ExxonMobil introduces inner liner revolution - adds new facility

Houston, Texas - ExxonMobil Chemical Company is to introduce a new technology for tyre inner liners. The company will commercialise the new technology later this year. and build a new facility in Pensacola, Florida to extrude the product, due on stream in early 2008, to supply worldwide markets.

The new facility will manufacture a dynamically vulcanised alloy (DVA) of proprietary Exxpro speciality elastomers and polyamide. This new Exxpro-based alloy can be blown into films and used as the air barrier at the inner liner of tyres. ExxonMobil Chemical expects to commercialise the technology in late 2007. Exxpro marks the first major technology advancement to tyre inner liner raw materials since ExxonMobil started producing halobutyl products in 1961.

“The Exxpro-based alloy provides improved air barrier retention versus current commercial alternatives,” said Art Sullivan, butyl polymers global business vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. “Maintaining proper tyre inflation reduces stress and irregular wear, saving millions of gallons of fuel every day.”

Tyre inner liners with the Exxpro-based alloy can be as little as 20 percent of the thickness of a conventional halobutyl inner liner, leading to lighter weight tyres with improved rolling resistance. The new inner liner material has shown a 20 percent improvement in tyre durability, and it also performs well in cold temperatures.

“These new inner liners allow up to 80 percent reduction in hydrocarbon based raw materials versus current inner liner technology,” Sullivan said. “This is a good example of how innovative polymer technologies can promote a sustainable future by reducing both motor fuel consumption and raw material usage.”

ExxonMobil hinted that it could add more facilities quickly, if demand takes off.

In 2004, ExxonMobil Chemical and Yokohama Rubber Company announced significant technical advancements in the area of Exxpro polymer and dynamically vulcanised alloy technology for tire inner liners.

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Press releasefrom ExxonMobil