Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elastic polymer aerogel material includes dissolving tire waste in a first portion of a solvent to form a first mixture; dissolving a polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond in a second portion of the solvent to form a second mixture; combining the first mixture and the second mixture, wherein the tire waste reacts with the polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond to form a reactant gel; and undergoing a solvent exchange on the reactant gel followed by freeze drying the reactant gel to form the elastic polymer aerogel material. The tire waste includes natural rubber, synthetic polymers, steel, and curing systems, and the elastic polymer aerogel material defines a 3D porous structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elastic polymer aerogel material includes dissolving tire waste, the tire waste including natural rubber, synthetic polymers, steel, fillers, and curing systems, in a solvent to form a first mixture and dissolving a polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond in the solvent to form a second mixture. The first mixture and the second mixture are combined, wherein the tire waste reacts with the polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond to form a reactant gel. The reactant gel undergoes a solvent exchange followed by freeze drying to form the elastic polymer aerogel material, wherein the elastic polymer aerogel material defines a 3D porous structure.

Abstract: A composite aerogel material includes a carbonized aerogel defining a 3D porous structure and a silicon-based material dispersed within the 3D porous structure, wherein the silicon-based material includes at least 70% by mass fraction. A method of manufacturing a composite aerogel material includes mixing water, an acrylonitrile monomer, silicon particles, a surfactant, a thermal polymerization initiator, and a solvent and heating as a solution. The solution is quenched, wherein a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) silicon nanoparticle micro bead gel precipitates from the solution. A solvent exchange then occurs to form a silicon-based aerogel material, which is then freeze dried. The silicon-based aerogel material is carbonized to form a composite aerogel material comprising a carbonized aerogel defining a 3D porous structure and a silicon-based material dispersed within pores of the carbonized aerogel.

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet includes a barrel having a cutting edge formed on an insertion tip and a head is formed on an opposite end of the barrel from the insertion tip. The head includes a concave inner surface, or a recess, that includes a peripheral edge radially aligned outboard of a cylindrical outer surface of the barrel adjacent the head. An assembly is disclosed that includes at least two panels that are joined by one or more self-piercing rivets that include a head provided having a concave inner surface. A peripheral edge is configured to form a contact ring that has continuous contact with the outer surface of the first panel to form a closed arcuate recess between the barrel and the periphery of the head.