Three students from Tokyo Metropolitan Tama High School of Science and Technology have introduced a groundbreaking creation - recyclable gloves made from a fiber found in seaweed slime. This innovative project has not only earned the trio a prestigious award but has also caught the attention of professional researchers and industry experts.
The students embarked on their research, concentrating on alginic acid, a dietary fiber responsible for the sliminess found in seaweed varieties like tangle and "wakame." Initially aiming to create plastic from alginic acid, the students faced challenges but eventually discovered a method using aqueous solutions of sodium alginate and calcium chloride to produce a gel-like material suitable for making gloves that conform perfectly to any hand size. Following extensive experimentation with different solution concentrations, the students successfully crafted gloves that are durable, water-rich, and shield the wearer's hands from temperature extremes without causing discomfort. Additionally, these gloves are eco-friendly, designed to revert to their original sodium alginate form when soaked in a specific solution for recycling purposes.