Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 7, 1993 TAG: 9309040213
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Robert Freis
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I've got one word for you. One word . . ."
". . . plastics."
Hoffman recoiled from the proposition. His reaction was symbolic of plastic's unsavory reputation. As a substance, it's commonly viewed as artificial, cheap, gauche or unnatural.
Americans use plastics in every aspect of our daily lives but we don't like them.
Maybe you've also seen those ads recently during the evening television news programs that depict bicycling or day-hiking yuppies who tell us that plastics are really good for the environment after all.
"Take another look at plastics," they say.
My initial reaction: Yeah, surrrrre. More propaganda.
Since then I've not absolutely changed my attitude but I had a good talk with Herve Marand, nonetheless.
Marand is a Virginia Tech chemistry professor whose specialty is synthetic polymers, otherwise known as plastics.
I first heard of Marand when I learned he had received the National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award for 1993. The award brings some prestige and lots of research dollars.
Marand, 33, grew up in France and came to the United States about a decade ago to pursue his graduate education. He's married to an American now, and has been living in Blacksburg and working at Tech for three years.
Thank goodness Marand teaches freshman chemistry - he's accustomed to offering simplified explanations of complicated topics. He stretched back in his chair, put his hands behind his head, and said, "Chemistry is viewed as a bad science."
Chemistry is difficult to understand, and considered dangerous or sinister by many lay people, he said. That stigma gives plastics a bad reputation.
"We have a communication problem. We have to separate public perception from truth."
Much of Tech's research in plastics and related substances is intended to create materials that either last a long time or readily biodegrade - whichever is appropriate.
It all depends on the structure and substance of the plastic's molecule, Marand said.
Long-lasting plastics are gradually taking over tasks that traditionally fell to metals - except the plastics are lighter, stronger and require less energy to manufacture.
The advantage of biodegradable plastics is obvious but still misunderstood, Marand says.
Changing from plastics such as polystyrene to paper for hamburger containers is "ridiculous." Paper requires more energy to manufacture and biodegrades more slowly, he said.
Research is also making headway to develop plastics that don't rely on petroleum as a basic substance. This means plastics won't be reliant on fossil fuel reserves and the nations that control them, he said.
I'll admit that Marand's arguments stretched my mind and influenced me to take that second look at plastics.
Driving back to my office after our interview, I recalled another cinematic image of plastics - this one more favorable toward research and development:
Fred MacMurray and "Son of Flubber."
Robert Freis is a New River Valley bureau staff writer.
by CNB