GoGoGadgetMachE
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Eco-friendly tires are something of a holy grail in the car industry, as these essential wear items have long suffered from confoundingly problematic production, emissions and disposal issues. At this week's IAA Munich Motor Show, German supplier Continental debuted its Conti GreenConcept, a retread-ready smart tire made from renewable, recycled and traceable materials designed to combat exactly these problems. Packed with future tech that belies its ordinary appearance, the Conti GreenConcept offers a look at what could be rolling beneath your car in anywhere from 8 to 10 years -- and bits and pieces of this tire's underlying construction and tech will likely find its way into production far sooner.
Comprised of 35% renewable and 17% recycled materials, the GreenConcept does away with most conventional silicates (traditionally made from sand heated to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit) in favor of silicates derived from the ashes of rice husks -- normally a waste product in the grain's production. The tire also includes natural rubber produced from the roots of dandelions, a technology Continental has been researching since 2011. Further, the sidewalls employ polyester strands derived from recycled plastic bottles -- each tire uses about 15 bottles' worth of materials. Finally, the GreenConcept also greatly curbs the usage of crude-oil-based resins and oils, substituting vegetable-based plasticizers instead.
[more at source]
Comprised of 35% renewable and 17% recycled materials, the GreenConcept does away with most conventional silicates (traditionally made from sand heated to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit) in favor of silicates derived from the ashes of rice husks -- normally a waste product in the grain's production. The tire also includes natural rubber produced from the roots of dandelions, a technology Continental has been researching since 2011. Further, the sidewalls employ polyester strands derived from recycled plastic bottles -- each tire uses about 15 bottles' worth of materials. Finally, the GreenConcept also greatly curbs the usage of crude-oil-based resins and oils, substituting vegetable-based plasticizers instead.
[more at source]
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