White Carbon Black: The 'Behind the Scenes Hero' of Green Tires
Against the backdrop of global advocacy for energy conservation, emission reduction, and green travel, green tires have emerged as a new trend in the development of the automotive industry. Behind the green tires, there is a silently dedicated 'behind the scenes hero' - white carbon black.


Green tires, as the name suggests, refer to tires that have energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and safe characteristics. Compared with traditional tires, green tires have significant advantages in reducing rolling resistance, improving wet skid resistance, and wear resistance. And white carbon black is the key factor in achieving these excellent properties.


Rolling resistance is the resistance that a tire experiences during driving in the opposite direction of rolling, which directly affects the fuel consumption of the vehicle. According to research, the rolling resistance of tires accounts for about 20% -30% of the total energy consumption of vehicles. White carbon black has a unique microstructure, with a large number of silicon hydroxyl groups on its surface. These silicon hydroxyl groups can form chemical bonds and physical adsorption with rubber molecules, thereby enhancing the interaction between rubber and white carbon black. This enhanced interaction restricts the movement of rubber molecular chains, reduces energy loss during tire rolling, and effectively lowers rolling resistance. Experimental data shows that tires using white carbon black as a reinforcing agent instead of some carbon black can reduce rolling resistance by 20% -30% and improve fuel economy by 3% -5%.


The anti-skid performance is an important indicator for measuring the safety of a tire when driving on wet roads. On damp roads, the friction between the tires and the ground decreases, which can easily cause the vehicle to slip and lose control. White carbon black has a small particle size and a large specific surface area, which can form a uniform dispersion system in rubber. When the tire comes into contact with a wet road surface, white carbon black can increase the friction between the tire and the ground, improve the tire's grip, and thus enhance its anti wet performance. Research has shown that tires with added white carbon black can shorten the braking distance on wet and slippery roads by 10% -20% compared to traditional tires, greatly improving driving safety.


In addition to reducing rolling resistance and improving wet skid resistance, white carbon black can also improve the wear resistance of tires. The good bonding between white carbon black and rubber can enhance the strength and toughness of rubber, reducing tire wear during driving. At the same time, white carbon black can also reduce the heat generation of tires, reduce rubber aging caused by heat accumulation, and further extend the service life of tires.


In order to fully utilize the role of white carbon black in green tires, tire manufacturers are constantly innovating and improving their processes. For example, by using special coupling agents to modify the surface of white carbon black, the compatibility between white carbon black and rubber can be improved, and the reinforcement effect can be enhanced; By adopting advanced mixing technology, white carbon black can be more evenly dispersed in rubber, improving the performance stability of tires.


With the increasing concern of consumers for environmental protection and safety, the market demand for green tires is growing day by day. White carbon black, as one of the core materials for green tires, will also usher in a broader development space. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology, the performance of white carbon black will continue to improve and the cost will continue to decrease, providing stronger support for the popularization and development of green tires. Let's look forward to the "behind the scenes hero" of white carbon black creating more glory in the field of green tires.