Not Just a Weed: Tires Made from Dandelions

Using thorough genome analysis and precision breeding, a pair of German scientists have doubled the amount of natural rubber produced by a specific strain of dandelion, a common and abundant weed. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME have successfully identified a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to the natural rubber tree, which has no synthetic replacement.

The rubber tree, or Hevea brasiliensis, is almost exclusively grown in the sub-tropical regions of Southeast Asia, and takes between 5-7 years to deliver its' first harvest. As global demand for rubber has grown, acres of precious rainforest have been converted into agricultural land.

Dandelions, on the other hand, are incredibly resilient, can grow in moderate climates, and can survive in soil unfit for the cultivation of food and feed crops. Additionally, they grow annually, so their rubber can be harvested on a more regular basis, consistent with the fluctuations of the rubber market.

The strain of dandelion, called the Russian dandelion, is cheaper and more sustainable than the natural rubber tree, however, it will not completely replace the traditional method of making rubber. To do so would require a plot of land the size of Austria completely dedicated to the cultivation of dandelions.

Tire company Continental has already created a prototype using the rubber, and their researcher, Dr. Carla Recker states, "the dandelion natural rubber has ideal material properties," and that "the tires are equivalent to those made from Hevea natural rubber."

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-06-natural-rubber-dandelions.html#jCp