Tires

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Eni’s Versalis to partner with Genomatica and Novamont for bio-based butadiene; rubber for tires

July 24, 2012

Versalis, Eni’s chemicals subsidiary leader in the production of elastomers, together with Genomatica, a leading developer of process technology for renewable chemicals, and Novamont, a leader in biodegradable plastics and pioneer in third-generation integrated biorefineries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a strategic partnership to enable production of butadiene from renewable feedstocks.

Butadiene is a major chemical building block for the petrochemical industry and is presently produced primarily as a by-product of ethylene cracking. About 10 million tonnes are produced each year, of which two-thirds are used to manufacture synthetic rubber, with the last third is used for nylon, latices, ABS plastics and other polymers.

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USDA awards Cooper Tire & Rubber and partners $6.9M for research on guayule as source for tire rubber and biofuel

July 12, 2012

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Cooper Tire & Rubber and its consortium partners a 4-year, $6.9-million grant to support research efforts to develop enhanced manufacturing processes, testing and utilizing of guayule natural rubber as a strategic source of raw material in tires, and evaluating the remaining biomass of the guayule plant as a source of biofuel for the transportation industry.

Cooper Tire will lead a consortium of companies, universities and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the USDA to develop guayule technology for future commercialization opportunities in the tire industry. Yulex Corporation—a leader in guayule crop science and renewable products made from guayule—will be the manufacturer of the material.

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Study finds automobile tires are a potential source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes to the environment

March 10, 2012

A new study by researchers from Stockholm University concludes that automobile tires may be a potential previously unknown source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes—a type of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—to the environment. Their findings are published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Automobile tire rubber in general consists of approximately 40−60% rubber polymers; 20−35% reinforcing agents/fillers such as carbon black or silica; and 15−20% mineral oils such as extender oils/ softeners. Precise compositions vary depending upon where in the tire the rubber is used. Highly aromatic (HA) oils used as extender oils or softeners in the tire-manufacturing process have concentrations of PAHs ranging between 10 to 30%.

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Volvo Trucks/Michelin study finds correct tires, pressure and wheel alignment can reduce truck fuel consumption up to 14.5%

January 02, 2012

A recent study by truck maker Volvo and tire manufacturer Michelin found that having the correct tires, tire pressure and wheel alignment can reduce truck fuel consumption by up to 14.5%.

The two-week long, 1,000-km (621-mile) test conducted at Hällered, Volvo’s test circuit in Sweden, featured two Volvo FH 4x2 trucks, each equipped with a 500 hp 13-liter Euro 5 engine. Each hauled a fully loaded van-bodied trailer and weighed 40 tonnes gross. One rig was driven with a range of incorrect wheel alignment settings, a variety of tires and different tire pressures; the other was driven with optimal tire, tire pressures and wheel alignment.

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Michelin first major technical partner for Project 56 DeltaWing Prototype; 50% of the weight, power, aerodynamic drag, and fuel and tire usage for Le Mans racer

September 30, 2011

The DeltaWing. Click to enlarge.

Michelin will be the first major technical partner to support the Project 56 DeltaWing prototype car in the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Michelin has developed a tire solution that pushes the performance envelope and matches the innovative DeltaWing strategy to reduce by half the weight, power, aerodynamic drag, and fuel and tire usage of a Le Mans prototype race car, while delivering the same speed and performance.

The front tires on the ultra-narrow front track DeltaWing are only four inches wide; both front and rear tires will be fitted to 15-inch rims (compared to 18 inches on traditional LMP1 sports cars). The Michelin tire sizes for the DeltaWing project are: 10/58-15 (front) and 31/62-15 (rear).

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