Rubber

Refrigeration and air conditioning could use a boost in efficiency. On that road, researchers have now developed an unusual new technique that could lead to "twist fridges", which cool by unraveling fibers that are tensely twisted.

Researchers from the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois have developed an artificial muscle made of carbon fiber and rubber that can lift over 12,000 times its own weight.

Rubber and metal are usually thought to sit at opposite ends of the stiffness spectrum, but a new composite material developed at Iowa State University could switch from the flexibility of the former to the stiffness of the latter after being bent, twisted or squeezed.

Michelin is exploring the potential for improvements in tire technology with its Vision concept tire that is airless, 3D printed, equipped with sensors, biodegradable, and not just a tire, but a tire and wheel in one.

Skis might have started as wooden planks, but they've evolved into high-tech feats of engineering. The latest take on downhill skis borrows from the world of high-performance tires, with Pirelli and Blossom Skis chasing a competitive edge with rubber.

​An automobile tire is composed of about 30 percent carbon black, which adds durability to the rubber. Carbon black is petroleum-based, however, meaning that it isn't entirely eco-friendly. That's why scientists have been experimenting with an alternative – namely egg shells and tomato skins.

​Although we may hear a lot about the promise of flexible electronics, there's at least one challenge that still has to be overcome – heat dissipation. It was with this in mind that scientists at Carnegie Mellon University created a highly thermally-conductive rubber, known as "thubber."

Researchers at Durham University in the United Kingdom have developed an approach to breaking down rubber in materials at room temperature. The chemical process uses catalytic disassembly, eliminating the energy-intensive methods of currently-used tire recycling methods.

When it comes to high-end bicycle tires, buyers generally have to choose between light, fast ones and grippier, more durable models. According to Italian tire manufacturer Vittoria, however, that's no longer the case – at least, not with the company's new Graphene Plus rubber.

Scientists are having success with condoms made from a latex with added nanocellulose obtained from a native grass. Not only are they stronger than regular latex condoms, but they could be as thin as the diameter of a human hair.​

We generally picture lasers as being encased within hard housings, much like most other electronics. Thanks to new research, however, we could soon see sensors or other devices that incorporate stretchable laser-emitting rubber.

Scientists at the University of Auckland in New Zealand have developed a streamlined, programmable keyboard using a soft, flexible and stretchable type of rubber known as a dielectric elastomer.​