Styron working towards better performing SSBR

Materials company Styron reports that its R&D/TS&D Rubber Team has developed functionalised Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber in response to the European tyre label, and the team is “continuously working” to introduce new grades that will deliver even better performance. “Let's give you one example which speaks by itself to demonstrate how powerful the technology is," commented Styron sales and marketing manager Olivier Véron. “With the introduction of Styron's generation two SSBR 4602, compared with our generation one SSBR 4601 for the rolling resistance we can move from the rating C to B, while maintaining all the other properties identical like the grip and the handling."

Specific improvements offered by SSBR 4602 over its predecessor are given as follows: Over the entire life of a tyre – a distance Styron calculates to be 35,000 kilometres, use of the new SSBR brings a 0.15 litre per 100 kilometre reduction in fuel consumption, which amounts to a total lifetime saving of 53 litres. Given the current average petrol price of £1.30 per litre, this would save around £69 – approximately the price of some “green” tyres now on the market. Vehicle CO2 emissions are also reduced by a hefty 122 kilogrammes, Styron adds.