An American R&D firm’s new tire manufacturing element engineered to improve rolling resistance and wet traction was recently highlighted at the Tire Technology Show in Cologne, Germany.
Momentive Performance Materials presented its line of NXT “silanes” at the event. W. Michael York, the program’s chief, held a conference to discuss the advances.
Silanes have “a unique molecular structure that can dramatically improve silica dispersion, improve processing, reduce ‘hysteresis’ by shortening bond distance, and increase bond strength,” says York. “These performance attributes typically can be achieved simultaneously with dynamic properties representative of equivalent or improved wet traction.” (Hysteresis is a Greek scientific word meaning “deficiency” or “lagging behind.”)
“The new labeling requirements underscore the importance of improving rolling resistance without losing wet traction,” York reports.
Starting in 2012, European legislation will require that a label displaying tire rolling resistance, wet grip and noise ratings be attached to car and light truck tires at the point of sale.
In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has followed suit and established an informational program requiring that a label disclosing rolling resistance, wet traction and wear ratings of car tires be provided to educate consumers about the effects of tires on fuel efficiency, safety and durability.
Last week Momentive announced that it has selected Rensselaer Technology Park – associated with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – in North Greenbush, N.Y., as the site for a new technology center and global headquarters.
Construction is to begin later this year, resulting in some 150 contracting-related jobs. The facilities will employ 250 people with an annual payroll of about $38 million. The technology center will cost $75 million and with 130 workers, and the $16-million HQ will house 120 people. About 125 of the positions will be new hires on completion of the complex.
“We strive to make our customers successful,” says President and CEO Jonathan D. Rich. “To continue to meet and exceed our customers’ needs, we need a world-class technology center for our top-notch talent to design and develop innovative products in order to compete in this highly competitive industry.”
The company’s current interim base is in Albany, N.Y., following its move from Wilton, Conn., in 2008. It has several other research and development centers, including a 60-year-old site in Waterford, N.Y.
In January Momentive established a 22,000 square-foot tire technology lab in Charlotte, N.C., after purchasing “certain assets” and subleasing space from Continental in addition to hiring five researchers previously employed by the tire maker.
“When Continental decided to consolidate an R&D laboratory facility elsewhere, we seized the opportunity to significantly add to our tire and rubber research capability,” says Mike Stout, Momentive’s global marketing manager for tire and rubber.
“Our goal is to help customers more rapidly achieve the benefits they seek, both in terms of design and performance,” notes Chief Technology Officer Eric Thaler. “The Charlotte facility, with its highly trained technical staff and cutting-edge capabilities, will enable us to deliver new value to the industry by better understanding the factors that affect silanes in tire composition.”
With the new lab, Momentive expects to substantially increase the annual amounts of complex compounds tested, provide data with enhanced relevancy and reduce the turnaround time for creating development samples.
“We can now more directly engage our customers with application data and analysis, while shortening their evaluation cycle of new Momentive products,” says John Nicholson, global technology manager for the silanes line. “We have established not only an exceptionally well-equipped R&D facility, but also added a tremendously experienced staff to operate it with 160 years of combined experience in tire development.”
For more information, visit www.momentive.com.
