Even the most environmentally friendly cars roll on something that is not environmentally friendly: tires. Their manufacturers are working on tires made from sustainable raw materials. Goodyear has now presented the prototype of a tire that is made from 70 percent sustainable materials. According to the company, the materials used are innovations in the tire industry.
The new tire contains 13 innovative components in nine different components. According to internal tests, their properties promise a strong overall performance of the tire. Traditionally, soot is obtained from the combustion of petrochemical products. Goodyear’s new tire uses three different novel forms of carbon black, which are made from methane, carbon dioxide and vegetable oils. Compared to the production of carbon black through traditional processes and the use of natural raw materials and waste, the new process shows an improved ecological balance, says Goodyear. The use of soybean oil in tire production is an important innovation that keeps tires flexible even with changing temperatures . The use of soybeans as a natural raw material replaces the proportion of petroleum-based products. While nearly 100 percent of the proteins from soybeans are used in the food and agriculture industries, the excess soybean oil can be used in other industries. Goodyear’s new tires now contain a unique form of silica. This is obtained from the ashes of rice husks, which are usually disposed of in landfills as a by-product in rice production. High-quality silica is now obtained from this by-product.Recycled bottles are turned into tire cordBy chemical recycling, polyester is broken down into its basic chemical components from plastic bottles and other plastic products. In the further process, technical polyester is made from it, which is suitable for use as tire cord. Our scientists and engineers have already made tremendous strides toward this goal, ”said Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer. “With this achievement we underline our commitment to use more sustainable materials in our tires.”
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