HANOVER, Germany — Rubber industry supplier Cabot Corp. has developed an engineered elastomer composite that it claims can extend the life of OTR/earthmover tires "significantly" while cutting processing costs for tire manufacturers.
The newly developed materials, dubbed E²C solutions, are pre-mixed composite solutions of elastomers and reinforcing agents that require fewer mixing stages, lower mixing temperatures and shorter mixing cycles than conventional products, Cabot said, and which can be integrated into existing production methods without additional capital investment.
"Through our collaborations with existing customers, we have shown the power to enable growth by expanding the performance triangle, shortening development cycles, and reducing operational barriers to new product commercialization," David Reynolds, vice president and general manager, Cabot Elastomer Composites, said.
"We are excited to have these solutions for tire manufacturers who are seeking ways to drive innovation in their businesses."
Cabot disclosed the development of the technology and launch of an E2C Durability product line at the Tire Technology Expo in Hanover.
E²C solutions have been shown to break critical trade-offs in (OTR)/earthmover tire design by both lowering operating temperatures and extending tire life, Cabot said.
Using tires made with the new materials can enable an average mine to increase haulage capacity, boost output and reduce annual downtime for tire changes, Cabot said, leading to a potential benefit of tens of millions of dollars a year.
The E2C series of solutions offers balanced performance, increased durability and improved energy efficiency, and can be formulated for specific OTR/earthmover applications to deliver maximum performance benefit, Cabot said.
Cabot is pitching the new material as a way for tire makers to address the global demand for sustainable mobility and meet regulatory pressures, market competition and performance-conscious consumers.
The first E2C solution, DX9730, is part of a new Durability series of products designed to reduce in-field failures and maximize operational uptime. DX9730 offers "breakthrough" improvements in cut, chip and chunk resistance, reduces the risk of catastrophic tire failures and unplanned vehicle service and increases fleet utilization.
Cabot has established a processing site for the elastomer composites at its carbon-black plant in Port Dickson, Malaysia, where three years ago it committed to making a "strategic investment" to expand capacities there.
Boston-based Cabot is a specialty chemicals and performance materials company, active in rubber and specialty carbons, activated carbon, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed silica and aerogel.