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Science When the tire hits the road, could it be with trees?
Science When the tire hits the road, could it be with trees? | When the tire hits the road, could it be with trees? |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Friday, 07 August 2009 | |
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Science DiscussionsThe OSU media release, dated July 21, 2009, is entitled “Tires made from trees—better, cheaper, more fuel efficient” states that microcrystalline cellulose could partially replace silica and carbon black as a reinforcing filler for tires. Fibers of cellulose has been used as reinforcement in many types of rubber and automotive products, such as belts and hoses. However, microcrystalline cellulose, a type of cellulose, has never been used for tires. Instead, carbon black and silica are used. This may change in the future. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been found by researchers from Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon) to be a very good partial replacement for carbon black and silica within tires. Cellulose is found in about half of the material within trees, which is a renewable resource.It is an organic compound with the chemical formula: (C6H10O5)n. It is the structural part of green plants, and it is the most commonly found organic compound on Earth. About 33% of all plant material is cellulose, but its percentage varies among plants. For instance, wood is about 50% cellulose, while cotton has a greater percentage, at 90%. Microcrystalline cellulose has been used for a long time as a filler and binder for different products within the pharmaceutical, food, and paper industries, among others. MCC is a special grade of cellulose that is derived from high quality wood pulp, specifically from alpha cellulose. Page two continues. |
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