Zeon develops new hydrophilic polymer for winter tires

Tokyo - Zeon Corp. has developed a new “hydrophilic” styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) for winter tires, the Japanese group announced 15 July.

Nipol BR1300 is synthesised using polybutadiene rubber as its structural base, resulting in an “unprecedented level of hydrophilicity” as a material for tires.

Having completed development for tire applications, Zeon said it began the commercial production of the polymer in May 2025 at its Tokuyama plant, Shunan city, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Zeon has been streamlining its rubber portfolio over the recent months, with plans to discontinue low-profitablity products, including ESBR-1 (emulsion-styrene butadiene rubber) and NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) latex by 2026.

The group will, however, continue producing ESBR-2, nitrile butadiene rubber and solution styrene butadiene rubber, which it categorises as “high profitability products”.