Silica technology for tires is now an even better environmental option

Lyon, France, 20 February 2008 – By further reducing tire rolling resistance, the new generation of high surface-area silicas from Rhodia Silcea further establishes this technology as the most environmentally friendly filler option..

Invented by Rhodia in the 1990’s, high performance silica is one of the key ingredients in energy-saving tires. Until now, the best silicas have made it possible to reduce rolling resistance by approximately 25%, bringing about a reduction in fuel consumption and vehicle CO2 emissions by an estimated 5%. First launched in February 2008, the new Zeosil® Premium range from Rhodia enables rolling resistance to be further reduced by almost 10%. This unrivalled performance confirms the use of silica in the tire tread as the best compromise in terms of eco-balance.

Conducted by the BLIC* in 2000/2001, the analysis of a tire’s lifecycle is an across the board approach that covers the environmental impact of the tire, from the extraction of raw materials to the recycling process. Widely used by the industry and legislators, this analysis remains a benchmark in this field. It clearly demonstrates that the impact of the tire on health and the environment is very largely due to the fuel consumption caused by rolling resistance – and not to the production phase or how it is processed at the end of its life.

The study demonstrates that, after 40,000 km, a tire containing silica in its tread gives a gain of five eco-points – or 11% - in comparison with a tire that contains only carbon black. This gain is equivalent to the total environmental impact of the tire production and the raw materials from which it is made.

In other words, “the energy savings made possible by the use of silica tire technology far outweigh the impact of its manufacture”, explains Peter Browning, Global Silica Business Director of Rhodia Silcea.

Since 2001, the progress made in relation to energy-saving tires – and particularly high-performance silicas – have served to confirm the contribution of this technology to the conservation of energy and preservation of the environment. Thanks to its tire customers, the expertise of Rhodia has already contributed to the saving of 20 billion litres of fuel and the reduction, by 50 million tonnes, of CO2 emissions.

The world leader in high-performance silica for tires, Rhodia Silcea focuses its spirit of innovation on materials that bring about a positive impact on the environment and opens up, with Zeosil® Premium, new perspectives for sustainable mobility.

*BLIC: Bureau de Liaison des Industries du Caoutchouc de l’Union Européenne, now known as ERTMA - the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturer’s Association.

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