 20% of it vanished within 18 days in a dump-likeenvironment. A comedown, perhaps, from being a queens brooch. But far more useful.
研究者们在《生物大分子》杂志上的报告称他们的新材料在硬度,强度以及压缩性上均可以与发泡聚苯乙烯相匹敌,而后者则是一种常见的包装材料同时也是垃圾场中的一大公害。但是,与聚苯乙烯所不同的是,这种新材料一旦被丢弃并会分解。一个早期实验显示,在诸如垃圾场的环境中,此新材料在18天内便可分解20%。也许,它也不再适合做女王的胸针了,但却有更大的用途。
【英语六级外刊阅读 “塑料 旧法新用”选自《经济学人》】相关文章:
★ 外刊阅读“形体政治学”选自《经济学人》(Gesture politics)
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