German speciality chemicals firmLanxess says its new rubber additive Vulkanox HS Scopeblue supports tyre manufacturers in producing more sustainable, longer-lasting tyres and in achieving their sustainability goals, since it is a mass-balanced product with lower carbon footprint.
The antidegradant is the sustainable variant of already available antioxidant Vulkanox HS (TMQ), which tyre manufacturers use to protect their products from adverse effects of oxygen and heat. The additive is also characterised by low volatility and low migration tendency.
Compared to the conventionally manufactured product, the carbon footprint of Vulkanox HS Scopeblue is more than 30% lower, achieved by using biocircular acetone and renewable energy in production.
The mass-balanced product is manufactured in an ISCC Plus-certified plant in Germany. Since the overall chemical structure of the product remains unchanged, no modifications to the tyre manufacturing process are required and customers can use Vulkanox HS Scopeblue as drop-in to produce tyres, it adds.
The additive is marketed under the Lanxess Scopeblue label, which stands for products with a particularly low carbon footprint or a high proportion of circular raw materials.