Isayev, a distinguished professor of polymer engineering, and his student research team invented a unique rubber processing method using a novel technique, ultrasonic devulcanization. Isayev’s patented innovation allows for the recovery of rubber materials, which has been difficult, if not impossible, due to rubber’s vulcanized, or crosslinked, nature. Think scrap-tire heap. Isayev's technology enables devulcanization, or breaking, of the sulfur crosslink bonds in the rubber compound, permitting the once scrap material to be reprocessed and reused.
"Extensive experimental and theoretical studies were conducted based on this and otherrelated inventions,” says Isayev, noting that more than 50 articles and book chapters were published during the last 15 years to develop this technology. The National Science Foundation, NASA and a number of industrial companies funded the studies.
Isayev founded Avraam Corp. to develop an industrial ultrasonic extruder to carry out the process of recovering rubber from tires, roofing materials, shoe soles and other industrially significant products. World leading athletic shoe supplier Nike Inc. funded the research.
Isayev’s cutting-edge research is gaining attention. NorTech, a regional nonprofit technology-based economic development organization and catalyst for growing Northeast Ohio’s emerging technology industries, selected the development as a winner of its 2011 Advanced Materials Innovation Award Feb. 24.
Provided by University of Akron
No comments:
Post a Comment