Chennai : Hide quoted textThe Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)has signed a MoU with JK Fenner (India) Limited, a leading corporate in India, for Research and Development of a biodegradable alternative to elastomers rubber products used in the production of various utilitarian items. JK Fenner is providing support for this Research Project as part of its CSR
initiatives. The CSR funding will also support research to explore modification of natural fibres such as cotton, hemp, among others to substitute synthetic materials
in belts.
The MoU was signed at IIT-Madras by Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), and Nagaraju Srirama, President and Director J.K.Fenner (India) Limited.
Prof.Mahesh said this research is vital as although natural rubber is biodegradable, the finished product is slow to biodegrade, in part, due to the presence of non-degradable chemical units that function as molecular bridges. Most synthetic rubbers are also not amenable to biodegradation due to their structural feature, which consists of carbon-carbon single bonds in the backbone. Hence, the finished rubber product after its service life remains without much structural degradation for a long period of time, he said. Nagaraju Srirama said this research will set a new direction in the rubber industry (belts/hoses) which will be environmentally friendly and will support our initiative towards a sustainable future.â