MRD advances carbon nanotube filler for tires

Austin, Texas – Molecular Rebar Design (MRD) has introduced a new carbon nanotube product for the partial replacement of carbon black in tires.

The product, called MRO Gen III, offers “a rebalancing of properties toward improved fuel efficiency and lower weight, versus toughness and wear resistance,” the US company said.

The new reinforcing filler “can replace up to 50% of the existing carbon-black content “with only three eighths of the quantity of nanotubes, per phr,” stated MRD.

This results in a less dense compound with lower hysteresis that still retains the improved wear resistance, according to the company.

In one example, MRD said replacing half N234 carbon black with 37.5% the quantity of MRO yields a 10% improvement in rolling resistance, 15% better cut & chip resistance, 20% higher tear resistance – as well as a 5% reduction in weight.

Samples of the new product are available from North American distributor Swan Chemical, Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd, MRD pointed out.