Highly degradable bio-based plastic with water-assisted shaping process and exceptional mechanical properties.

The fabrication of biodegradable and recyclable bio-based plastic by complexing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and cationic polymeric ionic liquid (PILCl) assisted with KNO is offered to utilize plastics sustainably and mitigate serious threats to the environment. The CMC/PIL plastic film, formed via electrostatic interactions, exhibits exceptional mechanical properties that surpass those of most conventional plastics. It demonstrates a tensile strength of approximately 200 MPa and a Young's modulus of around 5.5GPa. Even after recycling and regeneration, they essentially retain the original mechanical characteristics with a tensile strength of about 190 MPa. These CMC/PIL plastic films can be processed into three-dimensional (3D) shapes assisted with water and their fundamental qualities maintain after numerous shaping. Besides, they possess excellent biodegradability and can finish biodegrading in a few hours with cellulase and within a few days when exposed to soil. This innovation provides a fresh and practical way to produce degradable plastics.