Test Drive Car Tire History III: Chemists in Motion

A tire is a high-tech product, the result of decades of evolution.

In the beginning, neither the rubber manufacturers nor the chemists knew the exact chemical composition and molecular structure of the raw materials they were working with, and the tires were of questionable quality. Their main problem is easy abrasion and wear, which means a very short service life. Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, chemists discovered that adding carbon black as a substance to a structure greatly increased strength, elasticity, and abrasion resistance. Sulfur, carbon black, zinc, as well as the so-called silicon dioxide or the well-known quartz (silicon dioxide), which has recently been used as an additive, play a significant role in changing the chemical structure of rubber and improving its properties, and their use for this purpose goes back to different periods of development of tire technology. But, as we said, in the beginning, the molecular structure of the tire was a complete mystery.

However, in fact, back in 1829, Michael Faraday described the basic building block of rubber with the chemical formula C5H8, or in other words, isoprene. In 1860, the chemist Williams obtained a liquid of the same formula. In 1882, synthetic isoprene was first made, and in 1911, chemists Francis Matthews and Carl Harris independently discovered that isoprene could be polymerized, the process behind the successful creation of artificial rubber. In fact, the success of scientists comes at a time when they refuse to completely copy the chemical formula of natural rubber.

Standard Oil and IG Farben

Back in 1906, specialists from the German company Bayer launched a powerful program for the production of synthetic rubber. During the First World War, due to a shortage of natural raw materials, the production of tires based on the so-called methyl rubber, created by Bayer, began. However, after World War I, it was discontinued due to its high end price and cheaper natural product available. However, in the 20s, a shortage of natural rubber arose again, which led to the beginning of intensive research in the USSR, USA and Germany.

Back in the spring of 1907, Fritz Hoffmann and Dr. Karl Kutel, using coal tar, developed a technology for obtaining the starting products of isoprene, methyl isoprene and gaseous butadiene, and the next step in the development of activity was the polymerization of the molecules of these substances. After World War I, researchers at the giant IG Farben, which now includes Bayer, focused on the polymerization of butadiene monomer and succeeded in creating a synthetic rubber called Buna, short for butadiene and sodium. In 1929, the concern was already producing tires from the so-called Buna S, in which soot was added. Du Pont, in turn, synthesized neoprene, then called duprene. In the 30s, Standard Oil chemists from New Jersey, Exxon's predecessor, succeeded in developing a process for the synthesis of butadiene using oil as the main product. The paradox in this case is that American Standard's collaboration with German IG Farben allows the American company to create a synthetic rubber manufacturing process similar to Buna S and become a major factor in said agreement to solve the rubber problem. USA during World War II. In general, however, four major companies dominate the research and development of multifunctional tire substitutes in the country: Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, BF Goodrich Company, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, United States Rubber Company (Uniroyal). Their joint efforts during the war were necessary to create quality synthetic products. In 1941, they and Standard signed an agreement to exchange patents and information under the jurisdiction of the Rubber Reserve Company, founded by Roosevelt, and became an example of how big business and the state can unite in the name of military supplies. Thanks to the huge work and public funds, 51 plants for the production of monomers and the polymers synthesized by them, which are necessary for the production of synthetic tires, were built in an extremely short time. The technology used for this purpose is based on the Buna S manufacturing process because it can best mix natural and synthetic rubber and use available processing machines.

In the Soviet Union, during the war, 165 collective farms grew two types of dandelions, and although production was inefficient and yields per unit area were low, the rubber produced contributed to the victory. Today, this dandelion is considered one of the possible alternatives to hevea. This product is supplemented with synthetic butadiene or the so-called soprene, created by Sergei Lebedev, in which alcohol obtained from potatoes is used as a raw material.

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Text: Georgy Kolev