The massive manufacture of tires and the difficulty of reducing the stocks of used tires is a serious environmental problem. There are several methods used for recycling wasted tires, one of which is mechanical crushing, in which vulcanized rubber is separated from steel and fibers, resulting in a ground tire rubber (GTR). This can be used in applications such as insulation for footwear work. The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the use of the GTR when it is mixed with several types of polymer matrix by means of measuring its dielectric and mechanical properties of the resulting composites (polymer + GTR). The analysis is carried out using seven polymeric matrices mixed with different GTR concentrations. With the present study, it is intended to propose a way to reuse the tires out of use as an industrial work footwear insulation, by demonstrating the feasibility of the properties analyzed.

This article proposes a new model of power supply for mobile low power machines applications, between 10 W and 30 W, such as radio-controlled (RC) electric cars. This power supply is based on general hydrogen from residual aluminum and water with NaOH, so it is proposed energy valorization of aluminum waste. In the present research, a theoretical model allows us to predict the requested aluminum surface and the required flow of hydrogen has been developed, also considering, in addition to the geometry and purity of the material, two key variables as the temperature and the molarity of the alkaline solution used in the hydrogen production process. Focusing on hydrogen production, isopropyl alcohol plays a key role in the reactor’s fuel cell vehicle as it filters out NaOH particles and maintains a constant flow of hydrogen for the operation of the machine, keeping the reactor temperature controlled. Finally, a comparison of the theoretical and experimental data has been used to validate the developed model using aluminum sheets from ring cans to generate hydrogen, which will be used as a source of hydrogen in a power fuel cell of an RC car. Finally, the manuscript shows the parts of the vehicle’s powertrain, its behavior, and mode of operation.

In this article, it is proposed to use aluminum breakage scraps to obtain green hydrogen through the aluminum–water reaction with caustic soda as a catalyst with experimental research. From this exothermic reaction, both hydrogen and the heat generated can be used. Due to the low price of aluminum chips, this allows us to produce green hydrogen below the current price that is obtained using renewable energy sources and electrolyzers. We have also developed a process that is sustainable since it is obtained as alumina and caustic soda waste that can be reused. This alumina obtained, once filtered, has high purity which allows us to produce high-quality primary aluminum without the need to use bauxite and the production of red sludge is also reduced. A comparative study-analysis was carried out between two of the forms in which the most common aluminum is presented in industry to analyze which one performs better by studying key factors such as the hydrogen produced, and the waste generated during the process. Finally, the mathematical model has been defined to be able to control the flow based on different key parameters such as temperature, molarity, and geometry. Undoubtedly, the study that we present represents a milestone for the recovery of metallic aluminum waste and may be of great interest to industries that use aluminum in their processes, such as recuperators, as well as the vehicle and aerospace industries.

This article proposes using recycled aluminum, generating hydrogen in situ at low pressure, to power a 250 W electric bicycle with a fuel cell (FC), to increase the average speed and autonomy compared to a conventional electric bicycle with a battery. To generate hydrogen, the aluminum–water reaction with a 6 M NaOH solution is used as a catalyst. This article details the parts of the generation system, the electronic configuration used, the aluminum- and reagent-loading procedure and the by-products obtained, as well as the results of the operation without pedaling, with a resistance equivalent to a flat terrain and at maximum power of the accelerator for one and two loads of about 100 g of aluminum each. This allows us to observe different hybrid strategies, with a low-capacity battery in each case. The goal is to demonstrate that it is possible to store energy in a long-lasting, transportable, low-pressure, and sustainable manner, using recycled-aluminum test tubes, and to apply this to mobility.

Most of radio controlled cars with Fuel Cell on the market store hydrogen in pressurized cylinders or metal hydrides. In this article, the possibility of generating hydrogen inside the vehicle, at a constant flow rate, from aluminum soda can rings, in alkaline solution medium and by isopropyl alcohol regulation, is proposed. The alcohol helps to eliminate the NaOH particles transported by the hydrogen and likewise to keeps the flow rate constant over time. A theoretical model has been developed to predict the hydrogen flow rate generated as a function of the molarity and temperature of the solution, as well as the purity and dimensions of the aluminum plates. Subsequently, the model has been validated experimentally from test plates and the flow rate and purity of the hydrogen obtained has been analyzed. Finally, a radio control car with Fuel Cell was designed, adding the filters and elements necessary for its correct operation. Main contribution of this study is the use of isopropyl alcohol for flow rate regulation and the control of the purity of hydrogen.