US tyre additives solutions provider Flexsys says that it has developed the industry’s first viable alternative to 6PPD. This alternative chemistry, the result of years of intensive research by Flexsys and collaboration with federal and independent research laboratories, is designed to meet the rigorous technical and toxicological requirements to replace 6PPD.
Immediately after the identification of 6PPD-quinone in 2020, a transformation product produced from the use of 6PPD in tyres, Flexsys set out to develop a scalable and cost-effective replacement for 6PPD – a chemical that has been the global industry standard antidegradant used in all tyres for the last 50 years.
It adds that testing conducted at its innovation centre and at independent third-party laboratories and with tire industry partners indicates Flexsys’ replacement chemistry is on track to meeting targets, including:
* Providing short- and long-term protection to tyres against degradation
* Minimising changes to rubber compound formulations when substituting the new chemistry, facilitating accelerated adoption of the new chemical.
* Meeting applicable environmental and regulatory benchmarks, including the 6PPD Alternatives Assessment Hazard Criteria developed by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
* Relying on chemistry outside the “PPD” family that does not form “quinone” during use, thus eliminating the impact of quinone on the environment entirely.
In summary, it adds that unlike other attempts across the industry to eliminate 6PPD to date with nascent research on viability, Flexsys’ extensive testing indicates it will achieve its targets allowing 6PPD to be replaced at a rapid pace, meet tyre safety standards, comply with environmental regulations and requirements, and support the sustainability goals of automakers and tyre manufacturers.
For 50 years, 6PPD has been the industry standard for protecting tyres from cracking and degradation. Studies published in 2020 indicated that a 6PPD transformation product 6PPD-quinone can pose risks to aquatic species, particularly coho salmon. This discovery prompted tyre manufacturers and regulators globally to seek alternatives addressing environmental concerns. Flexsys says its newly developed solution is poised to meet that need.
Flexsys gratefully acknowledges the Akron, Ohio-based Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub and the Akron Polymer Industry Cluster for their partnership. The Tech Hub is part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hubs Program and seeks to advance global materials development and reshore supply chains by commercialising new polymer technologies.
Building on successful collaborations with tyre industry partners to date on testing, adoption and roll-out, Flexsys is now turning its attention to optimising the process chemistry to allow for efficient world-scale production.