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HOUSTON (October 5, 2006) – A milestone in the development of improved tire
inner liners was announced today by ExxonMobil Chemical Company and The
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (YRC) following tests to qualify their jointly
developed technology for use in passenger vehicle tires in harsh winter
conditions.
The companies’ development of DVA (dynamically vulcanized alloy) advanced tire
inner liner technology is based on proprietary Exxpro™ polymers and alloys of
those polymers developed by ExxonMobil, as well as alloys and application
technology developed by YRC. The DVA advanced inner liner technology used in
the film liner materials combines the flexibility and elasticity of a rubber
with the low-air permeability of a plastic.
Satisfying low-temperature fatigue-resistance requirements is difficult for
conventional inner liners. Tires made with the jointly developed DVA advanced
inner liners passed rigorous cold-temperature indoor tire testing and outdoor
road testing. Tests were conducted over a six-month period in northern Canada
in temperatures reaching -22°C.
In addition to their cold-temperature toughness, 15-inch V-rated passenger car
tires using the DVA advanced inner liner have shown light-weighting gains of
approximately 5.5 percent or 0.5 kg per tire, and reductions in rolling
resistance. These results are due to the exceptional air-retention properties
of the DVA, which can be 7-10 times better than those obtained from
conventional 100 phr halogenated butyl rubber (halobutyl rubber) liner
compounds. Tires with lower rolling resistance have been shown to improve
vehicle fuel efficiency.
In 2004, ExxonMobil Chemical and YRC announced a joint cooperative agreement
and ExxonMobil’s acquisition of a global license from YRC for DVA inner liner
technology.
In October 2005, ExxonMobil Chemical announced a multimillion-dollar
investment to double production capabilities for its proprietary Exxpro™
specialty elastomer used in DVA advanced inner liner construction. The
expansion of the company’s plant in Baytown, Texas, is targeted for completion
in the fourth quarter of 2006.
ExxonMobil Chemical expects to commercialize a DVA resin product in the latter
half of 2007. ExxonMobil Chemical is a major supplier of halobutyl rubber to
the global tire industry.
About ExxonMobil Chemical
ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology, product quality and
customer service with petrochemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations
in more than 150 countries around the world. Its products include olefins,
aromatics, fluids, synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented
polypropylene packaging films, plasticizers, synthetic lubricant basestocks
and additives for fuels and lubricants.
About The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
The Yokohama Rubber Co.,
Ltd., (www.yrc.co.jp) established in 1917, is a leading manufacturer of rubber
products, including vehicle tires, other rubber products, and adhesive
products. Its business has expanded globally, maintaining productions to meet
the demands of customers in automobiles, civil engineering, construction,
marine engineering, aircraft components, and sports products.
Editor's note:
1) ExxonMobil, the ExxonMobil logo, and Exxpro are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
2) The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the
companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation which have chemical
manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.
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ExxonMobil News Media Desk: 281-870-6034 or 281-870-6607
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