X_Butyl I4565P - a New Class of Butyl Rubber from Lanxess for Inner Liner Applications

Butyl rubber possesses many unique properties including high impermeability to gases and liquids, low temperature flexibility, and broad damping characteristics.  These properties make butyl rubber ideal for numerous consumer end products ranging from tire inner liners to adhesives and sealants. The continued long term growth of butyl rubber for inner liners is driven by the demand for improved air retention and reduced fuel consumption for high performance tires in the modern automobile industry.

A new material based on brominated butyl rubber - LANXESS X_Butyl I4565P - has been developed which contains a persistent ionic charge attached to the butyl backbone.  The ionic interactions produce significant changes in the physical, mechanical and rheological properties of the raw polymer.  The additon of low levels of the butyl ionomer material to inner liner formulations cause significant effects on the compound rheology and final cured article properties.  For example,  LANXESS X_Butyl I4565P-containing compounds show improved green strength which can improve the dimensional stability for OTR manufacture.  The final cured article shows improved crack growth resistance, adhesion to carcass compounds and significantly reduced permeation rates relative to CIIR/NR blends.