Scientists from the University of Coimbra create superinsulation material made of recycled tyre rubber
The work was carried out over the last four years and involved several stages
English version: Diana Taborda
Researchers in the field of civil and chemical engineering from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) have created an aerogel with a homogeneous matrix of silica and rubber, resulting in a new ecological and more economical super-insulating material, responding to the challenge of creating a new type of thermal and acoustic insulation for buildings, while respecting the circular economy.
Considering that, on the one hand, around 355 million tyres are produced every year in Europe and, on the other hand, aerogels are great - but expensive - thermal insulators, the scientists decided to develop an aerogel made of rubber from recycled tyres. "We had to overcome many obstacles throughout the project but we managed to get a new way of processing the aerogel" says Luísa Durães, coordinator of the research team of the Department of Chemical Engineering of FCTUC.
Led by Paulo Santos, researcher at ISISE (Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering) and professor at FCTUC's Department of Civil Engineering, the project TYRE4BUILDINS, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), was developed over the past four years and comprised several stages until scientists achieved their goal. The technology developed under the project was submitted to national and international patenting processes.