Home▸Materials Science▸Bioplastic Polymerization & Degradation Simulator

Bioplastic Polymerization & Degradation Simulator

Watch lactic-acid monomers polymerize into a PLA bioplastic chain under Arrhenius kinetics, then compare its compost biodegradation (first-order chain scission) side by side against an inert petroleum plastic that barely changes.

Materials Science3DModerate60 FPS💧 Water

Details

CategoryMaterials Science

RenderingThree.js · WebGL

DifficultyModerate

Target FPS60

ControlsMelt temperature slider (20-220 C) sets the polymerization rate via the Arrhenius equation; catalyst toggle multiplies the reaction rate ~8x; compost humidity slider (10-95%) and compost temperature slider (15-65 C) drive first-order hydrolytic chain-scission of the bioplastic side; reset button reinitializes both arenas (bioplastic monomers scattered, petroleum plastic pre-polymerized into one long chain).

Three.jsmaterials sciencepolymer chemistrybiodegradationInstancedMesh

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A live particle model of PLA bioplastic: lactic-acid monomers polymerize into a growing chain under Arrhenius kinetics, then hydrolyze back apart under adjustable compost humidity and temperature — shown side by side against an inert petroleum-plastic chain that the same compost barely affects.

⚙ Under the hood

Lactic-acid monomers polymerize into a PLA chain under Arrhenius kinetics (temperature + catalyst), then hydrolyze back apart under adjustable compost humidity and temperature via first-order chain scission, shown side by side against an inert petroleum-plastic chain.

Three.jsmaterials sciencepolymer chemistrybiodegradationInstancedMesh

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install