The Secret of Rubber
Pirelli, a century and a half of materials research
The research and experimentation that is needed to produce most of the objects that surround us is more complex than one might think. A tyre, for example, is made up of dozens of very different ingredients, including natural rubber, and its production involves a whole series of processes and stages.
Meetings:
1. Where does rubber come from? How is this precious material extracted and why does it need to be vulcanised? And then, who was the Nobel laureate Giulio Natta? What did he invent for Pirelli and what studies are being carried out today in the research and development laboratories to make sure tyres are increasingly sustainable?
2. Tyres and rubber objects have also inspired the world of culture: we’ll find out how artists, photographers and writers have portrayed this aspect of industry over the years.
Activities: At the end of the first meeting, the students will be helped to perform a search in the Pirelli online archive. Using an app, they will be able to think up and create an original comic story of their own on the most elastic of all materials, which can then be shared on the web.
The course will take place entirely online and will be in the form of two live meetings.
