Noordemeer's group works on tyres of the future

ERJ staff report (DS)

Twente, Netherlands -- Prof. Jacques Noordermeer is closely involved in the development of energy-saving tyres and now his efforts have been rewarded with a prestigious international award: the American Chemical Society's George Whitby Award 2010.

As leader of the Elastomer Technology & Engineering (ETE) research group at the University of Twente, he said, "Our group has two primary focuses," explains Prof. Noordermeer. "The first is the development of energy-saving tyres and the second is finding the most effective way to recycle used tyres."

a number of research groups within the University of Twente have joined forces in the Tyre-Road Consortium, which together champion an integrated approach to the problem. This consortium of IMPACT research groups brings together the required expertise in the field of tyre behaviour, road behaviour and tyre-road interaction. The participating groups are Elastomer Technology & Engineering (ETE), Construction Management & Engineering (CME), Surface Technology & Tribology (STT) and Structural Dynamics & Acoustics (SDA). At this time, 14 PhD researchers are working within the tyre-Road consortium.

Prof. Noordermeer said he has two Ph.D. students working on the bond between silica and synthetic rubber. he added, however, "Natural rubber is much stronger than synthetic rubber and has the additional advantage that rubber trees are themselves also CO2 absorbers." The application of silica technology to natural rubber is being studied by another three PhD researchers.

One of his colleagues, Wilma Dierkes, works as an associate professor in Prof. Noordermeer's research group. She said, "We are now developing a chemical catalyst that can break down the sulphur bridges while leaving all other properties intact," she reveals. "The aim is to use 50 percent recycled material in the tyres of the future. For roofing materials and pond liner, we've already reached 100 percent, so we're confident we can achieve the same for tyres!"

In April 2010, the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society conferred the George Whitby Award 2010 on Jacques Noordermeer. This prestigious prize is awarded once a year to outstanding teachers and researchers in rubber technology. The quality of both the teaching and research of the candidate is taken into consideration. Prof. Noordermeer regards this honour as recognition for over a decade of work in the field of energy-saving tyre technology.

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Press release from University of Twente