Filler research revealed at Tire Technology Expo 2010
RockTron, a world leader in innovative eco-mineral recycling technology, has revealed exciting new results at Tire Technology Expo 2010.
This research, carried out by ARTIS on RockTron’s Advanced Products, highlighted the possibility of cost reduction in addition to using an eco-friendly, recycled filler. These results will help RockTron assist the tire industry, offering 100% recycled fillers that reduce CO2 emissions, cut costs, and improve tire performance, increasing manufacturers’ margins and protecting their bottom line.
RockTron’s advanced products director, Godfrey Short, presented these new results to high-profile attendees from over 45 countries. This research shows equivalent air permeation results, when partially replacing carbon black with RockTron MinTron 7 in a bromobutyl passenger tire liner formulation. These are initial results and, following further work, the true cost reduction potential will be realised.
RockTron’s Advanced Products include hollow and solid alumino-silicate microspheres (<1 to 300 microns) and solid paramagnetic microspheres, designed to replace conventional and man-made inorganic fillers / extenders such as talc, GCC, glass fibers, precipitated silica, carbon black, and microspheres. These products can also be used as functional fillers in rubbers and plastics, to give improved physical properties including sound absorption, electrical conductivity, and improved wear resistance for components and coatings. For example, RockTron’s products reduce vehicle weight and so improve fuel efficiency.
RockTron's fundamental advantage is that its products are naturally spherical; beneficiation removes surface alkali salts to enhance performance. Other attributes include no VOCs, lower melt viscosity and lower density than many other inorganic fillers. RockTron’s glass microspheres (Mohs hardness scale = 5-6) ensure low oil absorption, reducing the amount of expensive resin required. Equally, they can be coated to change their surface chemistry for use in coatings, plastics, elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, electronics and others.
“RockTron’s technology gives rubber and tire manufacturers, compounders and end users what they have been looking for; namely a new range of 100% recycled, high-performance eco-minerals with an impressive commercial advantage,” stated Short.
These latest results from ARTIS augment the research undertaken last year, which showed that in a silica passenger tire compound, RockTron’s Advanced Products demonstrated increased tan δ at 0ºC (predicts improved tire wet grip) and reduced tan δ at 70ºC (predicts reduced tire rolling resistance).
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