With the implementation of the EU's "New Plastic Economy Act", Wacker Chemie recently announced the construction of the world's first bio-based biodegradable silicone rubber production line. This material introduces plant-extracted siloxane monomers and combines them with special crosslinkers to completely decompose into water and silica within 3 years under natural conditions, completely solving the recycling problem of traditional silicone rubber products. This innovative material called "ECO-SILICARE" has passed Rheinland certification, with a tensile strength of 12MPa and a temperature range of -50℃ to 200℃, which fully meets food-grade contact standards. The first batch of products will be used in IKEA's baby pacifier series, and it is expected to reduce 3,000 tons of non-degradable waste each year. What is even more impressive is that the R&D team combines polysilazane technology with a degradable system to develop an encapsulation film for photovoltaic modules. While maintaining 25 years of weather resistance, 95% of the materials can be recycled after the modules are scrapped. The demand in the Chinese market is also strong. According to customs data, the import volume of degradable silicone rubber increased by 230% year-on-year in the first four months of 2024. Companies such as Meituan and Hema have launched environmentally friendly lunch box replacement plans. Experts predict that by 2030, the global degradable silicone market will exceed US$20 billion, becoming another green material outlet after bioplastics.
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