Degussa’s Revolutionary Technology Dramatically Improves Tire Performance 

Researchers Concentrate On Reducing Rolling Resistance To Save Gasoline 

PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 25, 2007 – Scientists at Degussa, the world’s leading specialty chemicals company, continue to refine the company’s ground breaking silica tire technology to reduce rolling resistance in tires – the force required to move a vehicle over the surface – and help motorists save even more money.  

To lower rolling resistance without sacrificing mileage and safety, researchers at Degussa – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Essen, Germany-based RAG Group – several years ago invented a bi-functional organo silicon compound (organo silane) that acts like a bridge between the rubber and the reinforcing filler silica. The use of this silica-silane technology in tailor made rubber compositions – known as silica tire technology – reduced fuel consumption by 3–5% compared to tires with carbon black as single reinforcing agent.  

Now Degussa’s new organo silane product, VP Si 363, is expected to save motorists an additional 2-3% for an overall saving of 5-8% in gasoline usage. Already, leading global tire manufacturers such as Goodyear are testing the new Degussa silane in their high performance tires.  

“Our researchers now have developed the next generation of silica and organo silanes that would further optimize tire performance to reduce fuel consumption significantly,” said Dr. Hans-Detlef Luginsland, Director, Strategic Marketing Rubber Silicas and Rubber Silanes, at Degussa. ”The challenge for Degussa's scientists – which they successfully met – was to further enhance the performance of tires while achieving less rolling resistance.”  

That is important because the lower the rolling resistance coefficient – which is greatly influenced by the composition of tire tread’s rubber compound – the less energy is used while the tire is in motion. Rolling resistance is one key factor to reduce the fuel consumption enabling motorists to go farther on a tank of gas.  

“Lower rolling resistance means a car uses less gas, which also means fewer carbon dioxide emissions are produced when driving,” said Luginsland. “Degussa’s silica-silane technology – and now its new silane, Si 363 – is not only gentler on the wallet but also kinder to the environment and could be an important contribution in the global warming fight.”  

Luginsland adds Degussa researchers are continuing their quest for more advanced material to improve tire performance.

Degussa: Creating Essentials™
Degussa Corporation is part of Degussa GmbH – a wholly owned subsidiary of the RAG Group. Degussa GmbH is the global market leader in specialty chemicals. Its business is creating essentials: innovative products and system solutions that make indispensable contributions to its customers’ success. In fiscal 2006 around 36,000 employees worldwide generated sales of 10.9 billion euros and operating profits (EBIT) of more than 870 million euros.