PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, contracted with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, to use Agilon performance silica by PPG to increase the fuel efficiency of its tires. Goodyear will first use the next-generation reinforcing filler developed by PPG in Efficient Grip tires, a line of high-performance sport-utility-vehicle (SUV) tires debuting in Latin America this month. Goodyear plans to incorporate Agilon performance silica into future high-value-added tire launches in other regions in 2015.
A chemically-modified precipitated silica, Agilon performance silica is a high-value technology that can improve the performance of products in which it is used, says PPG vice president, Anup Jain. When substituted for traditional silica-silane in tire compounds, Agilon performance silica can improve vehicle fuel efficiency, tire traction and treadwear by as much as 5 to 10%.
In addition, because PPG formulates Agilon performance silica by precipitating silica and silane together, tire manufacturers no longer have to perform this non-value-added processing step. This reduces complexity, increases manufacturing efficiency, saves energy and virtually eliminates rubber-mixing-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
In February, PPG announced capacity expansion at its Delfzijl, Netherlands, production facility, planned in large part to meet growing global demand for Agilon performance silica by Goodyear and other tire manufacturers.
PPG pioneered synthetic precipitated silica, becoming one of the first manufacturers to bring them to market in the 1930s. Today, PPG’s silica products group is a global leader in the manufacture of precipitated silica for use as reinforcing fillers in tire, industrial, footwear and silicone rubber applications; as microporous fillers in battery separator applications; as flatting and thickening agents in coating, adhesive and sealant applications; and as anti-caking, free-flow and carrier agents in food, feed and industrial applications. As part of PPG’s specialty coatings and materials business, the silica products group serves customers through a global network of manufacturing, research, and technical-support facilities.
