Evonik to present VESTENAMER® for efficient tire production at Tire Technology Expo 2017

At Tire Technology Expo 2017 in Hanover, Germany, Evonik will present VESTENAMER®, a process additive with unique properties for efficient tire production. 

The VESTENAMER® process additive simplifies the mixing and production of various tire compounds. It also improves dispersion of difficult polymer mixtures and reduces the viscosity of the compound while generally leaving the positive dynamic properties of the vulcanizate unaffected or increasing these even further in some cases. 

Improved processability for rubber compounds
Advanced high-performance tires are required to have low rolling resistance and excellent wet traction combined with high abrasion resistance. This can be achieved only by using highly active fillers such as carbon black and especially precipitated silicas. Particularly when it comes to mixtures with high filler concentrations, multi-stage mixing processes is required in order to achieve a good dispersion. As a dispersion aid, VESTENAMER® can significantly shorten mixing cycles and at the same time optimize batch consistency in production. As a result the number of mixing steps in the process can be reduced and the process more efficiently designed. 

High hardness, outstanding abrasion resistance, and very low compression set are the important requirements on compounds for rim strips. VESTENAMER® improves the processability of the rubber compound by reducing the viscosity at the mixing temperature and so preventing "bagging" at the rolling mill. 

Thanks to its crystallinity and high recrystallization rate below the melting range, VESTENAMER® results in excellent dimensional stability in extrusion processes. By reducing internal friction, the addition of VESTENAMER® can significantly reduce the reversion of natural rubber. When mixing incompatible elastomers—due to differing polarities—Evonik's process additive can greatly improve compatibility.

A process additive with unique properties 
VESTENAMER® is a semicrystalline additive also called trans-octenamer rubber (TOR). As a polymeric processing aid it acts as a plasticizer in rubber compounds during mixing and processing. However, during vulcanization of the rubber component it is crosslinked along with the rubber and as an elastomer is fully integrated into the polymer network. Thus, the excellent properties of the mixture remain stable in the final application.

Learn more about VESTENAMER® for efficient tire production at our booth, C816, at the Tire Technology Expo in Hanover between February 14 and 16.

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Further information is available at www.vestenamer.com