Today's News

Zeon and Yokohama Rubber installing bench facility for production of butadiene from ethanol derived from plants

Zeon Corporation and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that they have agreed to establish a bench facility to demonstrate technology for producing butadiene from ethanol derived from plant-based and other sustainable materials with high efficiency. The facility will be installed at Zeon’s Tokuyama Plant (Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) and is scheduled to begin operating in 2026. It will enable the production of a certain amount of butadiene and facilitate the collection of various data that will be used to establish mass production.

Yokohama Rubber and Dr. Bo Nils Johan Persson create theoretical model predicting rubber wear rates

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that through joint research with Dr. Bo Nils Johan Persson, a leading expert in the study of rubber friction and contact, it successfully developed the world’s first theoretical model to predict the rubber wear-rates on uneven road surfaces and the size distribution of wear particles.

Shin-Etsu hosted hands-on LSR processing training with key industry leaders

In an effort to provide advanced education on the processing and property advantages of liquid silicone rubber (LSR), Shin-Etsu Silicones of America (SESA: A U.S. subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Japan) recently conducted its largest ever LIMS™ (Liquid Injection Molding System) Processing Training Course at their 7,000 ft2 state-of-the-art LIMS Technical Center (LTC) in Akron, Ohio. The hands-on training event took place over three days and was attended by over 30 industry customers and 15 supplier partners.

Maxam tire launches the MS330 build for tough conditions

MAXAM Tire announced the launch of its latest product, the MS330. Engineered to excel across demanding applications, the MS330 features a range of enhancements designed to boost traction, improve heat resistance and extend overall tire life. From its robust casing design to its advanced tread compounds, the MS330 delivers superior performance where it matters.

Bellofram Elastomers introduces new UL-94 V-0 listed, medium density flame retardant foam 

Designed to help prevent the spread of fire, these innovative materials provide improved protection for various applications.
UL 94 for vertical flames is a plastics flammability standard released by the Underwriters Laboratories (USA), and its designation means the foam product releases water at certain temperatures to extinguish flames. The new flame-retardant Bellofram foam formulation improves upon the leading flame-retardant silicone foam in the market and is ideal for use in component product manufacturing serving diverse markets, including electronic enclosure seals, HVAC seals and gaskets, LED gaskets, electronic vehicle battery seals, and more.

Rubber Division

Upcoming learning opportunities with the Rubber Division

March 19 – Course: Rubber Explained
This course was designed for sales and executives working in the rubber industry. Centered around practical explanations and basic fundamentals, this is the perfect course for the non-technical individual.

April 1 – Course: Sponge Rubber 101
This course was developed for those who currently make flexible cellular elastomer products and wish to expand their knowledge or students wanting to gain insights into these materials and how they can be used. This course will offer an overview of cellular material’s terminology, potential applications, economics, specifications, raw materials and compound construction. Additionally, there will be a review of the various processes used to produce cellular elastomer products, including mixing, various types of extrusion and molding.

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.

Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes

Continental develops a synthetic rubber to reduce hydrogen ion leakage

Continental has developed a line for cooling in the hydrogen powertrain of commercial vehicles, which considerably reduces the penetration of ions into the media circuit. The synthetic rubber line has a mixture of materials whose special properties make them less susceptible to the leaching of ions from the line material. This reduces the transfer of ions into the cooling circuit of hydrogen drive systems. The material experts from the group sector ContiTech have solved one of today’s greatest challenges in the industrialization of this still least common alternative form of drive system. The product innovation increases the service life of vehicle components in hydrogen drive systems.

The February Issue of Rubber World

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Carbon Black, Silica & Material Fillers

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