New Sustainable Solutions for Industrial Tyres

Versalis is currently following a long term route in the forefront of chemistry from renewable sources. This business model, based on the environmental sustainability of the entire production cycle, accounts for new polymers, bio-sourced monomers and bio-additives for rubber compounding. In this frame, the reduction of industrial vehicles carbon footprint by developing a low Rolling Resistance tyre tread, combined with a green approach, represents a topic of increasing importance. The behavior of up to date polymers for industrial tyre application is discussed, as a result of new polymerization procedures, together with the use of bio-based materials providing a promising alternative to fossil resources with comparable mechanical properties and traction predictors.

A new generation of low Tg solution SBR and butadiene-isoprene random copolymers will be addressed, for an improved tread performance and a more consistent replacement of natural rubber. Butadiene-isoprene copolymers reveal to be a good replacement for high-cis-BR, providing a not negligible reduction of heat build-up, in particular for what is concerning sidewall formulation. Bio-oil-extended emulsion SBR and bio-sourced plasticizers are then introduced for a final green footprint.