If there is any certainty in the technology world of today were just
about every present solution appears to have a replacement jumping up
and down in the wings, it is that tires generally will not be going
obsolete. Thus finding that we can expect to see biological oils
replacing at least part of the usage of petroleum products is welcome
news.
This is really a return to nature, but with a much superior approach.
We get better tires instead of a mere replacement.
There is no doubt that oil will be exiting the general energy
business over the medium to long term. Right now we are living
through its last hurray. As I have posted in the past once
displacment technologies begin to bite, global oil demand will enter
a decline that will drop production down to a global volume of
perhaps a third of present production. Natural gas will linger
longer because of long haul tucking and the heating industry. Thus
in time, the petrochemical business will be the dominant market for
oil of which ample reserves will then be available.
Yet superior biological applications do need to be worked out even if
only to make oil easily displaced. So even if I do not think that we
will have the need for centuries even, it is still prudent to know
and even use superior biological protocols.
Soybean oil could
make for longer-lasting, greener tires
By Ben Coxworth
Goodyear has
determined that soybean oil used in tire production could reduce the
amount of petroleum-based oil needed, and increase tread longevity
It’s good for the
environment when manufacturers can find ways of using less fossil
fuels, while consumers – along with the environment – benefit
when products last longer. Now, thanks to the humble soybean, both
parties may be able to get what they need. Researchers from the
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company have discovered that soybean oil can
help reduce the amount of petroleum used in tires, while also
extending those tires’ tread life.
Specifically, it was
determined that by using soybean oil in the tire rubber compound, the
company could reduce its use of petroleum-based oil by up to seven
million gallons (26.5 million liters) a year, while the tread life of
the tires would increase by approximately ten percent.
Additionally, tests
showed that the soybean rubber compound blended more easily with
the silica used in tire production. This means that tire plants using
it could operate more efficiently, using less power and creating
less greenhouse gases – they would also cost the company less to
run.
Prototype tires made
with the soybean oil will be tested in Texas over the next few
months. If all goes well, the tires could be available for purchase
by 2015.
Goodyear is also
developing a sugar-based compound known as BioIsoprene, which
could replace some of the petroleum-based isoprene currently used in
tires.
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