PRA Jan-Feb 2012 RJA Industry News

Rubber Journal Asia Industry News

Guayule protected in markets Yulex has effected patents to protect its methods for guayule extraction

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S-based guayule rubber maker Yulex has taken up patents in the US, Europe, Mexico and South Africa to cover its commercial methods for latex and resin extraction from the desert shrub. Yulex has patent protection throughout Europe, particularly in those regions with climates suitable for growing guayule including Greece, Cyprus, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

In general, the patents are directed to methods for cultivating, harvesting, defoliating and decorticating, as well as chemical and mechanical extraction of a premium quality latex and resin (for example bioadhesives).

Yulex has developed a portfolio of biobased elastomers derived from the guayule plant, which is grown in the US. It says, “The materials have been developed specifically to improve physical properties over other forms of latex. We have also developed methods that give the materials improved performance, elasticity, softness and strength.”

The company says its elastomers are designed to replace traditional tropical or petroleum-based rubber for consumer, industrial and medical markets, with

Latex dispersion conference in Kuala Lumpur

the residual agricultural materials utilised as a feedstock for bioenergy.

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his year, the information group of Smithers Rapra Technology iSmithers has selected Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the venue for its seventh annual international conference on Latex & Synthetic Polymer Dispersions.

To be held from 13-14 March, the conference will feature presentations from international companies. To date, companies that have registered include Aerofoam Manufacturing, Crown Packaging UK, Dow Corning Thailand, Dow Corning Singapore, International Latex and Tecnilatex. From Malaysia, companies that are attending include Ansell, Rubber Research Institute, Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, Regent Hospital Products, Rubberex and Smart Glove.

The technical briefing will have five main sessions focusing on naturally occurring and synthetic latices; nanotechnology in latex and synthetic polymer dispersions; gloves; standards and regulations.

Opening the session, No Dock Moung, from the International Rubber Study Group, will focus on the performance of latices from different botanical sources and also the characterisation of natural rubber latex. Professor Katrina Cornish from the Ohio State University will discuss the effectiveness of some biobased fibres and fillers; new developments in the characterisation of natural rubber latex (NRL) and the effect of natural starch on the mechanical and biodegradation properties of NRL.

Deals pave the way for asphalt market in China

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S firm Guggenheim Global Infrastructure (GGI) has acquired a majority stake in Chinabased asphalt rubber (AR) specialist King Tech International (KTI). GGI says the buy is a strategic fit since China has an ongoing need to expand its road network. It also said, “KTI has an experienced technical team with more than 35 years of AR design and paving experience.” KTI has conducted several test pilot projects aggregating over 25,000 tonnes of AR in the Chinese mainland as well as Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Dutch firm AkzoNobel has completed its acquisition of China’s speciality surfactant producer Boxing Oleochemicals that supplies nitrile amines and derivatives used in a variety of industrial and consumer applications including fabric softeners, asphalt additives and hair conditioners.

The acquisition will further strengthen AkzoNobel’s position in speciality surfactants while enhancing its manufacturing footprint in Asia. This transaction was first announced in July 2011.

Established in 1993 and based in the province of Shandong, Boxing had a revenue of EUR100 million in 2010. Its activities will be integrated into AkzoNobel’s Surface Chemistry business.

Joachim Storsberg from Fraunhofer IAP will look at latices from renewable sources and Professor Chee Ho will cover new developments in emulsion polymerisation.

The second day of the conference will look at the latest developments in the use of nanotechnology and following presentations from Professor Sabu Thomas, Siby Varghese and Ranimol Stephen, delegates will be given the opportunity to put questions to the panel of speakers.

Major players like Ansell will present a case study on synthetic polyisoprene latex condom. Meanwhile, a session dealing specifically with gloves will highlight the world’s first surgical glove with an antimicrobial coating on the inside surface and how it can be made functional and eco-friendly.

Finally there will be round-up of the latest standards and regulations affecting the industry from leading industry experts like William D. Potter, Satish Champaneri and David Kostyal.

To encourage attendance from the ASEAN region, the conference organiser is offering a special reduced rate for attendees. There are also a limited number of table-tops available at the event as well as a number of sponsorship opportunities.

For further information about this conference, please contact Helen Charlesworth, E-mail: hcharlesworth@ismithers.net Or visit: www.polymerconferences.com

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Rubber Journal Asia Carlisle sells PDT rubber unit

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S company Carlisle has completed the sale of its non-roofing and waterproofing unit of its German company, PDT Phoenix, to Switzerlandbased Datwyler Group.

The business unit makes elastomer profiles for use in applications for tunnels, rail, windows and facades.

Rubber glut expected

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he latest report from investment bank Goldman Sachs points to a rubber glut this year.

World supply will increase 7% to 11.8 million tonnes as demand rises 3% to 11.4 million tonnes.

Inventories among

members of the Kuala Lumpur-based Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), representing about 92% of global production, will expand 12% to 1.45 million tonnes this year.

Stockpiles held by processors and traders in China reached 365,600 tonnes by the end of December, compared with 46,100 tonnes at the end of July, said the ANRPC. This year, of the three main producers, accounting for 70% of production, Thailand expects to increase its output by 8% to 3.7 million tonnes, Indonesia will harvest 5.1% more at 3.1 million tonnes with supply in Malaysia remaining unchanged at 1million tonnes.

Tyre news

Sibur opts out of tyre business

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etrochemical firm Sibur has completed the sale of 100% of Sibur-Russian Tyres (SRT) to a group of investors including the management of SRT and Vadim Gurinov, former CEO of Russia’s largest tyre manufacturer. The disposal follows the restructuring of SRT with the sale of two of its non-core plants, OAO SIBUR- Volzhskiy, a manufacturer of synthetic fibres, which was acquired

by CJSC Gazprom Stroy and OAO Volzhkiy Nitrogen and Oxygen Plant, which specialises in commercial-grade gas

production and was sold to the ROEL Group.

RFID in tyres

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oodyear has launched its first ever RFID incorporated tyres. The company has chosen its Regional RHT II trailer tyre of size 435/50R19.5 to incorporate RFID allowing for advantages to fleet operators such as reduced downtime, improved safety and tyre management. Goodyear plans to extend the RFID technology to other tyre types and sizes in the future. There are also plans on the anvil for adapting this technology to monitor real-time tyre pressure and temperature.

Rubber Journal Asia Tyre news

Tie-up for automotive solutions

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wedish company Trelleborg and Freudenberg have formed a 50:50 joint venture to produce antivibration solutions for light and heavy vehicles. The new joint venture will comprise Trelleborg Automotive’s operations in anti-vibration solutions and Freudenberg’s corresponding unit known as Vibracoustic.

At the end of 2010, total annual sales for the joint venture were estimated at SEK12 billion, with 8,100 employees in 17 countries.

Trelleborg’s anti-vibration business accounted for about 75% of sales in the subsidiary and had annual sales of SEK6.3 billion and 5,200 employees. Trelleborg Automotive’s operations outside the area of antivibration were not affected.

Cooper seals business deal

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S-based supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry Cooper Standard has acquired the automotive sealing business of Italian supplier Sigit, which operates in Italy and Poland. Sigit sealing has supplied the automotive industry since 1966 and currently supplies global car makers like Fiat, Ford Motor, General Motors, Renault, Volkswagen and major Tier 1 suppliers, including Denso, Johnson Controls, Lear and TRW.

Technology news

Root tapping started off in India

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ndia’s Rubber Board recently inaugurated the tapping of rubber plants through the root trainer technique in the state of Kerala, South India. Developed by the Rubber Research Institute of India, plants are grown in specially designed plastic cups called root trainers.

Development of a healthy root system comprising straight and deep growing tap root and profuse lateral roots is the main feature of the plants. The inside walls of the plastic containers are provided with vertical ridges, for promoting healthy growth of roots and the potting medium used is coir pith.

In field trials, root trainer plants exhibited 100% success on transplanting and also had better growth compared to PE bag plants.

In the plot at Kanjirappally planted in 2005, clones raised through this method and the plants of the same clones raised in PE bags were planted for comparison.

Conti in Mexico

Shoe to incorporate tyre technology

ontinental Tire is planning a multimillion dollar investment

erman tyre maker Continental Tyres is using its technology to

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develop a high-end running shoes together with Adidas.

The tyre maker’s Traction compound technology is being used for the shoe sole to provide a grip on wet and dry roads, it said recently. The company also said the task of preparing rubber compounds for the production of running shoes may be able to open up new fields of application of in the future.

Both companies are sponsors of the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the forthcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

in the ContiLifeCycle tread rubber plant in Central Mexico to double plant space to more than 4,000 sq m and include the addition of extra curing and finishing lines. Continental will now be able to cap more than 1.2 million tyres/year.

New elastomers stretch possibilities

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abot has launched its patented Transfinity elastomer composites, said to improve elastomer durability, wear resistance and vibration isolation.

The products are composites made from elastomer latex, which is a liquid form of rubber, and reinforcing particles, such as carbon black.

The materials are targeted at the mining, defence, automotive and aerospace industries.

An example is extending the range of rubber pads or tracks on military vehicles, allowing for further distances traveled and less need for service operations. Transfinity products can also improve the service life of critical components in airplanes and helicopters.

New possibilities in engineering design are also possible in automotive applications for smaller, lightweight suspension components that reduce vehicle weight.

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Providing a tight seal for Chinese aircraft

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anada-based Simrit, the industrial sealing products division of Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, is supplying a customised silicone seal for the emergency door application in China’s first commercial aircraft.

Specifically designed for the precise requirements of the emergency door application, the seal offers low abrasion and reduced friction characteristics. The company worked on the product at its Canadian facility and Malaysian technology centre.

The single-piece seal is said to provide low temperature capability and successfully satisfied the customer’s load deflection and closure force conditions.

Rubber in grass surface

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S company Liberty Tire Recycling is working with the University of Tennessee´s Centre for Athletic Field Safety to test the potential role that crumb rubber could play in maintaining a natural grass athletic surface. Liberty says crumb rubber could provide benefits like a safer, higher-performing surface and extended play on the surface, particularly in high-traffic areas of the field. Liberty will fund the studies over a two-year period, with tests including simulated foot traffic to determine the best crumb rubber particle size and depth for better field performance, among others.

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Rubber Journal Asia Recycling

Getting to the bottom of recycling of tyres This article by Bob Wrighton takes a tour of

Why implement the process of recycling? ecycling is presently a big issue. Research show that recycling rates for tyres are actually quite high, with the US known to be the highest thrower of used tyres but not keeping up with recycling!

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tyre recycling, exploring new tyre technologies; recycling concepts and how the recycling process ought to be managed.

Geographic Recycling Geographic Recycling Area percentage Area Percentage

Recyclable airless tyres he history of the development of tyres is slightly parallel to the history of the development of the motor car. The motor car has been developing almost continuously but since the introduction of pneumatic tyres at the turn of the last century there have been remarkably few innovations in tyre manufacture, the last one being in 1903, when Goodyear patented a tubeless tyre. This concept didn’t catch on till the mid-1950s, when within five years of their introduction tubeless tyres killed the inner tube industry. So today’s tubeless tyre is one of the few century-old technologies still in general use.

But breakthroughs have been made by Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone and French supplier Michelin on the introduction of airless tyres that are said to be safer, less wasteful and environment friendly in comparison with conventional pneumatic tyres.

Michelin first came up with the airless tyre concept in 2005 and now Bridgestone has followed with models that are 100% recyclable. Introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, Bridgestone’s concept features a mesh of spokes that are made of thermoplastic resin that can be recycled back into a new tyre, eliminating the risk of the tyre landing up in a landfill.

Until now, the company has been testing the tyre in one-seat vehicles and has introduced prototypes of 9 inches at this point only. It expects to scale up the technology to commercial stage soon.

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Western Europe 98%

Japan

91%

Eastern Europe

US

88%

87%

Major factors that are causing the recycling revolution include the increasing acceptance of global warming and climate change theories. Furthermore, in the book titled “Cradle to Cradle” by McDonough and Braungart (Northpoint Press, 2002), it is suggested that in nature, nothing goes to waste, but instead becomes an input for the next phase of existence. As such, the mountains of tyres that have reached the end of their useful life should not simply be discarded.

Secondly, is the increasing availability of information about the components of products and the potential damage they can cause, for instance, in the process of life cycle assessment (LCA). As a result, companies that manufacture products that contain material harmful to the planet are required to take them back when they reach the end of their useful life.

Underlying this is the pressure of legislation in some European countries and states in the US, especially California, that are imposing laws limiting the disposal of tyres. For instance, the European Landfill Directive forbids the disposal of used tyres in landfills and in 2006, it was expanded to include shredded tyres.

Finally, companies are beginning to realise the benefits available from recycling tyres, especially the monetary value and money to be made from the recycling process!

Bridgestone’s recyclable airless tyre has a structure of spokes

Mountains of “black gold” churning profits ew vehicle sales of 13.5 million are forecast for 2012 and each will come with five tyres that need to be recycled at some point in the future. In tyre recycling, the process of pyrolysis is used where tyres are subjected to intense heat under controlled conditions resulting in the recovery of steel, oil and carbon black.

The large residue from the process – the char – was previously unusable, which tended to make the process financially not viable, but new developments have made the char useful, which totally changes the economics now.

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stretching along the inner sides supporting the weight of the vehicle. The spoke is made from reusable thermoplastic resin and along with the rubber in the tread portion the materials used are 100% recyclable, in line with the company’s aim of achieving a “cradle to cradle” process

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