Major Manufacturers Testing Ekoprena
`There has been an awful lot of interest from all major manufacturers. We have supplied quantities for testing, stated Rubber Consultants` Gail Reader. At present Sumitomo is the only tyre manufacturer commercially producing tyres containing Ekoprena; the Japanese manufacturer first used the substance in the Enasave ES801, a 70 per cent petroleum free tyre released in 2006. The rubber used in this tyre and in the Enasave 97 is the silica-filled Ekoprena 25, a 25 mole per cent epoxidised natural rubber.
Ms Reader explains that epoxidation – that is, a reaction that yields an epoxy compound – increases chemical polarity. In the case of Ekoprena it enables high interaction with silica, which leads to lower rolling resistance in the tyre. Furthermore, epoxidation increases the rubber`s glass transition temperature, a quality that contributes to high wet grip.
Incidentally, another tyre related field in which Rubber Consultants is engaged is the testing for aromatic oils. `Rubber Consultants (TARRC's consultancy unit) is now UKAS accredited to ISO17025 to conduct testing to BS ISO21461:2006, Reader elaborates. Our testing determines aromaticity of oil in vulcanised rubber compounds. As you know, high aromatic oils are now banned in tyres in accordance with EU Directive 2005/69/EC, 16th November 2005. From 1 January 2010 rubber products are not allowed to contain these aromatic oils which contain polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or polynuclear aromatics (PNAs). These tests are carried out at Rubber Consultants` upgraded NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) facility. `The fact that NMR is the recommended test means TARRC is one of the few laboratories worldwide to offer this service, which carries ISO17025 accreditation, Reader comments.
