Abstract:

This paper will address elastomer reinforcing particle technologies for reducing the hysteresis loss of rubber compounds and recent advances in reinforcing materials for truck tire treads.

Keywords:vehicle fuel efficiency; lower rolling resistance tires; elastomer reinforcing agents

Many countries are implementing programs to promote the use of transportation technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  These regulatory programs create a need for more durable, fuel efficient tires.  In addition to the tire design, rubber compound hysteresis contributes to the rolling resistance of tires which affects vehicle fuel economy.
Commercial vehicle operators recognize that tire performance is a driver of total operating cost; therefore they increasingly demand tires that are optimized for reducing the fuel cost of a trucking fleet.  Rolling resistance of truck tires accounts for about 1/3 of the power required to move a heavy-duty truck and is the second contributor, after engine loss, to the total energy loss of heavy-duty trucks.  There is significant market demand for developing tread compounds or tread compound systems that can reduce tire rolling resistance while maintaining the tread wear and durability of truck tires.
This presentation will review reinforcing particle technologies developed for reducing the hysteresis loss of rubber compounds. Approaches applied to and challenges faced for both passenger car and truck tires will be discussed with emphasis on natural rubber based compounds, including recent advances in reinforcing materials for truck tire treads.
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Biography:

Ping Zhang is a materials scientist with Cabot Corporation located at Cabot’s Business and Technology Center in Billerica, Massachusetts.  Ping is involved in the research and development of elastomer reinforcing agents to improve tread wear resistance, enhance the wet traction and reduce rolling resistance of tires.  
Previously he held positions with Pirelli & C. S.p.A, Owens Corning, and with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, where he was involved in developing materials for a variety of applications including vibration damping, noise reduction, wet grip, abrasion resistance and reduction of hysteresis of rubber compounds.
Ping graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania, with a Ph.D. in Polymer Science focusing on the surface and interface characterizations of materials.  He also received M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering/Applied Mechanics and Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan and B.S. degree in Rubber Science and Engineering from South China University of Technology in Guangzhou.
Ping is a member of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society and has organized and co-chaired several symposia on behalf of the Rubber Division.