Fig. 1: Degradable biocomposite TPU. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Degradable biocomposite TPU.

From: Biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes containing evolved bacterial spores as living fillers to facilitate polymer disintegration

Fig. 1

Schematic representation of the fabrication of a biocomposite TPU filled with bacterial spores (WT wild-type ATCC 6633, HST heat-shock tolerized strain) capable of degrading TPUs. Heat-shock tolerance of spores was enhanced through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). The biocomposite TPU was fabricated via hot melt extrusion, wherein dormant spores acted as particulate fillers reinforcing the mechanical properties of TPU matrix. During the end-of-life testing, germinated bacterial cells enhanced disintegration of the TPU.

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