Characterisation of eco-friendly processing aids for rubber compound: Part II

According to the KEMI report, products with polycyclic aromatic compounds, PCA, levels exceeding 3% by weight must be labelled. The report pointed out that worn tyre tread material was being spread on the roadsides, introducing high amounts of PCA into the environment. PCA is having toxic effects on aquatic organisms. Polyaromatic-hydrocarbon-rich extender oils are to be banned by December 2009, which gives rise to challenges for the oil and rubber industries. In the present work, 10 types of naturally occurring oils and six types of petroleum-based oils were characterised in natural-rubber-based truck tyre tread cap compound. Compounds made with some of the naturally occurring oils showed better mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.