US-headquartered carbon-based products and advanced materials producer Rain Carbon has opened a state-of-the-art rubber lab at its distillation and advanced materials facility in Duisburg, Germany.
The US$1.3 million lab comprises a complete processing line, starting with a rubber bale cutter, continuing with a highly sophisticated lab station for internal mixing, and concluding with complete analysis employing cutting-edge rubber-process and dynamic-mechanical analysers.
According to Kris Vanherbergen, Executive Vice President of Carbon Distillation and Advanced Materials at Rain Carbon, the investment will enable the company to significantly improve its technical services and targeted product development for the rubber industry, with the intention of positioning the company as a preferred partner in terms of applications and R&D cooperation.
Additionally, Rain Carbon said that the new rubber lab will enable the company to develop new products for safer tires and better fuel economy.
Rain Carbon produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of performance resins/year for the rubber industry, targeted at improving grip and reducing rolling resistance in tyre compounds, as well as enhancing the mechanical dynamic properties of technical rubber articles.