11 Oct 2004
Tokyo--Yokohama Rubber Co has reportedly developed a thermoplastic rubber compound that could be used in tyres. A report in today's Nihon Kasei Shimbun says, "The new material is produced simply by heating and cooling a compound of isoprene rubber and aminotriazole. It can be easily recycled by heating and melting at a temperature of 250 C (482 F) and then solidifying it at less than 200 C".
The report says the material has a resilience about 80 percent of that of vulcanised rubber, yet is three times as strong, and that these properties are retained even after ten melt-freeze cycles.
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Nihon Kasei Shimbun (Japan) story (Access may require subscription to Nikkei)
Website of Yokohama Rubber Co
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