News
Russian Dandelion to be a source of natural rubber?
Recent research conducted by Bridgestone Americas to develop a sustainable source of natural rubber has produced promising results, which indicate that the Russian Dandelion can become a commercially viable, renewable source of high-quality, tire-grade rubber. In 2011 Ford announced that it had also carried out research pointing to the Russian Dandelion as a natural source of rubber.
Bridgestone Americas is one of several collaborators taking part in the Russian Dandelion project led by the Program for Excellence in Natural Rubber Alternatives (PENRA) based at the Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Bridgestone’s specific role in the project is to examine the performance of the rubber produced by using natural rubber extracted from Russian dandelion.
Dr Hiroshi Mouri, president, Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology said, "We know that there are more than 1,200 types of plants from which natural rubber could in theory be harvested, but finding one that could practically produce the quality and amount of rubber needed to meet the demands of today's tire market is a challenge.”
Additional testing on Russian Dandelion-harvested natural rubber will be carried out in 2012 at the Bridgestone technical labs in Akron and Tokyo, with larger scale testing to follow in 2014.
MORE NEWS
Continental receives VDI Award
Apollo Tyres opens Bangkok sales office
Hankook and DTM extend supply deal
Study highlights Michelin's agricultural tech
SEARCH THE SITE
Web Exclusives
Supplier spotlight: Lanxess
Tires that are produced using Lanxess' specialty chemicals, have beneficial properties for motorists
Read Now
Show review 2013: Best show ever!
This year's Expo proved a great success, with an even bigger and better selection of the latest developments and manufacturing technologies on show at Tire Technology Expo 2013
Read Now
Conference speaker: Saied Taheri
The associate professor at Virginia Tech and director of the Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) on how intelligent tires are affecting ABS and ESC systems
Read Now
Interview: Christoph Kalla, Lanxess
Labeling is set to change the tire industry at every level. Lanxess' vice president marketing and R&D explains what will be affected and how
Read Now
Cordiant's Yaroslavl Tyre Plant
Automation is taking Yaroslavl to a new level of productivity, as Cordiant Group’s plant undergoes major changes
Read Now
Supplier Spotlight
We are building a list of leading suppliers covering all aspects of the tire industry. Want to see your company included? Contact cheryl.standley@ukipme.com for more details.
Submit your industry opinion
Do you have an opinion you'd like to share with the tire technology community? We'd like to hear your views and opinions on the leading issues shaping the industry. Share your comments by sending up to 500 words to graham.heeps@ukipme.com
Submit Your Recruitment Ad
To send us your recruitment advertising or to receive information on placing a banner please email cheryl.standley@ukipme.com