Efficium HDS offers tyre makers productivity gains & greater flexibility, says Solvay Silica

Solvay Silica has released details of its new highly dispersible silica (HDS), which it will bring to market under the Efficium brand name and as part of its Zeosil family of HDS products. The manufacturer reports that the reinforcing filler is currently being trialled and tested by “major tyre manufacturers,” and global demand following Efficium’s commercial launch will be met with production at three different sites.

According to Solvay, Efficium can bring about significant gains in productivity for tyre makers during the mixing and extrusion stages of rubber compound production, while its silanisation control and reformulation opportunities provide added flexibility – and these benefits, Solvay points out, are delivered without compromising on rolling resistance, wear and grip. A further claimed advantage Efficium offers is the way it “strongly facilitates” the conversion from carbon black to HDS compounds.

“We have recognised the needs of tyre manufacturers for a more cost-competitive silica technology to differentiate their product offer with an innovative solution that also supports demanding energy efficient and safety requirements. Efficium highly dispersible silica opens up the answers to these needs on a superior property balance over other silica or silica-based solutions,” states Christian Léger, global business director of Solvay’s Silica Global Business Unit. “Efficium provides a unique and flexible solution to meet the global needs of sustainable mobility.”

Solvay Silica says Efficium‘s wider operating window is characterised by lower Mooney viscosity, lower temperature sensitivity, better dimensional stability during extrusion and extended storage life of uncured rubber. The results is a product said to cut the processing gap, when compared with carbon black, by 40 to 60 per cent for passenger car tyre compounds and 60 to 80 per cent for truck tyre compound formulations.

”The benefits of Efficium have been analysed and confirmed at industrial scale under realistic conditions. Both passenger car and heavy-truck were manufactured tyres then road tested with substantial results,” shares Jean-Francis Spindler, Solvay Silica’s research and innovation director. “For truck tyre tread compounds, Efficium HDS delivers significant productivity benefits of up to 30 per cent in mixing and extrusion, while rolling resistance and wear meet and even exceed reference levels.”