What happens when you put clay, a protein found in milk, a polymer and water in a blender and then freeze-dry it? If you do it just right, a new foam-like polymer/clay composite is born. The new composite is called AeroClay. It is sturdy, malleable, heat- and flame-resistant, and eco-friendly. It can absorb, insulate and act as an electrical conductor.
What can it be used for? The possibilities are many and surprising, from packaging hazardous materials to cleaning up oil spills to even kitty litter. Leading this month’s Science Café Cleveland is the inventor and engineer who discovered AeroClay, David Schiraldi.
Schiraldi, chair of the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, will give his talk, “Freeze Drying Clay to Make Biodegradable Oil Sponges and Kitty Litter.”
The event—sponsored by the Case Western Reserve University chapter of Sigma Xi, WCPN ideastream and the Market Garden Brewery—will take place Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m. at the Market Garden Brewery (1947 W. 25th St.).
Attendees are advised to arrive early, as past sessions have approached capacity.
For more information, visit the Sigma Xi website.