11 comments

  • ta988 3 days ago ago

    This would use large amounts of trifluoroacetic acid which is a chemical of concern for many reasons.

    • schainks 3 days ago ago

      Say more? Is trifluoroacetic acid useful for other things? Also does it come out as liquid or gas in these reactions?

      I don't know much about organic chemistry but this approach seems like it produces byproducts of "value", as in commercial value. Even if they are dangerous like traditional byproducts, it seems like they can be used for other things instead of just a waste product sitting around?

    • hammock 3 days ago ago

      Idk what is worse, that or benzene and dioxins

      • PaulHoule 3 days ago ago

        Had a high school science teacher who had a harrowing encounter with

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroacetic_acid

        and usually replacing the Cl -> F makes it worse. (Though there's that weird thing that HF hydrogen bonds itself so strongly that it's a weaker acid than HCl though it makes up for it in danger by being neurotoxic.)

  • apples_oranges 4 days ago ago

    I assume finding a good clean reliable and long lasting substitute for current tire materials would take the market by storm.. probably r&d investments have been made accordingly and it's just a matter of time..

    • nightfly 4 days ago ago

      If there was a good substitute for rubber for tires that wouldn't have the same environmental issues it probably wouldn't be long lasting. Imagine a mostly biodegradable rubber tire that lasts 6-12 months before starting to deteriorate. Instead of switching between your summer and winter tires you'd get all-new "green" tires twice a year.

      • bluGill 3 days ago ago

        IF the new tires were cheap enough that would be fine. Quick lube places could easially install devices to replace your tires and thus your $100 oil change becomes a $130 oil change. Of if you have an electric car your regular tire rotation (which almost nobody does - but it should be done as often as an oil change!) gets turned into a tire replacement.

    • ClumsyPilot 3 days ago ago

      Don’t we already have bioplastics?

      It appears we should be able to make appropriate compound if that were our top priority. It just sint

    • verisimi 3 days ago ago

      IMO cynical opinion, if anyone were to create a better tyre, that would save the consumer money, the company would be promptly bought and the product shelved for ever.

      However, if someone invented a product that would result in the consumer needing to spend more money on 'safe' tyres or whatever, just watch the legislation and (artificial) public outcry demanding it.

      • jimmyswimmy 3 days ago ago

        How'd that work out for SawStop? A tech that makes table saws basically safe by stopping the blade immediately on contact with water (simplified description). The inventory tried to license the tech, then tried to get regulatory agencies interested. He never had any luck. I imagine his licensing terms were too much; he ended up making his own line of saws which are substantially more expensive than the unsafe competition.

        I'm sure there are tons of other examples. Outside of highly regulated areas, improving safety usually plays second fiddle to lowering price.

      • bluGill 3 days ago ago

        Anyone sane would patent that tire, and then sell it for a small bit more than regular tires and take all the profit, while driving their competitors out of business because their tires are better and so worth the extra cost.