New Aerogel Improves Oil Spill Cleanup
Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 12:36
in Physics & Chemistry
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have designed an ultra-lightweight sponge made of clay and a bit of high-grade plastic they say will effectively clean up spills of all kinds of oils and solvents, and allow for the absorbed oil to be squeezed back out for use. The new material, called aerogel, is made by mixing clay with a polymer and water in a blender. The mixture is then freeze-dried; air fills the gaps left by the loss of water, and the resulting material is super light, comprised of about 96 percent air, 2 percent polymer and 2 percent clay. read more