Japan-based tyre and rubber company Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has successfully developed a new type of natural rubber (NR) that emits significantly less odour. SRI’s “Reduced Odor Natural Rubber” is achieved by suppressing the breakdown of odour-causing non-rubber components, including proteins and lipids that are found within the raw material.
The latest development was doable thanks to the introduction of a proprietary raw material processing technique at Sumitomo’s NR processing plant in Thailand.According to the company, the new material/technique represents “a major step toward solving longstanding odour issues” at NR processing plants, tyre factories and other sites where NR is handled.
NR accounts for approximately 30% of the raw materials that make up a tyre (by weight) – Sumitomo is currently seeking pioneering solutions to the various issues surrounding NR and its use. The company is actively engaged in research and development activities that aim to improve tyre performance, while also better responding to the needs arising out of greater overall environmental awareness worldwide through their efforts to modify the properties of NR.