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Plasticizers

Plasticizers

Water-reducers, or plasticizers, are chemical admixtures used in concrete to improve strength and workability. These additives reduce the water-cement ratio without compromising workability, lower the cement content while maintaining the same workability, or increase workability to assist concrete placement in inaccessible areas.
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...

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Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

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Published on: July 27, 2022

The plastic in microplastics: A review.

Anthony L Andrady¹

¹Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27616, United States.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

|April 29, 2017

Summary

Microplastics are a pervasive ocean pollutant. This review highlights how plastic polymer characteristics influence their environmental impact and fragmentation, crucial for understanding marine pollution.

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Marine Biology
Polymer Science

Background:

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread ocean pollutants with significant ecological risks.
The properties of the polymers constituting MPs dictate their environmental behavior, including fragmentation and sorption of pollutants.
Existing research has not sufficiently detailed the physico-chemical characteristics of plastic polymers in MPs.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the relevance of specific plastic polymer characteristics to the ecological impact of microplastics.
To assess how polymer properties influence the generation, fate, and fragmentation of microplastics.
To discuss fragmentation mechanisms, particularly surface ablation, leading to secondary microplastics.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on the physico-chemical properties of polymers in microplastics.

Keywords:

Fragmentation Marine Microplastics Plastics Surface ablation

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Analysis of studies examining microplastic fragmentation processes.

Assessment of the link between polymer characteristics and microplastic ecological roles.

Main Results:

Polymer type significantly influences microplastic persistence, sorption of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and degradation pathways.
Surface ablation is identified as a key mechanism for secondary microplastic formation, favoring smaller particle sizes.
Specific polymer characteristics, such as surface area and chemical composition, correlate with ecological impact.

Conclusions:

Understanding the physico-chemical properties of constituent polymers is essential for assessing microplastic risks.
Fragmentation processes, driven by polymer characteristics, contribute to the increasing abundance of smaller microplastics.
Further research into polymer-specific behaviors is critical for effective marine pollution mitigation strategies.