Goodyear to use silica derived from agri-waste to make tyres

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will manufacture a consumer tyre using silica derived from rice husk ash – an agri-waste – this year in its factory in Pulandian, China, for the Chinese market. Goodyear on June 9, 2015 has reached a supply agreement with Yihai Food and Oil Industry in China for silica derived from rice husk ash.
 
Goodyear has tested silica derived from rice husk ash over the past two years at its Innovation Center in Akron and found its impact on tyre performance to be equal to traditional sources.
 
"Sustainability is a cornerstone of Goodyear’s innovation efforts. This new silica benefits the environment in many ways: It reduces waste going into landfills; it requires less energy to produce; and it helps make tires more fuel efficient,” said Richard Kramer, chairman and CEO, Goodyear.
 
Each year, more than 700 million tonnes of rice are harvested worldwide, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and disposing of the rice husks is an environmental challenge. As a result, husks often are burned to generate electricity and reduce the amount of waste shipped to landfills. While this ash has been converted to silica for several years, only these most recent processes created a silica of a high enough grade to use in tyres.
 
Silica is used as a reinforcing agent in tyre tread compounds. Compared to carbon black, a traditional reinforcing agent for tyres, silica reduces rolling resistance. Lower rolling resistance, in turn, improves a car’s fuel economy. It also can have a positive impact on a tire’s traction on wet surfaces.
 
In addition to the agreement with Yihai, Goodyear is negotiating agreements with additional suppliers.
 
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tyre companies. It employs approximately 67,000 people and manufactures its products in 50 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.