NOKIAN TYRES & UPM “ What advantages do these RFFs bring to potential tire applications? AO: RFF has the potential to act as a reinforcing filler in tires, replacing a significant portion of the carbon black currently used. Carbon black comprises roughly 30% of a tire, so replacing that partly or fully with a renewable material is significant for reducing the need for fossil materials and lowering the carbon emissions in tire manufacturing. Based on our laboratory tests, in addition to being renewable RFF is a lighter-weight material than carbon black and has the potential to lower the rolling resistance of tires. Rolling resistance is the most significant factor in the energy efficiency and emissions of driving. Above: In addition to replacing carbon black, RFF also has the potential to enhance the performance of the finished tire Years of research have led to the launch of this material and producing the first concept tire” Anne Ojala, Nokian Tyres What are the specific challenges of building a facility to produce these products at scale? CH: UPM is investing €1.275bn [US$1.4bn] to build the world’s first industrial-scale biorefinery in Leuna. This means that everything has to be done from scratch – from the engineering documents designing the plant to setting up processes and checklists for safe operation. To operate the Leuna biorefinery safely and efficiently, UPM can draw on more than 100 years’ experience in operating huge paper-pulping mills. Was any adaptation needed to apply RFFs to the concept tire? How is UPM’s wider expertise showcased by this concept tire and RFF project? AO: An innovation like this requires a lot of collaboration. Years of research have led to the launch of this material and producing the first concept tire with features similar, or even superior, to traditional carbon black. The rubber compound recipes need to be adapted to the new renewable materials. The production of the concept tire itself did not require adaptation in terms of processing or handling but could be utilized with the same processing equipment as in normal tire production. What demonstrable properties have you seen in the concept tire and what implications do these have for wider tire applications? AO: RFF is reducing the need for fossil materials and lowers carbon emissions in tire manufacturing. With RFF, the amount of fossil carbon black can be reduced without negative impact on tires, and use of renewable material in tires increased. CH: Climate change, raw material scarcity, regulatory pressure and consumer preferences for sustainable products were UPM’s key innovation drivers for replacing fossil-based materials with renewable, sustainable solutions. The company drew on its 150-year experience in forestry and forest products to develop its new materials. Our partnership with Nokian Tyres marks the exciting entry of our renewable functional fillers into the global tire markets. In successfully demonstrating their application value, it helps us lay the groundwork for scaling our biorefinery business so that we can make a significant contribution to the sustainable transformation of the mobility sector and beyond. 54 www.tiretechnologyinternational.com March/April 2025
Tire Technology International March/April 2025: Page 54
