Nokian Tires project to increase the use of recycled carbon black

By improving the quality of the carbon black obtained from the recycling of used tires, it will be possible in the future to increase the “regenerated” part of this component in the production of compounds for new tyres. This is the target of the new research and development initiative announced by the Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres. Carbon black, recalls the Scandinavian manufacturer, is used as a reinforcing filler to enhance certain physical properties such as the strength and resistance of the tread. Currently, “recycled” carbon black can be used to partially replace fossil-based virgin carbon black.
The goal of this research is to allow its much wider use”.
The development project will last two years, will be co-financed by the Danish program for Ecological Innovation, and will be coordinated by the Windspace Group. Environmental Waste International, Kiso and the Danish Institute of Technology will also participate in the initiative.
“Nokian Tires has been working for years to produce more sustainable tires and, as a company, we intend to increase our knowledge of recycled carbon black – explains Heini Siekkinen, senior manager research and sustainability of the Finnish company – The achievement of volumes on production of improved recycled carbon black would allow us to test this element in tires and to make comparisons with both virgin carbon black and conventional recycled carbon black.The use of new raw materials – he concludes – requires a lot of work in terms of product development and tests, to be able to find the right combination, given that new raw materials can modify the properties of the compounds. The use of recycled or renewable materials cannot in any way compromise the safety characteristics of the tyres”.