Today's News
GPS 2026 Guide is now available online
Akron, OH – As the Global Polymer Summit nears, it’s not too late to register and join your industry collogues
ACE Laboratories and Abdallah Consulting launch Vericarb
ACE Laboratories, an independent ISO/IEC 17025-accredited polymer testing laboratory, and Abdallah Consulting, LLC, a leading advisory firm in the tire pyrolysis industry, have announced the launch of VericarbSM, an independent certification program designed to verify that materials produced and marketed as recovered carbon black (rCB) meet the program’s defined criteria for rCB.
Orion S.A.’s plant in France earns IATF certification
Orion S.A. announced that its conductive additives plant in France has earned the International Automotive Task Force certification.
Commonly known as IATF 16949, the certification is the automotive industry’s seal of approval for quality. It confirms that Orion’s facility in Berre-l’Étang has rigorous processes in place to consistently produce products that meet the demanding standards of automotive manufacturers.
Smithers announces final in-person rubber technology course for 2026
Smithers final course of 2026, “Understand Rubber Materials Make Better Technical Decisions” is an In-person course being held 11-12 November, in Shropshire, UK.
Delivered by Smithers experts Gary Crutchley and Phil Hall, this practical two-day course is designed for engineers, developers and technical professionals who work with rubber materials and components but need a stronger understanding of how material selection, processing and formulation affect performance.
Polysulfide rubber market forecast at $572 million by 2030
The global market for Polysulfide Rubber was estimated at US$471.5 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$572.9 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2024 to 2030 according to Research and Markets. This report provided in-depth analysis of trends, drivers, and forecasts to support confident decision-making. It included the most recent global tariff developments and their impact on the Polysulfide Rubber market.
Dunlop/Falken analysis questions consumer savings from California tire regulations
Dunlop Tire North America says California’s Replacement Tire Efficiency Program could produce different financial outcomes for consumers depending on tire type, price and service life.
In an analysis released Sept. 15, DTNA examined three replacement-tire scenarios and compared them with the California Energy Commission’s projected $153 net consumer savings for a typical Phase 2 passenger tire.
Featured
Mixing
Understanding the difference between high and low shear
Industrial mixing is a crucial process in various industries, including production of rubber formulations, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and many others. It is also integral to continuous process industries including waste water treatment, fuel and energy production, and mining of metals and minerals.
Chemicals and Materials
Flexsys narrows 6PPD replacement to two final molecules
Flexsys has developed the world’s first viable alternative to 6PPD, the Company has now completed screening efforts and is focusing on two final candidate molecules for expanded testing and ultimately final selection as a replacement for 6PPD in tires.
Flexsys has also entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to independently and thoroughly evaluate the two molecules’ potential effects on aquatic life
Extrusion
Extruding full rubber bales without a granulator
Walk into most rubber compounding operations today and somewhere upstream of the mixer one will find a granulator. It sits
Silicone & Medical
40-year study finds silicone sealants outperform alternatives in long-term weathering
The study, highlighted by Momentive as part of its “Part of the Solution” series, examined the long-term durability of silicone sealants used in construction. Researchers conducted the testing at the Atlas Weathering Test Site in Miami, Florida, where panels of glass and painted aluminum were mounted outdoors at a 45-degree angle facing south to simulate real-world exposure.
Oil, Gas & Energy
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies develops new sealing system for CO2 compressors
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed a new sealing system for busbar sealing in vehicle air-conditioning compressors. This elastomer-based solution withstands test pressures of over 100 bar in leak tests and offers a cost-efficient alternative to conventional glass seals. Designed for CO₂ compressors (R744), it also works well with other refrigerants.
Testing & Instruments
Direct measurement of steady state shear viscosity
by Michele Scacchi and Denis Venturoli, Evercompounds S.p.A., and Mauro Belloni, Gibitre Instruments S.r.l. The Mooney viscometer (MV) was invented
Molding
Compression molding simulation: Capabilities, features and industrial case studies
by Harshal Bhogesra, MoldEx3D. The MoldEx3D compression molding module provides a fully coupled simulation environment that replicates the filling, packing,
Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes
Polycarbonate polyols for high-performance PU dispersions
by Yoichi Hirose, Asahe Kasei. Newly developed DK031E and PCDX-249 are designed to address the issues associated with aqueous dispersions of polyurethane (PUDs) offering the potential to reduce solvent usage.
Latex and Natural Rubber
Olam Agri acquisition nearly doubles rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast
Olam Agri has completed its acquisition of Asia Africa Rubber Industry S.A., adding 176,000 metric tons of annual rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast as the company moves to expand its natural rubber business and meet growing demand for traceable supplies.
The acquisition nearly doubles Olam Agri’s rubber processing capacity in the West African country and is expected to improve operational efficiency, supply reliability and access to international customers, the company said.
The September Issue of Rubber World
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Thermoplastic Elastomers, Urethanes
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