Tire companies are investigating more speculative ways to use sustainable and renewable rubber formulations, including latex derived from alternative sources, said Harold J. Herzlich, a tire engineering and chemistry consultant.
In recent years, the notion of making tires greener has mostly referred to the improvements in fuel economy that result from reducing their rolling resistance — usually through the use of special rubber formulations and, of course, by assuring that proper inflation pressures are maintained.
Variation of chemical compositions, filler loadings and rubber formulations make it possible to manufacture a variety of elastomeric products such as molded rubber parts, low modulus adhesives, soft coatinglayers, and very soft and sticky gels for a wide range of engineering applications.
The 80 20 albumin-rubber formulation possessed the optimal mix of high initial modulus and tanδ as its tanδ values were comparable to the 70 30 and 75:25 albumin-rubber ratios.
But unlike the same tires on the BMW, which benefit from a custom rubber-compound formulation, the ATS-V's tires feel greasy at their limit, giving no warning before they finally do begin to slide.
This study also showed that incorporation of chlorinated rubber in the formulation would enhance the acid resistance considerably without affecting heat resistance and other desirable properties.
Still, it must be emphasized that the formulation of rubber mixes for tires is more an art than a science.
