Today's News
December 2024
The December issue of Rubber World Magazine is now available online. In this issue you will find the following articles
Molding Suppliers Directory for 2024
This directory lists suppliers who offer molding equipment, materials and expertise to the rubber industry. The directory is followed by a cross-reference section listing the companies that offer a variety of items, including molds, platens, presses, rotational molding equipment and auxiliary equipment, as well as mold releases, etc.
Yokohama Rubber holds groundbreaking ceremony for new passenger car tire plant in China
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that on December 16 it held a groundbreaking ceremony ahead of the start of construction of its new passenger car tire plant in Hangzhou City, China. The ceremony was attended by many local government officials and representatives from the local community, including Hangzhou City Mayor Yao Gaoyuan. Yokohama Rubber Chairman & CEO, Chairman of the Board Masataka Yamaishi and President & COO Shinji Seimiya also attended the ceremony.
Asian Tyre Tech 2025 conference to be held March 12-13 in Bangkok
A 2-day conference “Asian Tyre Tech 2025” will be held as a co-located event at 6th Edition of GRTE 2025 (Global Rubber, Latex & Tyre Expo 2025) in Bangkok, Thailand during 12-13 March 2025. This conference focuses on the latest developments in tyre design and manufacturing. This conference is aimed at everyone involved with tyre manufacturing such as engineers, scientists, technical managers, researchers, and designers.
Leibinger expands presence in Brazil
To better serve Brazil’s industrial markets, LEIBINGER has enhanced its local presence with key initiatives, including partnerships with established distributors such as Qualijet in the Southeast and Norvac in the Northeast. These collaborations ensure comprehensive coverage for industries like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, while also improving access to LEIBINGER’s solutions across the country.
By housing inventory locally, LEIBINGER further strengthens its ability to respond quickly to customer needs, reducing delivery times and ensuring the availability of products and spare parts. This localized approach emphasizes LEIBINGER’s commitment to meeting the specific challenges of Brazilian businesses.
Arkema achieves a milestone in its coatings products portfolio carbon footprint reduction
Arkema has set the groundwork for carbon footprint reduction across its Coating Solutions value chain in 2024, with a unique global approach as it achieves multiple Mass Balance ISCC PLUS certifications in the US, Europe and Asia; covering major coating technologies. This allows Coating Solutions to reduce up to 100% the carbon footprint of its mass balance products, supporting the development of more sustainable solutions for coating applications in fast-growing markets such as green energies, emobility, living comfort, building efficiency and advanced electronics.
Featured Articles
Maximizing mold utilization: The case for semi-permanent release agents
By varying the microstructure of a mold coating, it is possible to influence the surface appearance of a rubber part.
Mixing
Utilization of AI driven solutions for rubber compound formulation: A practical approach
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various industrial sectors has spurred remarkable progress in the field of manufacturing process development. This concept has been extended to polymer compound formulations, where AI techniques have been used to optimize rubber formulations as well. Furthermore, it is conceivable that mixtures of other polymers, such as TPEs, thermoplastic materials or polyurethane compounds, could be similarly treated. Advantages of employing AI driven tools include reduced development time, enhanced efficiency and increased accuracy.
Chemicals and Materials
University of Virginia researchers solve a nearly 200-year-old challenge in polymers
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a new design that appears to rewrite the textbook on polymer engineering.
“We are addressing a fundamental challenge that has been thought to be impossible to solve since the invention of vulcanized rubber in 1839,” said Liheng Cai, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, and chemical engineering.
That’s when Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered that heating natural rubber with sulfur created chemical crosslinks between the strand-like rubber molecules. This crosslinking process creates a polymer network, transforming the sticky rubber, which melts and flows in the heat, into a durable, elastic material.
Ever since, it’s been believed that if you want to make a polymer network material stiff, you have to sacrifice some stretchability.
Extrusion
Enhancing extruded automotive door seals
Friction induced noise in automotive door seals is mitigated with highly durable water-based coatings having a low coefficient of friction.
Silicone & Medical
Carbice and Dow partner to enhance thermal management of electronics
Dow and Carbice have a groundbreaking partnership to offer advanced thermal interface materials for various industries, including mobility, industrial, consumer electronics, and semiconductors. Unveiled at The Battery Show North America in 2024, this partnershipopens in a new tab combines decades of Dow’s silicone expertise with aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) technology from Carbice. The collaboration supports innovation for diverse applications through thermal management solutions that are reliable, affordable, and customizable.
Oil, Gas & Energy
Advanced perfluoroelastomers: The preferred sealing solution for oil and gas
The technology for sealing has considerably advanced since it was first developed in the late 1800s. It is crucial to
Testing & Instruments
Smithers invests in simulated on-vehicle acceleration testing machine in Suzhou laboratory
Smithers has announced that it has invested in a state-of-the-art simulated on-vehicle acceleration testing (SOVAT) machine. This new testing capability was recently launched at the Smithers Suzhou, China laboratory with full machine demonstrations and tire testing training for attendees.
The SOVAT machine is the result of working with vehicle and tire manufacturers to understand their tire testing pain points. On-vehicle tire testing can be time-consuming and inconsistent, driving the need for faster, more repeatable methods for treadwear, chip and chunk, road hazard endurance, and break-in testing. With the SOVAT machine, clients now have an indoor, repeatable option to conduct this testing, providing results in a fraction of the time.
Molding
Maximizing mold utilization: The case for semi-permanent release agents
By varying the microstructure of a mold coating, it is possible to influence the surface appearance of a rubber part.
Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes
Unique features of plasticizer-free soft TPU made with bio-based polyol from 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol and sebacic acid
by Shun Okura, Kunio Mayahara and Hoan Tran, Kuraray Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a multiblock copolymer that consists of a
Latex and Natural Rubber
RPI researchers named to TARDISS team studying rubber production in the U.S.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) researchers are part of a multi-institution team working to bring rubber production to the United States and better secure the supply chain for this critical material.
The team is supported through the “Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security” (TARDISS) Engineering Research Center (ERC) through the U.S. National Science Foundation. Headquartered at Ohio State University, TARDISS will receive $26 million over five years with the ability to renew for the same amount over another five years.
The December Issue of Rubber World
Sponsored by:
This issue focuses on
Molding
The issue is available online to our subscribers via our digital edition.
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