Sumitomo Rubber starts soft x-ray study of tire materials

Tohoku, Japan – Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has started its nano-scale study of rubber materials using the 3GeV high-intensity synchrotron radiation facility "NanoTerasu" at Tohoku University.

The synchrotron facility, which started operations in April, provides ‘soft x-rays’ for high-resolution visualistion of materials.

“Through joint experiments with Tohoku University, we have succeeded in observing finer rubber structures than in the past,” SRI announced 17 May.

The new facility will help to “elucidate the details of rubber deterioration and analyse the chemical state of sulphur crosslinks,” the group added.

These details, explained SRI's statement, are “closely related to the performance of tire rubber”.

SRI opened an R&D centre in Sendai last year with the purpose of using the NanoTerasu facility to support research into rubber materials at the nano-scale.

The group aims to further use the facility in developing products equipped with “active tread technology” to improve tire performance on dry and wet surfaces.

A separate project with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology and Tohoku University centres on the development of new 'sulphur-based' products.

As part of this research effort, SRI is applying its knowledge of sulphur chemistry in tire applications to optimise materials for next-generation lithium-sulphur batteries.