Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/567620
81 www.moderntiredealer.com A passenger tire is composed of 41% rubber, 15% steel, 28% fllers and 16% fabric/other elements. Te rubber itself is 30% to 35% natural rubber, 65% to 70% synthetic rubber. Cooper reports the industry produced 26.6 billion pounds of HNR in 2014, and 70% of it was used by the tire industry. Tere is a limited growing area for the rubber trees, with 70% of production coming from Tailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Rubber tree plantations are vulnerable to drought and disease, which can adversely afect production. Plus, historically, the price of rubber has fuctuated quite a bit. Te production of guayule will assure a stable rubber sup- ply, reduce price volatility and create jobs when it is grown on U.S. soil. And when it is harvested in America, there will be improved logistics for domestic tire plants, Cooper notes. Guayule will reduce global demand for HNR going forward. Cooper says the demand for tires is expected to double in 30 years. An additional 21 million acres of land will be needed for HNR production to meet the increased global demand for tires by 2024. Tis raises questions on the impact of these crops on biodiversity and the ecosystems of the world. Heading the guayule project at Cooper are Chuck Yurkovich, senior vice president, global research and development, and Howard Colvin, senior research scientist, innovative technol- ogy, Global Technical Center. Te Cooper BRDI program's objectives are to: • improve rubber and biomass yield of guayule. • develop technology to produce tire grade guayule. • develop an innovative concept tire based on guayule. Tis includes compound development for each component (guayule is 10% rubber, 10% resin and 80% bagasse, which can be used as a fuel source); processing on factory equipment; and comprehensive testing. • develop guayule crop residues as an energy source. Researchers working with Cooper on the BRDI project are evaluating guayule cultivars to fnd the best one for the project, notes Colleen McMahan, lead scientist, domestic natural rubber, USDA-ARS, Western Regional Research Laboratory. Cooper Tire recently held the industry's frst ride-and-drive event using third generation prototype tires produced with components made from the guayule plant instead of hevea natural rubber tapped from rubber trees. Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 20130