High-tech ‘smoke’ gel made from rice waste: “Maerogel’’

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A Malaysian scientist Halimaton Hamdan says she has discovered a cheap way to turn discarded rice husks into a high-tech material that could reduce electricity bills, protect buildings from bomb blasts and make airplanes and tennis rackets lighter. Aerogel has been around since 1931, but its high cost has limited its use. Halimaton Hamdan - a chemistry professor at University Teknologi Malaysia - says her process cuts the cost of producing aerogel by 80 per cent, making it so affordable that it could become a commonplace material with wide use. Nicknamed "frozen smoke" because of its cloudy appearance, aerogel is made from silica, the basic ingredient in sand, and is 99 per cent air by volume. The result is a nearly weightless and translucent material with a white powder that seems to float inside. Aerogel can withstand mechanical pressure 2,000 times its own weight, making it suitable for bomb-proof panels. It also makes good sound-proofing material. Additionally, aerogel can also absorb oil spills and pollutants in the air - NASA fitted a space probe in 1999 with a mitt packed with the substance to catch the dust from a comet’s tail. Halimaton’s process is experimental and many years away from commercial use. The Malaysian govt is funding a project to try to demonstrate that it can be produced on a large scale. Halimaton says 100 grams will cost $60 (Rs 2,400 approx) to make, compared to $300 (Rs 12,000 approx) for conventional methods.