ROVERTO, Italy — Retread industry supplier Marangoni S.p.A. has agreed to collaborate with fellow Italian firm Directa Plus S.p.A. on developing a range of graphene-based rubber compounds for truck and bus tread rubber.
The firms said the agreement calls for them to work together to develop a propriety version of Directa's Graphene Plus (G+) technology to improve the performance of Marangoni's retreading compounds.
Rovereto-based Marangoni said it expects incorporating Directa's G+ materials into its tread rubber will improve the performances and lifespan of retreaded tires by increasing grip, durability and fuel efficiency.
The company said the agreement is "built on a shared vision of combining scientific innovation with a leading edge tire technology."
Graphene is described as a nanomaterial, a honeycomb sheet of carbon atoms. It is the building block of graphite and is considered a strong and conductive material that can be used in applications ranging from aerospace engineering to digital electronics and biomedicine.
Marangoni said Directa Plus' graphene-based products are "natural, chemical-free, sustainably produced and tailored to specific customer requirements for commercial applications such as smart textiles, tires, composite materials and environmental solutions."
