Next Generation Functionalized Solution SBRs for Silica Tire Tread

ARLANXEO is the newly formed joint venture between the synthetic rubber division of LANXESS and Saudi Arabian’s oil refinery company, Aramco. Although new, ARLANXEO has a long history rooted in rubber technology and innovation. Specifically, the Tire and Specialty Rubbers (TSR) business unit focuses on butadiene rubber (BR), copolymers of styrene and butadiene (SBR), regular and halobutyl rubbers (HIIR). ARLANXEO therefore is uniquely positioned to create new elastomer products for the tire industry.

In North America, the tire industry continues to demand an improvement in the overall balance of tire properties, i.e. fuel economy, safety and mileage warranties, as well as handling at low temperature, and wet traction. In previous technical meetings of the ACS Rubber Division Conference, the presenter has discussed the benefits of proprietary new technologies such as (i) in-chain functionalized high vinyl S-SBR (ii) end group functionalized high styrene S-SBR (Buna FX) and (iii) easier processing Nd-BRs (Buna Nd EZ). This presentation will focus on three new functionalized solution SBRs made in our Port Jerome manufacturing site in France. Rolling resistance, traction and wear will be benchmarked in the lab with industry known predictors and polymers. As well, their processability in silica filled tread compounds will be evaluated using garvey die extrusion.

1 – Judy Douglas, Steve Crossley, Joseph Hallett, John Curtis, Dave Hardy, Thomas Gross, Norbert Steinhauser_, Alex Lucassen, and Heike Kloppenburg, “The Use of a Surface-Modified Carbon Black with an In-Chain Functionalized Solution SSBR as an Alternative to Higher Cost Green Tire Technology”. Paper 38, Presented at the Fall 180^th Technical Meeting of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, Inc., Cleveland, OH, October 11-13, 2011

2 – J. Douglas; F. Albino; N. Steinhauser; D. Hardy, T. Gross, „Innovations in Solution SBR Technology”, Presented at the Spring 181th Technical Meeting of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, Inc., San Antonio, TX, April 22^nd to 25^th, 2012.

3 – J. Douglas; A. Lucassen; H. Kloppenburg; T. Gross; D. Hardy, “What Makes a Good Golf Ball Makes a Good Tire”, Paper 49, Presented at the Fall 184th Technical Meeting of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, Inc. Cleveland OH. October 7-10^th, 2013.