New Marine-Biodegradable Polymer Breaks Down 92% in One Year, Matches Nylon in Strength

In a significant breakthrough aimed at mitigating the escalating issue of marine plastic pollution, a Korean research consortium has engineered a revolutionary polyester-amide (PEA) polymer that boasts both exceptional mechanical properties and remarkable biodegradability in ocean environments. Unlike traditional nylon-based materials—infamous for their environmental persistence and contribution to oceanic waste—this novel material decomposes at a rate exceeding 92% within a single year under real marine conditions, all while maintaining mechanical integrity comparable to, or even surpassing, conventional nylon.

The collaborative investigation, spearheaded by Dr. Hyun-Yeol Jeon and Dr. Hyo-Jeong Kim at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), alongside Senior Researcher Sung-Bae Park, Professor Dong-Yeop Oh of Inha University, and Professor Je-Young Park from Sogang University, exemplifies a pinnacle of polymer chemistry innovation. Their PEA synthesis harmonizes ester and amide linkages in an optimized balance that enhances both biodegradability and structural strength—a notable departure from existing biodegradable plastics, which frequently compromise durability or heat resistance.

Conventionally, synthesizing polymers that integrate ester and amide functionalities has relied on toxic organic solvents, limiting scalability and industrial feasibility. Addressing this challenge, the team pioneered a two-step melt polymerization approach that negates the need for solvents altogether. This process enables industrial-scale production in reactors as large as 10 liters, facilitating batch sizes up to 4 kilograms. Critically, this technique aligns seamlessly with existing polyester production facilities, requiring only minimal modifications—a factor poised to accelerate swift commercial adoption.

Extensive marine biodegradability trials, conducted over a one-year period off the coast of Pohang, South Korea, yielded compelling data: the PEA degraded by 92.1%, far eclipsing the breakdown percentages of other biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) with 0.1%, polybutylene succinate (PBS) at 35.9%, and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) reaching just 21.1% under identical conditions. These findings underscore the polymer’s enhanced ability to undergo microbial mineralization in aquatic ecosystems, a critical factor for addressing the enduring problem of plastic residues in marine habitats.

Mechanically, the newly developed PEA polymer exhibits tensile strength values up to 110 megapascals (MPa), surpassing widely used engineering plastics including nylon 6 and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This strength is complemented by excellent flexibility, allowing for versatile applications. Practical demonstrations revealed that a single fiber strand of this material could support a weight of 10 kilograms without fracturing. Furthermore, woven fabrics made from this polymer endured ironing at temperatures of 150°C, affirming the material’s thermal stability and suitability for textile manufacturing processes.

Beyond mechanical and degradative advantages, the environmental footprint of this innovation is also carefully calibrated. The raw materials include long-chain dicarboxylic acids derived from castor oil—a renewable, non-edible crop—and caprolactam derivatives sourced from recycled nylon 6 waste. This upcycling strategy substantially reduces the carbon emissions associated with polymer production. Quantitatively, the new PEA’s lifecycle CO₂ equivalent emissions fall to approximately 2.3–2.6 kg CO₂eq per kilogram, a reduction to one-third of the 8–11 kg CO₂eq/kg typical of conventional nylon 6 production.

This pioneering work marks a convergence of sustainability and industrial practicality rarely achieved in biodegradable polymer development. Its potential to supplant traditional nylons in demanding applications such as textiles, fishing gear, and food packaging heralds a transformative shift in how materials can harmonize performance with environmental responsibility.

Commercialization efforts are actively underway, with the research team projecting industrial-scale adoption within a two-year horizon. Such rapid translation from laboratory innovation to market-ready product demonstrates both the technological maturity of the polymer and the strategic alignment with existing manufacturing infrastructures.

KRICT President Young-Kuk Lee emphasized the broader societal impact, stating, “This technology marks a pivotal step toward the commercialization of biodegradable engineering plastics and will significantly contribute to solving the global marine plastic pollution crisis.” Echoing this outlook, Dr. Sungbae Park highlighted the dual achievement of the material’s nylon-level performance alongside its exceptional biodegradability as a fundamental advancement in polymer science.

The meticulous study was featured as the cover article of the March 2025 issue of Advanced Materials, an esteemed journal renowned for disseminating cutting-edge materials science research. Dr. Sungbae Park and postdoctoral researcher Hojung Kwak are credited as co-first authors, with correspondence attributed to Drs. Jeon and Kim of KRICT, Professor Oh at Inha University, and Professor Park at Sogang University.

This research not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also exemplifies a scalable, sustainable approach to advanced materials engineering. By unlocking new pathways for marine-degradable plastics that do not sacrifice industrial viability or mechanical robustness, the work stands to redefine the future landscape of polymer applications—ushering in an era where biotechnology and materials science collaboratively mitigate human impacts on marine ecosystems.

As the global scientific and industrial community intensifies efforts to curtail plastic pollution, innovations such as this PEA polymer embody the transformative potential necessary to achieve meaningful ecological stewardship. This promising development underscores the vital role that interdisciplinary collaboration and green chemistry principles play in devising solutions attuned to the urgent demands of environmental resilience and sustainable manufacturing.

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Subject of Research: Development of marine-degradable polyester-amide (PEA) polymers combining high mechanical strength with biodegradability in ocean environments.

Article Title: Development of Marine-Degradable Poly(Ester Amide)s with Strong, Up-Scalable, and Up-Cyclable Performance

News Publication Date: 27 March 2025

Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202417266

Image Credits: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT)

Keywords: biodegradable polymers, polyester-amide, marine degradability, sustainable materials, polymer synthesis, mechanical strength, green chemistry, plastic pollution mitigation, melt polymerization, upcycling, castor oil, nylon alternative