CARbon Capture

Final Prototype Lab Report

By:
Lucy Mogan
Chase McAndrew
Nick Lloyd
Vanessa Diaz
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Abstract
In this experiment, the durability of the materials used to create an air filter for a vehicle's
exhaust pipe were tested to determine any flaws the working design had. Cotton fabric was tested
to see if it could capture particulate matter and stay sturdy while driving through weighted tests.
The attachment of the product and the end of the exhaust pipe through driving tests to see if it
would stay on going at different speeds. The cotton fabric was found to capture particulate matter
by a weight increase but ended up with a hole from driving. The best attachment method was
found to be the adhesive tape due to the fact that it stayed secured in the tailpipe more than the
clamp.

Table Of Contents

Introduction 2

Methods 2&3

Results 3-6

Discussion 6&7

Conclusion 7

References 7

Appendix 7
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Introduction
Car exhaust filters have to be able to withstand harsh conditions while in motion. Movement of
the car due to high speeds, turns, and bumps contribute to the need for a sturdy product. A filter
for a vehicles exhaust needs to be made from a material that can withstand high temperatures
(around 700℉) and air flow/pressure. The attachments and materials have to be sturdy to prevent
littering and causing ineffectiveness.

Heat and pressure causes all materials to expand. The temperature coming from the exhaust
system softens materials and allows for the fast air flow to push it outwards. Molecules of the
material move faster when the temperature is higher causing them to bounce off one another at a
faster rate. They eventually get further apart and can reveal a vulnerability for the air flow to
mold it into another shape or eventually break it apart.

This experiment will test the durability of the material and attachment methods used to hold the
product together. To make a difference in the air quality that comes from vehicles, the filter
needs to stay on properly in different conditions and not change throughout its lifetime. Testing
the ability of the prototype to stay sturdy over a variety of speeds and time is essential to
producing the best product possible.

Methods
Cotton Particulate Matter:
To test the effectiveness of the cotton fabric, we cut up an old t-shirt and attached the strips to the
end of an exhaust pipe of two different kinds of cars and left it on idle for 3 minutes, to see if the
mass of the entire contraption would change. To account for the different sized exhaust pipes on
cars we used two different sized diameter exteriors on two different cars to help model the real
prototype. Additionally, we drove both cars at 45 mph on the road for 5 minutes as a mockup
road test.

Apparatus
The apparatus included a 3 inch diameter tuna can, 2 inch diameter metal soda can, metal tape,
metal mesh, and the cotton filter. We attached the cotton strips to the end of the two cans with
metal tape and also used the same tape to attach it to the exhaust pipe.

Procedure
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The first step to performing this experiment is weighing the cotton fabric filer and contraption.
To keep the experiment the same for all three trials we needed 6 cotton strips in total. Unlike last
time we weighed the filer and the contraption together. The top and bottom of the tuna is cut off
and the metal mesh is traced and cut to the same size as the can. The metal mesh is then wedged
into the center of the can. The cotton strip is then put over one of the openings on the can and
taped down with metal tape. This is repeated with the other soda can as well. When the apparatus
is attached to the end of the exhaust pipe the test can begin. A timer starts at the same time the
car engine is started. The car will run for 3 minutes while in park. The combined contraption is
fully detached from the exhaust pipe and weighed on the scale. The weight in grams is recorded
and the whole process starts over again. A new cotton strip is then weighed and attached. This
should be done a total of three times for each car.

Adhesive vs Clamp Attachment:

To test whether an adhesive or a clamp would be most effective at keeping the contraption on the
exhaust pipe we ran a trial for each on two different cars, using two different contraptions. We
would drive at 45 mph for 5 minutes on a backroad and record whether or not the contraption
stayed on.

Apparatus
The apparatus included a 3 inch diameter tuna can, 2 inch diameter metal soda can, and either
packing tape (adhesive) or a metal hose clamp (clamp). We attached the fasteners to the end of
where the two cans met the exhaust pipe.

Procedure
The first step in the procedure was fastening the contraption with the given method as sturdily as
was possible onto the exhaust pipe. Then we drove out of the parking lot and conducted road
tests with both methods for the 2008 Chevy Silverado, using the tuna can contraption, and the
2008 Toyota Corolla, using the soda can contraption. We would check the tailpipe at the
midpoint of the driving test and at the end to make sure the contraption was still on. In the event
that one fell off, we would look for it and record it happening, generally when one fell off it was
at the end of the parking lot where there is a large speed bump.

Results
Experiment 1: Cotton Filter
When weighing the filters prior to and after testing them we weighed them as a whole (both the
cotton filter and the contraption). The contraption used for the truck was different than that for
the smaller car, which is why there is a substantial difference in weight between the two. As a
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general rule the resulting weight after leaving the car in idle was between 1-2 grams for both
vehicles. This differed for the driving tests as both filters burned, resulting in lost weight.

2008 Chevy Silverado

Trial 1 Before- 33g After- 34g

Trial 2 Before- 35g After- 37g

Trial 3 Before- 33g After- 34g

Trial 4 (Driving) Before- 34g After- 28g

2008 Toyota Corolla

Trial 1 Before- 14g After- 16g

Trial 2 Before- 15g After- 17g

Trial 3 Before- 13g After- 14g

Trial 4 (Driving) Before- 16g After- 13g

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Experiment 2: Clamp vs. Adhesive

This experiment tested the difference in quality and effectiveness in using clamps versus
adhesive to keep the contraption on the tailpipe. When used in conjunction with a harder metal,
as was the case with the truck, the adhesive stayed on better. However, in the case of the smaller
car, a softer metal was used, making a clamp system more sturdy.
2008 Chevy Silverado
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Adhesive Clamp

Stayed On Fell Off

2008 Toyota Corolla

Adhesive Clamp

Fell Off Stayed On

Discussion
The data displayed in the tables above has shown our group that cotton has the effectiveness as
nylon filters and that the practicality of using adhesive or clamps depends upon the contraption
used.

The cotton filters captured on average, between 1-2 grams of particulate matter, for each 3
minute idle trial, for both vehicles. Additionally, for each driving trial the cotton filter burned up
and was destroyed, while in use. These results were near identical to those of the nylon filters.
This proves that, despite claims that cotton is more heat resistant, it has no noticeable advantages
over nylon as a filter material.

The tests for determining whether an adhesive or a clamp attachment system would work better
had an interesting result. When testing the truck, we used a larger contraption made of a harder
metal. This led to the clamp not being able to keep the filter on and falling off, while the
adhesive seemed to work better as it stayed on. On the other hand, while testing the smaller car,
we used a smaller diameter contraption made of a softer metal. The adhesive melted and led to
the contraption falling off, however, the clamp stayed on in large part due to the fact that it
crushed the softer metal onto the exhaust pipe. Our group after reviewing these results has
determined that an integrated clamp system, that does not crush the filter, would be the best
concept.

Conclusion
If we were to redo our clamp vs. adhesive tests we would have created a more fleshed out criteria
for determining the validity of our results. Despite that, we did draw conclusions about both the
possible usage of cotton filters and the different exhaust pipe attachments. Firstly, we concluded
that cotton was just as ineffective as nylon. The material had the same exact ability to capture
particulate matter but also had the same weakness to high temperatures. If our product were to
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become a reality, we would use basalt filters, as they are effective at capturing particulate matter
and capable of withstanding high heat. As for the experiment regarding clamps vs. adhesive, we
noted that adhesive worked better with harder metal and a clamp worked better with softer metal.
However, we also noted that the adhesive often melted, making it useless after one trial, and the
clamp crimped the softer metal. As a finished product, we may make it as an internal filter that
fits into the exhaust pipe rather than attaching a contraption to the end.

References
Estimated US Average Vehicle Emissions Rates per Vehicle by Vehicle Type Using Gasoline and
Diesel
Different Possible Clamps
Particulate Matter Filter
Appendix
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