Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWMBISYKA project has developed a novel synthetic rubber that causes 30 to 50 percent less abrasion and thus offers a promising alternative to natural rubber for truck tires. The mechanical properties were optimized by integrating specific biocomponents and analyzing dandelion rubber.
Biomimetic synthetic rubber in innovative elastomer composites
Completed research project
Project description
The BISYKA joint project aimed to develop a novel synthetic rubber that matches or exceeds the mechanical properties of natural rubber, especially its abrasion resistance. The starting point was the analysis of the specific biocomponents of natural rubber, especially from dandelions, whose properties were transferred to the synthetic rubber. The newly developed BISYKA rubber contains highly microstructurally pure polyisoprene as well as relevant bio-components and was synthesized on a pilot scale. The use of silica fillers enabled precise adjustment of the agglomeration and aggregation behavior, optimizing abrasion resistance and strain-induced crystallization. This enables the large-scale production of synthetic rubber, which represents a sustainable and high-efficiency alternative to natural rubber for high-performance truck tires.
Transfer of project results to the following Fraunhofer IWM R&D services for companies:
- Tribological characterization of rubber materials with silica fillers
Funding information
