Among many exhibitors revealing exciting new partnerships on Day One of Tire Technology Expo 2016, PPG has announced that the US Department of Energy (DOE) is providing funding to support a US$1.25m collaborative project with Bridgestone Americas. It will focus on improving the fuel efficiency of truck and bus radial tires using PPG’s Agilon performance silica.
The project’s goal is to deliver prototype tires to the DOE that help trucks and buses achieve fuel-efficiency improvements of 4-6% while maintaining or improving tear strength and tread wear. Research and development work for the project will be completed at PPG’s Monroeville, Pennsylvania, facility.
Anup Jain, PPG vice president, specialty coatings and materials, said, “We are excited to partner with Bridgestone on this important project. The DOE funding validates what our preliminary research has already shown – that Agilon performance silica has great potential as a next-generation filler to help increase truck tire fuel efficiency.”
Tire Technology Expo runs until Thursday, February 18 in halls 19 & 20 at the Deutsche Messe, Hannover, Germany. For more information or to register for a free exhibition pass, go to www.tiretechnology-expo.com.
February 16, 2016
