Harvard engineers have created a new solution-based mixing process for natural rubber that preserves long molecular chains. By avoiding the traditional high-intensity mixing that breaks these chains, the resulting material is significantly tougher and more resistant to cracking. This advancement could lead to more durable tires for trucks, buses, and aircraft, reducing the amount of tire dust pollution and waste. It also provides a potential pathway to replace petroleum-based synthetic rubbers in passenger cars with bio-based alternatives.
