Rubber

Because they're made of vulcanized rubber, old tires can't simply be melted down and used to make new tires. Such is reportedly not the case, however, with new rubber-free tires made from eco-friendly elastomers.

Changing up the recipe could help roads last longer. Researchers in Australia have now shown another advantage of adding rubber from old tires to asphalt – extra Sun protection that could help roads last up to twice as long before cracking.

​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.

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.

Graphene is a cutting-edge wonder material, whereas rubber bands ... well, they're not so high-tech. By combining the one with the other, however, scientists have created ultra-cheap body motion sensors that could make a big difference in the field of health care.

Researchers have developed a new material called EPMT which is made up of up to 80 percent scrap rubber and has the desired material properties and characteristics for use in the manufacture of high quality primary products.

Goodyear has determined that soybean oil used in tire production could reduce the amount of petroleum-based oil needed, and increase tread longevity.

Tire prototypes made with Russian dandelion and guayule will be presented at a conference in September, as Europe explores alternative sources of rubber.

Researchers are developing controllable rubber trailing edge flaps for wind turbine blades, that could make them quieter and more efficient.

A Canadian company is shredding old tires and using them to make mattresses for cattle.