Cabot expanding elastomer composites for use in OTR retreading

Boston, Massachusetts – Cabot Corp. is expanding its engineered elastomer composites (E2C) product line for use in retreading applications for off-the-road (OTR) tires, particularly in the mining industry.

In a statement 22 Feb, Cabot said its E2C portfolio now includes E2C DX9730, E2C DX9640, and E2C FX9390 grades, which it said can deliver “premium performance that maximises the life of retreads.”

The materials are claimed to extend the life of retreads for OTR tires by as much as 30%, thereby reducing tire costs and improving the productivity of operations by decreasing downtime.

Cabot launched the E2C family of solutions in early 2020, to expand its rubber and elastomer portfolio.

The technology involves a propriety process technology that mixes reinforcing carbons into elastomers, and is designed to improve the performance, safety and lifespan of tires while reducing the cost and environmental impact of production.

E2C products are delivered in a pre-mixed form, enabling rubber compounders to create differentiated products without the need to handle additional speciality fillers.

The feature, Cabot claims, can expand production capacity by reducing both the time and total number of mixing steps.

According to Cabot, compounders have used Cabot E2C products in both tangential and intermesh type mixers for rubber compounding.

Both pre-cure and strip winding processes can be used to retread OTR tires made with E2C solutions.

According to the US materials supplier, retreads using E2C technology have been deployed into field locations in both North and South America in OTR tires ranging from 35 to 63-inch diameter.