FLOWERS Dandelion does look lovely, but for some people, he is considered a weed that must be kept trimmed during the summer for these plants do not meet in a wild garden.
Because growth is so rapid and abundant, Ford and Ohio State University are investigating the use of white sap contained in the roots of Dandelion as a new basic material manufacture rubber that can be utilized as the base material of rubber and plastic components such as interiors and floor coatings vehicle.
"We are always looking for new sustainable materials to be used on our vehicle, which left little trace of carbon when manufactured and can be grown locally," said Angela Harris one of the researchers at the Ford engineers.
Ordinary synthetic plastic is not too good for the environment so that Ford's search for replacement materials that have properties more environmentally friendly and sustainable, adds Angela.
Ford will sort of rubber-based Dandelion for customized fit on a particular component before continuing into the production phase to ensure durability of how strong the material was on the condition of the vehicle is quite extreme.
Of the various species of Dandelion that exist, only a few species are suitable used as material for rubber. The project itself using species of the Russia-Dandelion Taraxacum kok-saghyz. And like Dandelion in general, it is very easy to grow.
