In Singapore, scientists at National University of Singapore developed the world’s first aerogel made from recycled plastics. Constructed from old soft-drink bottles, the aerogel could find useful applications in everything from sound proofing to oil spills, and could also be a novel way to combat the global plastic waste epidemic.
Developed by a team from NUS Engineering, the aerogel is made from the most recycled plastic in the world — polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Like all aerogels, it is an ultralight and porous solid, but being made from plastic also gives it the advantage of being soft, flexible and very durable.
Perhaps the most exciting application of the aerogel could be its use in fire safety equipment. When coated with fire retardant chemicals, the aerogel was shown to withstand temperatures up to 620°C. Amazingly, this temperature resistance is seven times higher than conventional firefighter coats would allow, yet it could result in coats that are 11 times lighter.