3 Nov 2005
Houston, Texas -- ExxonMobil Chemical has announced that it is doubling its production capability for its proprietary Exxpro speciality elastomers used in the construction of tyre inner liners, as a result of new investment and recent operational improvements. The expansion of the company's plant in Baytown, Texas, is targeted for completion in the fourth quarter, 2006.
Chemically speaking, Exxpro is a brominated isobutylene para-methylstyrene copolymer. The company said it has improved the material using both nanocomposites and dynamically vulcanised alloys (DVA).
ExxonMobil said that prototype Exxpro polymer liners made with nanocomposites have been successfully processed into lighter weight commercial truck tyres in a commercial tyre manufacturing facility. Results indicate several benefits including reductions in tyre cure time, liner gauge thickness, inflation pressure retention (IPR) and intra-carcass pressure (ICP), as well as more than a 20 percent improvement in tyre durability as expressed by "mileage to failure" ratings.
ExxonMobil Chemical's advancements with Exxpro polymer and DVA technology for tyre inner liners represent continued improvements of the technology disclosed as part of a global licensing agreement with Yokohama Rubber Company in May, 2004. Recent results have demonstrated the improved air retention properties of this plastic/rubber "film" inner liner. As a result, liner downgauging offers another significant source for tyre raw material reduction and weight reduction.
"This multimillion dollar investment in Exxpro capacity will support the development of new, higher air barrier inner liner technologies that target both passenger and commercial vehicle tyres," said Art Sullivan, Global Butyl Polymers vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Company.
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