A universal polymer that can be processed forever was created
Australian scientists have created a new kind of rubber polymer that will help develop more sustainable building materials. This versatile new material can be used on its own as a regular rubber or mixed with fillers to create completely new composites. And when the product’s useful life ends, the material can be recycled almost an infinite number of times.
The new rubber polymer is made from sulfur and rapeseed oil and has a unique chemical structure. Non-consumable rubber – instead, sulfur bonds in its structure can be broken and transformed by applying pressure and gradually heating at about 100 ° C. This reaction starts when the polymer is in powder form. A team of researchers calls this process “reactive compression formation”.
As a result, it can provide the material in the form of pipes, coatings, bumpers, insulation and many other things that are usually made of rubber. But the important thing is that this is only the beginning. As soon as the products wear out or the owners no longer need them, they simply throw them away. The polymer can be pulverized, put back into the mold and recycled into something new.
The most interesting thing is that other filler materials can be mixed with the polymer to create new composite materials. And, of course, they can also be recycled in the future.
According to the team, almost any substance can be a filler, but certain combinations will make the final material more durable or durable. And, importantly, it is still recyclable along with a filler that can give materials such as agricultural waste, carbon fiber, PVC and other plastics a new life.
The team tested several different mixtures and found that some very intriguing uses were possible.
“We made one composite in which 70% of the total mass was coconut coir and 30% was rubber polymer”, – Justin Chalker, lead author of the study, said in an interview with New Atlas. “The material turned out to be very tough and potentially suitable for construction or insulation. If more polymer is used in this composite, then the substance becomes more flexible. In another experiment, we created a composite containing 80% sand and 20% polymer by weight. The polymer binds the sand in very hard and durable material. We assume that it can be used to replace, for example, concrete”.
Other useful combinations are possible. For example, a polymer can be used to purify water. Since it has a high sulfur content, the material can bind to metals such as iron, removing them from the liquid. After capture, the iron-loaded polymer can be reactively compressed to form mats or other building materials.
Source: bizua.org
