Renewable Fillers for Tire Manufacturing
Traditional tire manufacturing relies heavily on petroleum-derived carbon black and synthetic silica fillers, consuming over 8.5 million metric tons annually. Recent environmental regulations and supply chain pressures have intensified the need for renewable alternatives that can match or exceed the reinforcement properties of conventional fillers—particularly surface area (>190 m²/g), dispersibility, and rubber-filler interactions.
The fundamental challenge lies in achieving comparable mechanical performance and processing characteristics while transitioning from well-understood petroleum-based fillers to bio-derived alternatives with inherently variable properties.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including silica derived from rice husk ash, surface-treated microcrystalline lignocellulose, biomass-derived carbon black replacements, and functionalized agricultural waste products. These and other approaches focus on maintaining critical tire performance metrics while reducing environmental impact and dependence on petroleum-based materials.
1. Biomass-derived Fillers
ganggang zhang, jianhan wu, baochun guo - Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025
Towards a global sustainable future and circular economy, the utilization of renewable high-performing biomass-derived fillers for rubber industry is highly desirable but challenging. Carbon black (CB), produced by incomplete combustion or thermal decomposition petroleum hydrocarbons, most dominant reinforcing filler, followed mineral fillers. However, manufacture CB has considerable carbon footprint due to its fossil-based resources; have higher density are generally incompatible with rubbers. It important find abundant, sustainable, cost-effective as substitutes petroleum- coal-derived Biomass-derived fillers, such cellulose nanocrystals, lignin, polysaccharides, biochar, rice husk silica, been extensively explored substitute This chapter provides comprehensive review their applications in industry. The structure, morphology, properties introduced. surface modification processing methods high-performance composites critically reviewed.
2. Green Functional Ingredients
siwu wu, baochun guo - Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025
One of the approaches to develop sustainable rubber products is replace petroleum-based materials with renewable and materials. Many global tire manufacturers have committed using entirely for production by 2050. This requires development suitable bio-based raw materials, from elastomers ingredients. Rubber generally consist complicated material formulations, including more than ten kinds ingredients such as activators, processing oils, antioxidants, fillers, tune processing, curing, physicochemical properties rubbers. chapter aims provide an overview three types potentially discuss their impacts on overall performance systems.
3. Green Tyres
kunal manna, indranil dey, ketaki samanta - Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025
This chapter offers an elaborative background regarding the significance of green tyres over traditional considering their respective environmental impacts. The focus is on sustainable ingredients like alternatives natural rubber, bio-based elastomers/synthetic rubbers, processing oils, reversible crosslinking strategy, sustainable/bio-resourced fillers and tyre cords for compounding rubbers. also discusses economic assessment production cost a better understanding viability process. Several case studies have been exercised systematically documented in each section this exploring thorough literature survey area.
4. Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science
a pizzi - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025
The intense search for polymeric materials derived not from oil but renewable resources, based on novel approaches and aiming to achieve superior performances lower costs, is evident across the entire field of polymer chemistry today [...]
5. Bio-Based Lignin-Rubber Masterbatch with Esterified Lignin for Enhanced Dispersibility
NANJING TECH UNIVERSITY, 2025
Fully bio-based, highly filled lignin-rubber masterbatch for replacing carbon black in rubber. The masterbatch is prepared by mixing modified lignin with rubber. The lignin is modified by esterification with acetic acid and oleic acid to improve compatibility with non-polar rubbers. The modified lignin has reduced hydroxyl group content compared to unmodified lignin. The esterification reaction provides hydrophobic groups to decrease lignin polarity. This improves lignin dispersibility in the rubber matrix.
6. Microwave-Assisted Surface Devulcanization Process for Rubber Compound Recycling
1307843 BC LTD, 2025
Recycling waste tires into useful rubber compounds using microwave-assisted surface devulcanization. The process involves separating metal and fibers from waste tires, micronizing the vulcanized crumb rubber, applying a dose of microwave energy to sever sulfidic crosslinks, mixing the devulcanized rubber with plastic and oil, and extruding it to produce recycled rubber compounds like crumb rubber or end-of-life tire compounds. The microwave devulcanization step enables efficient recycling of waste tires without harsh solvents or chemical compatibilizers.
7. Polysaccharide-Elastomer Masterbatch with Reduced Water Content via Coagulated Dispersion Mixing
NUTRITION & BIOSCIENCES USA 4 INC, 2025
Polysaccharide-elastomer masterbatch for making reinforced rubber compositions with reduced water content. The masterbatch is made by mixing a polysaccharide dispersion with an elastomer latex and then coagulating and drying the mixture. This avoids adding water during masterbatch production, allowing lower water content in the final rubber compound. The polysaccharide provides reinforcement and reduces rolling resistance compared to carbon black. The masterbatch can be used in applications like tires, belts, footwear, coatings, etc.
8. Review of Bio‐fillers Dedicated to Polymer Compositions
malgorzata latosbrozio, kamila rulka, anna masek - Wiley, 2025
Biofillers are functional substances that increasingly added to polymer compositions due their unique properties and sustainable nature. There is a lack of review publication comprehensively describes biofillers from different natural origins in various types polymer, although there many publications focusing on narrow range biofiller applications. The aim this the correlation between effect properties, including mechanical thermal degradation processes etc. scope work covers analysis cellulose (nanocellulose, bacterial cellulose, plant waste raw materials), starch, proteinbased (of animal origin) mineral fillers, as well methods modification improve compatibility with polymers. systematises current knowledge used polymers, indicates challenges faced by use biofillers.
9. Rubber Composition with Cellulose Fillers and Thiosulfuric Acid-Amino Cross-Linking Agent
NIPPON PAPER INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., 2025
Rubber composition containing a rubber component and cellulose-based fillers that exhibits favorable strength. The composition includes a rubber component, cellulose fillers, and a cross-linkable compound with thiosulfuric acid and an amino group. Kneading the components improves strength. The thiosulfuric acid group facilitates crosslinking during vulcanization, and the amino group enhances filler interaction. This provides improved rubber properties compared to using cellulose fillers alone.
10. Tire Tread Rubber Composition with Bio-Based Lignin-Derivative Modified Silica
ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO LTD, 2024
A tire tread rubber composition containing bio-based compound modified silica that improves dispersion and compatibility of silica in rubber compounds compared to traditional modification methods. The modification uses a bio-based lignin derivative with reactive functional groups that can react with silica. This reduces the silica's hydroxyl content to improve dispersion in rubber. The modification is done using a catalyst and acetylating agent in a simple one-step process. The modified silica can be used in tire treads without issues like gumming or scorching.
11. Tire Incorporating Recycled and Bio-Based Materials in Tread and Reinforced Rubber Plies
GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER, THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2024
A more sustainable tire design with reduced environmental impact by using recycled and bio-based materials in the tire components. The tire comprises a tread with a rubber composition containing recycled and bio-based styrene butadiene rubber, natural rubber, polyisoprene, silica, and bio-based or recycled hydrocarbon resin. The reinforced rubber plies have coatings with recycled or bio-based elastomers, fillers, and plasticizers. The bead can be made with recycled steel. The tread uses recycled and bio-based materials like rice husk ash silica, recycled carbon black, terpene resin, and bio-based antidegradants to further reduce environmental impact.
12. Rubber Composition with Biomass Filler and Diene Elastomer Reinforced by Lignosulfonate
BEIJING LINGLONG TYRE CO LTD, SHANDONG LINGLONG TYRE CO LTD, 2024
Environmentally friendly rubber composition reinforced with biomass filler like lignosulfonate for tire applications. The composition contains diene elastomer, carbon black, biomass filler, antioxidant, zinc oxide, stearic acid, phenolic resin, accelerator, and sulfur. The biomass filler improves tensile properties and reduces hysteresis heat generation compared to traditional carbon black-reinforced rubber. The composition has good balance of properties like elongation, tensile strength, and aging resistance.
13. Rubber Composition with Renewable Content Including Mass Balanced Polymer, Bio-Derived Plasticizer, and Filler System
GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER, THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2024
Rubber composition that can be used for different applications in conjunction with tires components, preferably tires treads or tire tread components components, and which has a majority weight percent of renewable content. The composition includes a blend of at least two rubber elastomers comprising or consisting of: greater than 50 phr of at least one mass balanced polymer; at least one bio-derived plasticizer; and a bio-derived filler system comprising silica and carbon black.
14. Tire Tread Composition Incorporating Biomass-Derived Reinforcing Filler from Sugarcane Bagasse Ash
TVS SRICHAKRA LIMITED, 2024
Tire tread rubber composition with lower rolling resistance using biomass derived reinforcing filler from sugarcane bagasse ash. The composition contains natural rubber, neodymium catalyst polymerized butadiene rubber, carbon black, silane coupling agent, and biomass filler. The biomass filler replaces some of the carbon black. The composition has better processability, lower rolling resistance, and lower payne effect compared to conventional carbon black filled tires. The biomass filler provides lower rolling resistance and better processing while maintaining tire performance.
15. Rubber Composite Incorporating Cuttlefish Juice Nanoparticles and Zinc Oxide-Stearin Activator
BEIJING INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL MAT CO LTD, BEIJING INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL MATERIALS CO LTD, 2024
Rubber composite material with improved properties and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional rubber compounds. The composite is made by modifying natural rubber with cuttlefish juice, a biodegradable filler extracted from squid ink. The cuttlefish juice spherical nanoparticles contain melanin and protein/polysaccharide. The composite also uses zinc oxide and stearic acid as activator instead of conventional carbon black. This provides similar property enhancements but with reduced environmental pollution concerns from filler emissions and waste disposal.
16. Tire Rubber Composition Incorporating Renewable Carbon Black Feedstock
ORION ENG CARBONS GMBH, ORION ENGINEERED CARBONS GMBH, 2023
Composition for tire rubber with reduced carbon footprint by using renewable carbon black feedstocks. The composition comprises elastomeric polymer material and a carbon black with at least 10% of the carbon black feedstock being from renewable sources like plant oils. The renewable carbon black improves tire performance while lowering overall CO2 emissions compared to fossil-based carbon black. The composition can be used in tires, belts, hoses, and other rubber products.
17. Rubber Compounds with Functionalized Diene Polymers and Biomass-Derived Silica Fillers
ARLANXEO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2023
Rubber compounds with improved properties for tire treads by combining functionalized diene polymers and silica fillers. The diene polymers have functional groups containing polar groups like -OX, -OR, -COOX, -COOR, -N(R'1)(R'2)X or -N(R'1)(R'2)Xn (X represents H or a cation, n is either 1 or 0, R'1 and R'2 represent independently from each other H, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a -Si(R'4)(R's) group where R' and R's represent independently from each other a C1-C6 alkyl group). The silica filler is obtained from biomass ash like rice husk ash. This specific combination of functionalized diene polymers and sil
18. Composite Material from Recycled Tire Carbon Black with Vegetable Oil Soapstock and Emulsifier
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.
19. Vulcanizable Rubber Mixture with High Filler Content and Devulcanized Tire Tread Regenerates
CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2023
Vulcanizable rubber mixture with high filler content, vulcanizate, and rubber product that have improved rolling resistance while still having good processability. The mixture contains diene rubbers, fillers, and specific rubber regenerates made by devulcanizing recycled tire treads in an extruder. The regenerates are produced from shredded treads of truck and bus radial tires. This allows using more regenerates to reduce virgin rubber, improve sustainability, and reduce viscosity. It resolves the conflict of objectives between processability and rolling resistance for filled rubber compounds.
20. Tire Rubber Composition with Bio-Based Modified Liquid Reclaimed Rubber and Lignin-Derived Additives
ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO LTD, 2023
A tire rubber composition containing modified liquid reclaimed rubber derived from waste tires that improves physical properties, reduces heat generation, and enables recycling of waste tires. The composition contains 100 parts of raw rubber, 30-60 parts of filler, 2-10 parts of bio-based modified liquid reclaimed rubber, vulcanization activator, antioxidant, and vulcanizing agent. The modified liquid reclaimed rubber is made by reacting waste tire rubber and/or powder with lignin and/or lignin derivatives and a peptizer.
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