March 28, 2024

Scientists have found a way to produce aerogels from used rubber tires

Scientists have found a way to produce aerogels from used rubber tires

Researchers have developed a fast and cost-effective way to recycle discarded car tires into ultralight airgels with a wide range of applications.

About 1 billion are produced annually in the worldrubber tires, which are very durable and practically non-biodegradable. At the same time, 49% of them are burned to generate energy, about 11% go to landfills, and only 40% are processed with minimal profit. In the process of burning and burial, toxic substances polluting the environment can also be released.

Recently, scientists from the National University of Singapore proposed an environmentally friendly way to recycle waste rubber into expensive aerogels.To do this, the team first crushed used car tires into thinner fibers, which were briefly soaked in water with the addition of small amounts of chemical solvents.The mixture was dispersed with an agitator for 20 minutes, and then the homogeneous suspension gel was freeze-dried at -50 °C for 12 hours to obtain a rubber aerogel.

According to the researchers, the entire process lasts up to 13 hours and canAerogels  made in this way are durable and very lightweight, but more rigid than foam. Due to their porosity, they haveWhen coated with methoxytrimethylsilane , these aerogels become extremely water-repellent and can be used for waterproofing and as an anti-corrosion coating.

Scientists began to collaborate with severalcompanies to commercialize the new processing technology and have already received $ 155 thousand to continue research, improve the characteristics of the material, as well as the creation of airgels from other types of waste.

Previously, we also reported on the invention of a rocket engine powered by fuel made from plastic waste.

text: Ilya Bauer, photo and video: National University of Singapore