Weed-derived rubber a dandy alternative for Ford
Tyre makers Continental and Cooper are not alone in seeing the possibilities locked within the humble dandelion. Researchers at the Ford Motor Company and Ohio State University have also explored the plant’s qualities and recognised its potential as a sustainable source of rubber. As Ford research engineer Angela Harris explained, the vehicle manufacturer is “always looking for new sustainable materials to use in our vehicles that have a smaller carbon footprint to produce and can be grown locally. Synthetic rubber is not a sustainable resource, so we want to minimise its use in our vehicles when possible. Dandelions have the potential to serve as a great natural alternative to synthetic rubber in our products.”
Yet before delivering your lawn clippings to the nearest Ford dealer, it is worth noting that not all dandelions are created equal – and not all can be used as a sustainable resource for rubber. The suitable species for Ford’s project is the Russian dandelion, Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS), which is being grown at the Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. A milky-white substance that seeps from the roots of this species of dandelion is used to produce the rubber.
Ford could potentially use the substance as a plastics modifier, to help improve the impact strength of plastics. The material might then be used in places such as cupholders, floor mats and interior trim. “It’s strange to see weeds being grown in perfectly manicured rows in a greenhouse, but these dandelions could be the next sustainable material in our vehicles,” Harris added. Before the dandelion-derived rubber can be put to use, Ford researchers will assess the initial quality of the material to evaluate how it will perform in a variety of plastics that are used in vehicles and to ensure it meets its durability standards.
In addition to dandelions, the team is also looking into the use of guayule (a shrub found in the southwest United States) as a natural rubber.
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