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A study by wood-science researchers at Oregon State University concludes that microcrystalline cellulose -- a product that can be made easily from almost any type of plant fibers -- could replace silica as a reinforcing filler in rubber tires.


Use of the material was found to reduce the cost and amount of energy needed to produce the tire as well as decrease their rolling resistance, which increased fuel economy, the researchers found. Tires containing microcrystalline cellulose also proved to be more resistant to heat buildup and grippier on wet roads.


"We were surprised at how favorable the results were for the use of this material," said Kaichang Li, an associate professor of wood science and engineering in the OSU College of Forestry, said in a statement. Li conducted the research with graduate student Wen Bai.


"This could lead to a new generation of automotive tire technology, one of the first fundamental changes to come around in a long time," Li said.


Cellulose fiber has been used as reinforcement in some types of rubber and automotive products, such as belts, hoses and insulation, but never in tires, where the preferred fillers are carbon black and silica.


Carbon black, however, is made from increasingly expensive oil, and the processing of silica is energy-intensive.


In their study, the researchers replaced up to 12 percent of the silica used in conventional tires with microcrystalline cellulose, which is produced inexpensively using one of nature's most abundant natural polymers (cellulose). Cellulose comprises about 50 percent of plant matter.


The replacement decreased the amount of energy needed to compound the rubber composite, improved the heat resistance of the product, and retained its tensile strength.


Traction is always a key issue with tire performance, and the study showed that the traction of the new product was comparable to existing rubber tire technology on wet roads.


And at high temperatures such as those found on blacktop in summer, the partial replacement of silica with microcrystalline cellulose decreased the rolling resistance of the tire, which made the tires more fuel-efficient.


Li said more research is needed to confirm the long-term durability of tires made with partial replacement of silica.


Research into ways to replace silica in tires has been under way for years as their manufacturers seek alternatives to petroleum-based tires. Earlier this year reported that Yokohama Tire Corp. was using oil extracted from orange rinds in its ADVAN brand of ultra-high-performance street and racing tires.

Tags: Fuel Economy, Tires, Fuel Economy, Tires

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Oregon Researchers: Tires Made From Tree Fibers Are Cheaper, More Fuel-Efficient was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.