Green Materials used for Tire Production
Traditional tire manufacturing consumes over 800 million gallons of petroleum-derived materials annually, with each passenger tire requiring 7 gallons of oil equivalent. Recent analyses show that replacing even 30% of petroleum-based compounds with bio-derived alternatives could reduce the carbon footprint of tire production by 25-35%, while maintaining critical performance metrics like wet grip and rolling resistance.
The core challenge lies in developing bio-based elastomers and fillers that match the performance characteristics of petroleum-derived materials without compromising tire safety, durability, or manufacturing scalability.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including biobased rubber compounds derived from plant oils, elastomer blends incorporating fermentation residues, biodegradable fillers from organic waste, and rubber compositions using recycled textile fibers. These and other approaches demonstrate how tire manufacturers can reduce petroleum dependency while maintaining or improving tire performance specifications.
1. Rubber Aging Stabilizer Compound with 2-(p-Phenylenediamine)-m Substituted Benzoate Structure
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH, 2025
Aging stabilizer compound for rubber products like tires that provides improved protection against oxygen and ozone degradation compared to traditional aromatic amine stabilizers. The compound has the formula I: 2-(p-phenylenediamine)-m substituted benzoate (or ester) with m=0 or 1. It can be synthesized by reacting the diamine with a carboxylic acid. The compound has lower hazard potential than aromatic amines and good solubility in the rubber matrix. It can be used in rubber mixtures for tires and other rubber articles to prevent aging and blooming.
2. Rubber Formulations with Vinylbenzocyclobutane-Containing Statistical Copolymer for Self-Curing
Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, 2025
Rubber formulations that can be cured without traditional curatives like zinc oxide and sulfur. The formulations contain a statistical copolymer made from conjugated diene monomers and vinylbenzocyclobutane. When heated, the vinylbenzocyclobutane segments crosslink with each other and other double bonds in the polymer to cure the rubber without additional curatives. The statistical distribution of vinylbenzocyclobutane promotes even crosslinking density. The formulations are useful in tire applications as they reduce cost and environmental impact compared to traditional curing methods.
3. Reclaimed Carbon Black with Reduced Particle Size via Aqueous Milling Process
Beyond Lotus LLC, 2025
Improving the processing and performance of reclaimed carbon black recovered from tire pyrolysis by milling it in water to reduce particle size and dispersibility. The milled reclaimed carbon has volume-weighted D50 particle sizes less than 2700 nm with low proportions of large particles. This milled reclaimed carbon can be used as a filler in rubber composites at similar loadings to virgin carbon black. The milling and dispersion improves rubber properties compared to unprocessed reclaimed carbon. The milling step involves mixing the pyrolysis carbon with water to form a slurry, then milling it to a desired particle size.
4. Rubber Compositions with Phenolic Resin and Phenolic Epoxide Reinforcing System and Controlled Epoxy to Hydroxyl Group Ratio
COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, 2025
Rubber compositions with reduced formaldehyde content and improved properties for tire applications. The compositions contain a reinforcing resin system made of a phenolic resin and a phenolic epoxide. The ratio of epoxy groups to hydroxyl groups in the system is controlled to be between 0.05 and 5. This prevents excessive formaldehyde formation during curing by eliminating the need for methylene donors like hexamethylenetetramine. The compositions also have improved physical properties like rigidity, hysteresis, elongation, and uncured viscosity compared to conventional reinforcing resin systems.
5. Rubber Composition Incorporating Polyalkylene Succinate Adipate Resin and Peroxide Crosslinking Agents
Sung Yull LEE, 2025
Biodegradable rubber composition that aims to improve biodegradability compared to conventional rubber. The composition replaces some of the traditional rubber components with biodegradable materials like polyalkylene succinate adipate (PASA) resin. Crosslinking agents like peroxides are used to join the biodegradable materials together. The resulting biodegradable rubber has enhanced biodegradation efficiency compared to conventional rubber.
6. Enzyme-Modified Vulcanized Rubber Particles with Surface Functionalization for Enhanced Integration into New Rubber Mixtures
Vibracoustic SE, 2024
Recycling rubber waste by modifying the surface of vulcanized rubber particles using biotechnology to enable better integration into new rubber mixtures. The process involves using enzymes to selectively oxidize and cleave the rubber chains at the surface of the particles without breaking the sulfur bonds. The modified particles have functional groups on the surface that allow them to be used as active fillers in new rubber mixtures with similar properties to the original rubber. This avoids the properties deterioration that occurs when devulcanizing vulcanized rubber. The modified particles can be made from waste vulcanized rubber like tire granules.
7. Tire Tread Rubber Composition Incorporating Hydrophobic Rice Bran Silica with Liquid Unsaturated Fatty Acid
KOREA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS CONVERGENCE TECH, KOREA INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS CONVERGENCE TECHNOLOGY, 2024
Eco-friendly tire tread rubber composition with improved dispersibility that replaces some of the silica with a hydrophobic rice bran silica prepared by mixing rice bran silica with a liquid unsaturated fatty acid. This improves dispersion of the filler in the rubber matrix compared to using rice bran silica alone. The hydrophobic rice bran silica provides environmental benefits from rice bran waste while maintaining dispersion and processing properties.
8. Rubber Composite Material Incorporating In-Situ Regenerated Waste Rubber Powder for Tire Treads
Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., Beijing Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., SHANDONG LINGLONG TIRE CO LTD, 2024
Rubber composite material for tire treads that uses waste rubber powder in-situ regenerated during the tire tread preparation process. The method involves adding a regeneration agent along with the other tire tread ingredients and processing them together. This allows the waste rubber powder to regenerate and participate in forming the tire tread cross-linked network. It avoids the energy-intensive step of regenerating the waste rubber separately before adding it to the tread. This minimizes the impact of the waste rubber on tire properties and reduces carbon emissions compared to using unregenerated waste rubber.
9. Rubber Compound Incorporating Recycled Tire Carbon Black with Specific Particle Characteristics and Additive Blend
ANHUI RUIBANG RUBBER ADDITIVES GROUP CO LTD, 2023
Environmentally friendly material for improving fatigue resistance and flexibility of rubber products made from recycled tire carbon black (rCB), vegetable oil soapstock, emulsifier, binder, and modifier. The rCB has specific particle size, surface area, and transmittance. The method involves mixing these components to prepare the material, which can be used as a replacement for traditional carbon black in rubber compounds to enhance fatigue and flexural properties while reducing cost and environmental impact compared to virgin carbon black.
10. Bio-Based Compound Modified Liquid Reclaimed Rubber via High-Temperature Reaction with Lignin Derivatives and Peptizing Agent
ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO LTD, 2023
Bio-based compound modified liquid reclaimed rubber for tire applications that replaces traditional plasticizers, tackifying resins, and softeners. The modified rubber is prepared by high-temperature reaction of reclaimed rubber, lignin derivatives, and a peptizing agent. This bio-based rubber can be used to partially or fully replace conventional additives in tire rubber compositions to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact compared to petroleum-based additives.
11. Biobased Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Specific Raw Rubber and Additive Ratios
SHANDONG CHAMBROAD ZHONGJU NEW MAT CO LTD, SHANDONG CHAMBROAD ZHONGJU NEW MATERIAL CO LTD, 2023
Tire tread rubber composition with high biobased content and reduced carbon footprint. The tread rubber is made by mixing specific amounts of raw rubber, reinforcing filler, activator, plasticizer, anti-aging agent, accelerator, and vulcanizing agent. The composition aims to replace fossil-based rubber with biobased rubber, like itaconate rubber, to reduce dependence on petroleum. The low-temperature vulcanization process and omitting silane coupling agent further reduce carbon emissions. The composition provides tires with high biobased content, good wet grip, and lower rolling resistance.
12. Rubber Composition for Tire Treads with Renewable Elastomer and Biobased Resin Blends
GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER, THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2023
Rubber composition for tire treads with a majority of renewable components for improved sustainability. The composition contains blends of natural rubber, polybutadiene, and styrene-butadiene copolymer elastomers. It replaces conventional petroleum-derived elastomers with renewable alternatives. The composition also uses biobased resins, processing aids, and silica fillers. The goal is to create tire treads with high renewable content without sacrificing performance.
13. Rubber Composition with Renewable Natural Rubber, Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer, Polybutadiene, Bio-Derived Resin, Vegetable Oil, Silica, and Bio-Based Carbon Black
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 2023
Rubber composition for tire components with majority renewable content. The composition contains blends of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer, and polybutadiene, along with bio-derived resin, vegetable oil, and fillers like silica and bio-based carbon black. The bio-derived components replace fossil-based materials to make the tire rubber more sustainable.
14. Bioengineered Rubber Composition Comprising Epoxidized Natural Rubber, Bio-Based Elastic Material, Wheat Straw Powder, Ethanol, Silane Coupling Agent, and Vulcanizing Agent
Mengla County Manzhuang Rubber Co., Ltd., MENGLA MANZHUANG RUBBER CO LTD, 2023
Bioengineered rubber made from renewable resources with improved properties compared to conventional rubber. The bioengineered rubber is prepared by combining epoxidized natural rubber, bio-based elastic material, wheat straw powder, ethanol, silane coupling agent, and vulcanizing agent. The specific component proportions can vary within certain ranges. The bioengineered rubber has enhanced elasticity, flame retardance, wear resistance, weather resistance, and low temperature flexibility compared to conventional rubber.
15. Tire Comprising Renewable Raw Material-Based Plasticizer, Filler, and Tree Resin Components
CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2023
Tire that is composed more sustainably and at the same time has no significant disadvantages in terms of its physical properties. The tire contains a plasticizer made from renewable raw materials, preferably vegetable oil, particularly preferably rapeseed oil, and a filler made from renewable raw materials, preferably silica produced from rice husk ash, and a tree resin, preferably colophony resin.
16. Rubber Composition Incorporating Biomass-Derived Extracts and Carbon Black for Tire Manufacturing
HANKOOK TIRE & TECH CO LTD, HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2023
Rubber composition for tires made from biomass sources like coffee grounds that replaces petroleum-based components. The composition uses extracts and byproducts from lipid-rich biomass like coffee grounds to replace conventional processing oils, fillers, accelerators, and antioxidants. The extraction involves using solvents like alcohols and hydrocarbons to simultaneously extract oil, fatty acids, and phenols from biomass. The extract, called an all-in-one activator, is used in the tire composition along with biomass-derived carbon black. This allows using biomass as a source for tire components instead of petroleum-based ones.
17. Rubber Compound Incorporating Recycled Textile Fibers with Butadiene, Isoprene, and Styrene Butadiene Rubbers and Reinforcing Agent
FUJIAN PUTIAN LIANSHENG SHOES IND CO LTD, FUJIAN PUTIAN LIANSHENG SHOES INDUSTRY CO LTD, 2023
Rubber material containing recycled textile fibers that is environmentally friendly and can be used in applications like tires, belts, and shoe soles. The rubber compound is prepared by combining textile fibers, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, and reinforcing agent. The textile fibers can be recycled materials like scraps from shoe production or old shoes. The rubber compound provides properties like strength and tear resistance. The rubber material can be prepared by compounding the ingredients and processing them into the desired shape.
18. Rubber Regeneration Method Using Hydrazine Activator and Vegetable Oil Softener
SLANIEWSKI ALEXANDER A, 2023
A method for regenerating rubber from waste tires using environmentally friendly reclaimers. The method involves mixing granulated rubber with a softener, regeneration activator, catalyst, and solvent. The activator contains hydrazines, the softener is vegetable oil, the catalyst is a metal salt, and the solvent is alcohol. This mixture is agitated for 25-30 minutes before adding the catalyst. The resulting regenerated rubber has properties similar or better than virgin rubber.
19. Recycled Rubber Composition Utilizing Biological Softeners, Natural Reinforcing Agents, and Eco-Friendly Activators
KUNMING FENGHUANG RUBBER CO LTD, 2022
Environmentally friendly recycled rubber from waste tires that meets regulatory standards like REACH, ROHS, and SGS. The recycled rubber is prepared using biological softeners, natural reinforcing agents, and environmentally friendly activators instead of coal tar and petroleum pitch. The ingredients are mixed, desulfurized, and refined to produce the recycled rubber. The biological softeners are acidified animal and vegetable oils, the reinforcing agents are natural resins like pine root oil or shellac, and the activators are lignin, molasses, or fatty acids.
20. Composite Rubber Material Incorporating Ambiently Ground Tire Particles
William B. Coe, 2021
A novel composite rubber material technology called PRISM Thermoplastic Rubber (PTR) that uses ground tires as a primary feedstock. The process involves grinding whole tires into small rubber particles using ambient conditions rather than cryogenic or wet methods. The ground tire rubber (GTR) particles are then compounded into a new rubber material with similar properties to virgin rubber. The PRISM PTR can be readily integrated into tire manufacturing using conventional methods and chemistry, providing a sustainable and cost-beneficial alternative to traditional tire production.
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