CATEGORY - SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

ERJ readers are invited to identify, and comment on, entries they believe to be of particular significance for the industry. Your emailed feedback will guide our selection of the winners in each category, to be published in ERJ Sept/Oct 2024 issue.

Asahi Kasei

Hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber with enhanced ozone resistance

Asahi Kasei’s approach to tackling the marine-toxicity issues caused by emissions of 6PPD antiozonants from tires and other rubber products deserves a place in any current listing of materials science innovations.  While the industry has focused mainly on finding alternatives to 6PPD, Asahi Kasei has instead developed a selectively hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber (HSBR) with enhanced the ozone resistance.

Asahi Kasei E4S entry... / Project update... / 

Cabot Corporation

Reclaimed carbon surface regeneration to achieve equivalent performance to reinforcing carbon black

Cabot says its regenerated carbon can provide ASTM N300 series level reinforcement and increased loadings of up to 30% of the total filler. The ‘reclaimed carbon regeneration’ technology improves the surface reactivity of the final product, thereby improving the overall in-rubber performance so that rC behaves similarly to virgin carbon black in rubber compound formulations.

Cabot FTR Awards entry form... / 

Hankook- E.Circle

The Korean tire maker has taken a root & branch approach to minimising the carbon footprint of its manufacturing processes: including its initiation of a tire-to-tire (T2T) circular economy consortium of ten global companies and three institutes. Among a range of outcomes to date, Hankook has reported: An agreement with KKPC for developing eco-SSBR using recycled styrene monomer, with the goal of commercial use in tires by 2026; Development of sustainable carbon black using 100% tire pyrolysis oil: and Collaboration with SK Chemicals and Hyosung Advanced Materials, whereby tire cord based on chemically recycled PET was developed and applied to a premium EV tire ‘iON’. 

Hankook FTR Awards entry details... / 

Pirelli

Wood-derived lignin fillers

Employing novel chemical treatment and co-precipitation techniques, Pirelli has developed patented process technology to support the industrial-scale production of wood-derived lignin fillers. The development follows years of R&D to overcome the challenges of successfully mixing lignin into rubber compounds. As a bio-based material, lignin – a by-product of the paper pulping process in the paper industry – offers a sustainable part-replacement for carbon black as a reinforcing filler in tires and rubber products. The patented technology has already supported Pirelli in using lignin in the production of bicycle tires and more recently in the P Zero E passenger car tire.

Pirelli release... / More details to follow...

Reselo AB

Birch bark rubber

Last year, the Swedish developer of renewable rubber made from residue birch bark emerged as the winner from 50 entries in Nokian Tyres’ ‘Fast Race, Big Change’ competition. The Reselo Rubber was said to have shown its “versatility and future potential” including in ice-track testing of tires at Nokian’s White Hell test track in Finnish Lapland. In a recent update, Resolo said it had received interest from the automotive industry resulting in a multi-partner project involving Volvo and Polestar. The company is also exploring applications with footwear manufacturers.

Nokian release... / MobilityXLab release... / 

Synthos 

Extending the EV tire magic triangle with multi-functionalised S-SBR

A stand-out entry to the ERJ Elastomers for Sustainability programme, Synthos’ Sprintan 918S solution styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) is claimed to offer a uniquely optimised balance of properties in tire compounds. The polymer is tailored to deliver improved wet and dry braking performance, increased abrasion resistance and lower rolling resistance.

E4S submission 2022... / E4S update 2023... /

More information to follow...