24 March 2025

Developing more sustainable and durable tyres

The RubNatCell project, funded by Unite! Seed Fund, is developing composites of natural rubber and cellulose nanocrystals to enhance tyre wear resistance and fatigue life.

The RubNatCell project (Natural Rubber/Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites for High Fatigue and Wear Resistance Performance), led by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC) and supported by the Unite! Seed Fund, focuses on developing sustainable alternatives for elastomeric materials by replacing carbon black fillers in rubber composites. Carbon black has long been used to improve the mechanical properties of materials such as tyres, but its production raises environmental concerns due to toxic emissions and hazardous waste. The RubNatCell project aims to enhance the fatigue and wear resistance of natural rubber composites by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), a more eco-friendly alternative.

Research Focus

The project aims to produce natural rubber/cellulose nanocrystal composites that exhibit superior endurance properties, such as high fatigue life and wear resistance, which are essential for long-term performance in applications like pneumatic tyres. The research brings together expertise from four Unite! universities and employs advanced experimental characterization techniques, including in-situ infrared thermography, X-ray imaging, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and high-performance numerical simulations.

The key objectives of this collaborative research project within Unite! are to develop a novel processing technique to functionalize CNCs, enabling them to react with rubber materials; to establish a consortium for future EU-funded projects with the involvement of industrial partners; and to promote long-term collaboration through co-supervised PhD theses between UPC, INP-UGA, PoliTo, and TUDa partners, focusing on the design and endurance of NR/CNC materials.

The RubNatCell project is a European collaboration bringing together four UNITE! institutions to develop sustainable rubber composites as a substitute for the carbon black-filled rubber conventionally used in the tyre industry. The joint research aims to enhance material performance, durability, and sustainability, advancing next-generation eco-friendly tire technology

Unite! collaboration and expertise

The RubNatCell project builds on previous collaboration between UPC and INP-UGA, who co-designed elastocaloric rubbers and investigated CNC/rubber composites. INP-UGA, along with Université de Lyon, brings expertise in the development of optimised materials expected to demonstrate high fatigue resistance. PoliTo contributes by studying the wear behaviour of these composites, a key factor in tyre durability, while TUDa specialises in simulating the contact between rubber and road surfaces.

This multidisciplinary collaboration is set to pave the way for more sustainable, high-performance rubber composites, contributing to environmentally friendly solutions for the tyre industry and beyond.