Chris Williams, the L.S. Randolph Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is leading a team recently selected by the REMADE Institute for a $1.5 million project to improve the efficiency of tire retreading in the commercial vehicle industry. In this effort, the team is also relying on 3D printing technology.
One of the key areas is tire retreading, a process that involves grinding down the tire and gluing on a new tread to preserve materials.
However, there are still shortcomings with this process, such as material loss and reduced fuel efficiency. Williams’ team aims to develop solutions to this, funded by a partnership between REMADE and Virginia Tech.
Williams is part of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII), a center for polymer science at Virginia Tech known for fostering interdisciplinary collaborations like this one that bring together engineering, chemistry, computer science and other fields.
“On behalf of MII, we are very proud that the REMADE Institute has recognized that this team of our faculty and students is uniquely skilled to take on the profound challenges of this project — from the basic science needed to create new materials capable of seamlessly mating with complex tire surfaces to engineering principles that will ensure durable tires that meet strict safety requirements,” Robert Moore, director of MII, said.
“We are really excited to undertake this challenging project, which integrates advances in polymer science and manufacturing including 3D scanning, 3D printing, and industrial robotics,” said Williams. “If all goes well, the resulting retreading technology could result in annual reductions of about 90 metric kilotons of tire waste and 800 metric kilotons of CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions across the retreading industry.”
The REMADE Institute is a public-private partnership established by the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Williams team plans to use 3D scanning technologies, new materials and industrial robots.
In addition to Virginia Tech experts, researchers from Arizona State University and industry partners from tire manufacturer Michelin are involved.
According to Williams, “The only way to address this project’s grand challenge of reimagining the tire retreading process is through a team-based transdisciplinary approach focused in simultaneous considerations of materials, the additive manufacturing process, and the final tires’ performance.”
Tim Long, professor and director of the Biodesign Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Material and Manufacturing at Arizona State University, will bring expertise in the synthesis of high-performance elastomers suitable for 3D printing. Michelin will contribute its expertise in tire design and performance characterization, as well as its vision for industrial sustainability goals.
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