All in the green zone - Dynasylan
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Product Story No. 46, March 19, 2012
All in the green zone
Evonik is a supplier to offer the tire industry the
silica-organosilane reinforcing system, which crucially
determines tire tread performance.
Evonik Industries AG
Rellinghauser Straße 1–11
45128 Essen
Germany
Contact
Next fall, purchasers of new tires or a new car will be able to Corporate Press
view tire characteristics at a glance from the accompanying la- Alexandra Boy
phone +49 201 177-3167
bel: This indicates the energy efficiency of the tires in terms fax +49 201 177-3030
alexandra.boy@evonik.com
of reduced fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, their
Trade Press
safety when braking on wet roads, and their noise emission Frank Gmach
phone +49 6181 59-13588
levels. An EU regulation requires all tire manufacturers to fax +49 6181 59-713588
provide labeling of this kind from November 2012. frank.gmach@evonik.com
Product Story No. 46, Page 2, March 19, 2012
This marks a step further toward the 20 percent saving of energy
throughout the EU by the year 2020. The classification of tires, as
prescribed from November 2012, extends from the lowest stan-
dard (the red G category) to the highest (the green A category).
Cars with category A (green) tires consume about 7.5 percent less
fuel than those with category G and have a stopping distance
about 18 m shorter on a wet road, from a speed of 80 km/h.
Noise emission as the vehicle drives past is specified in decibels
(dB). Tires emitting less than 69 dB are regarded as particularly
quiet; this corresponds to the A category.
More transparency in tire purchase
In the future, consumers will see at a glance how the tires affect
fuel consumption, wet grip, and noise emission, and can decide
more independently and reliably on what is important to them.
The German Automobile Club (ADAC), Germany‘s largest auto-
mobile association, regards the label as
a useful supplement to its own tests.
Consumers will have access to informa-
tion on at least the three tire properties
shown on the label, and be able to take
this into account in their purchasing de-
cisions. The label is not intended as a
substitute for a comprehensive tire test,
however: Information on mileage and
The classification of tires extends from the
driving characteristics, for example, is lowest standard (the red G category) to the
highest (the green A category). Cars with
lacking, as are data for driving proper- category A (green) tires consume about
ties on snow and ice. “The label will 7.5 percent less fuel than those with category
G and have a stopping distance about 18 m
lead to greater transparency,” says shorter on a wet road, from a speed of
80 km/h.
Christian Buric of ADAC.
Into the green category with the silica-silane system
“We hold the key to the future promotion of as many tires as pos-
sible into the green category for wet grip performance and gas
consumption,” says Hans-Detlef Luginsland, head of the Tire &
Rubber market segment of Evonik Industries. Evonik is the only
supplier worldwide to offer the tire industry the silica-organosilane
reinforcing system, which crucially determines tire tread perfor-
mance. “Without this component, rolling resistance cannot be re-
Product Story No. 46, Page 3, March 19, 2012
duced,” says Luginsland. And everything depends on that: Redu-
ced rolling resistance reduces fuel requirements and thus also
emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate changing gases
generated during fuel combustion. It is also important to adjust
the formulation of the rubber compound so that abrasion is as
low as possible without affecting dry and wet grip. In the rubber
compound, the rubber and silica components are linked together.
Because of their different chemical character, no direct link is
possible. This is where bifunctional organic silicon compounds,
organosilanes for short, come into the picture: They serve as
coupling agents, binding the two substances. For continuous
improvement of the silica-silane system, Evonik‘s chemists, physic-
ists, and engineers are working on refining the silica particles and
fine-tuning the chemistry of the silanes for improved adhesion
promotion.
Getting truck tires rolling
The silica-silane technology is now standard throughout Europe,
at least in passenger cars, for optimizing tire treads for rolling
resistance. “And it‘s state of the art outside Germany as well,”
as Luginsland says, because tires imported into Europe must also
carry a label. Evonik‘s scientists are also working intensively on
making the silica-silane system usable specifically for truck tires;
this would significantly reduce fuel costs also for truck tires.
Evonik is the only supplier worldwide to of-
fer the tire industry the silica-organosilane
reinforcing system, which crucially deter-
mines tire tread performance.Product Story No. 46, Page 4, March 19, 2012
Investments and collaborations for innovation
To be able to offer consumers tires with A and B labels, tire man-
ufacturers must invest in materials development and innovative
products, and rely for this on intensive collaboration with suppliers
of raw materials and subsuppliers, including Evonik. If countries
like China and Korea want to sell tires to Europe in the future,
they will need to systematically come to grips with silica-silane
technology and the corresponding materials.
Evonik is excellently prepared for this development. The company
plans to invest further and expand the worldwide production net-
work. Existing development collaboration and product innovations
will be intensified and pick up speed.
The images may be reproduced free of charge, provided source is stated.You can also read
