Conti, Kordsa developing 'sustainable' textile reinforcement system

HANOVER, Germany — Continental A.G.'s tire division is collaborating with textile reinforcement maker Kordsa Tecknik Tekstil A.S. to develop a "sustainable" adhesion system standard for bonding textile materials to rubber-based compounds.

The ultimate goal is to develop a technology that would replace the substances resorcinol and formaldehyde with more eco-friendly chemicals and make the technology accessible to other suppliers and competitors, according to Boris Mergell who heads up worldwide research and development of passenger car tires at Continental.

"We are…planning the progressive introduction of this technology in the production of our tires across all segments, which is a further substantial step toward greater sustainability," Mr. Mergell said.

"Numerous suppliers are currently working on solutions of their own and the complexity of the approvals process alone for all of the unique solutions could soon become excessive. That's why our approach in this collaboration is to make the technology accessible to other suppliers and competitors, thereby laying the foundation for a new adhesion system standard."

Resorcinol — a phenol derivative chemically known as 1,3-dihydroxybenzene — has been used since the 1950s to improve the adhesion of organic and inorganic reinforcing materials to natural/synthetic rubber compositions.

"Taking responsible action in the interests of our employees and of society as a whole forms a key component of our corporate strategy," Mr. Mergell said, "so we are constantly seeking for new ideas to make our tire manufacturing processes as environmental friendly as possible."

Mr. Mergell called Izmit, Turkey-based Kordsa a "competent development partner for adhesion systems" that can contribute extensive knowledge in the field of resorcinol- and formaldehyde-free bonding technologies.

The Conti executive went on to say Conti and Kordsa already have achieved "very promising results" toward an eco-friendly alternative both in the lab and in test tires.

Ibrahim Özgur Yildirim, Kordsa's chief technology officer, called finding alternatives to the resorcinol-formaldehyde formula a "major challenge" for the tire industry and one that his company has been researching since 2008.

"Being a keen supporter of open innovation practices, we have leveraged our deep knowledge and diverse expertise together with Continental and accomplished to make a change in the formula used in the dipping of tire cord fabrics," Mr. Yildirim said.

"Reviewing our massive investments into research in this field and the results obtained, we are absolutely convinced that, in collaboration with Continental, we can make the new technology ready for becoming the new industrial adhesion system standard for textile-reinforcing materials," he added.

Continental and Kordsa are planning to introduce a free licensing concept for the new adhesion system. Further details will be presented at Tire Expo 2018, which will take place in February in Hanover.

Kordsa, founded in 1973 by Sabanci Holdings, is considered a global leader in reinforcing textiles. It claims to be the supplier for half the world's car tires and two-thirds of aircraft tires.