Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Japanese Scientists Create Elastic Water

Elastic Water could eventually replace plastic, or be used in an environmentally-safe plastic.

Bernama, a part of the Malaysian National News Agency, reports that Japanese scientists have created “elastic water." Developed at the Tokyo University, the new material consists mostly of water--95-percent--with an added two grams of clay and organic material. The resulting substance resembles jelly, but is extremely elastic and transparent.

The invention was originally revealed last week in the latest issue of the Nature scientific magazine. According to the article, the new material is quite safe for the environment and humans, and may be a “long-term” tool in medical technology, possibly to help wounded or surgically cut tissue to remain closed.

Bernama also reports that--by increasing its density--the new material could be used to produce "ecologically plastic materials," or could replace plastic altogether. This aspect is still under investigation until September 2010. However, if successful, the scientists may have found a way to make the world a little greener.

via Japanese Scientists Create Elastic Water - Tom's Guide.

See the "High-water-content mouldable hydrogels by mixing clay and a dendritic molecular binder" article in nature.

2 comments:

DURGADAS DATTA said...

congratulations::: as our world has become a dustbin of plastics of non biodegradeable variety we will be getting a relief.

Petite Cossette said...

I'd be rejoicing if there wasn't a water crisis going on. This may be useful someday. Not now, though.