Tire Tech Expo: Tire wear particles a key topic at Hanover conference

Hanover, Germany - Issues around the measurement, analysis and mitigation of the environmental impact of particles generated by the abrasion of tires on road surfaces will be to the fore at this week’s Tire Technology Expo conference in Hanover.

Setting the scene will be an update on an important research project into tire-emissions, from Daniel Giesen, research manager, World Business Council for Sustainable Development Tire Industry Project (TIP).

Giesen will report on progress of the industry-sponsored tire-emissions study and on new work to improve understanding and mitigate the environmental impact of tire and road wear particles (TRWP).

Michelin is also studying TRWP-generation and emission mechanisms, towards developing innovative solutions that encompass the energy-efficiency and longevity of tires.

At Tire Tech Expo, Frederic Biesse, senior fellow for tire physics and modelling at Michelin, will present the French group’s latest findings about TRWP properties and emissions.

Biesse’s presentation will cover aspects including: the fate of TRWPs in the environment; contribution of TRWPs to air pollution; and the impact of tire design on TRWP emissions

Continental is another major tire maker closely investigating tire particle emissions, including by comparing outdoor TRWP samples with those created on an indoor machine drum. 

In Hanover, Nadine Aschenbrenner, test engineer, Continental AG will discuss how this R&D work can shine new light on the parameters that influence particle size distribution and how they can be controlled.

Interesting new insights into the environmental impact of tire particles will be presented by Erick Sharp, CEO of ACE Laboratories with an ‘evaluation of tire wear particle leachability.’

Sharp’s study covers a range of variables, including high-silica tread compounds versus non-silica tread compounds, slip ratios and G force, and vehicle weight. 

The ACE leader will explore the difference in leachability rates between silica-tread compounds and traditional carbon black tread compounds

Sharp will also report on studies of differences in TWP generation by combustion engine vehicles and heavier electric vehicles as well as the impact of acceleration torque and braking force.

We will report further on these developments on ERJ On-line and in European Rubber Journal magazine...