MOLECULAR REBAR DESIGN LLC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 17c

Description

As sustainability becomes a priority, the tire industry requires a tire that is both sustainable and high performing. Molecular Rebar Design can develop a longer-lasting, more fuel-efficient, and better-quality tire. Recently, large tire manufacturing corporations, such as Bridgestone and Michelin, have publicly announced their ambitions to be completely sustainable. With this transition to sustainability, stronger, more reliable, more fuel-efficient tires can now be warmly embraced by large tire manufacturers. A major unmet challenge to electric and fuel-based vehicle tire production is the development of lower-energy dissipating tires without loss of other properties. Molecular Rebar Design, LLC (MRD) has demonstrated that a viable modified version of discrete carbon nanotubes can be successfully formulated into rubber achieving dramatic changes in the rubber compound properties and interrelationships of properties useful for rubber parts and tires. Molecular Rebar Design has developed technology to turn the as-made carbon nanotube bundles, consisting of millions of individual entangled CNTs, into discrete, individual nanotubes – known as Molecular Rebar. The addition of Molecular Rebar to rubber compounds, along with the subtraction of the proper amount of existing fillers, changes the compound property relationships, producing new rubber parts and tire designs. The new compounds can have dramatic property changes related to improved cracking resistance, enhanced cut and chip in blowout preventers for oil wells, and strengthened cut and chip resistant tires. MRD’s proposal is the development of a radically new tire prototype, with an improved performance window, in which 6% weight MR will replace about 16% weight carbon black. Objective #1 - Confirm structure-property relationships of polymer composites with Molecular Rebar as a replacement for carbon black Objective #2 - Develop structure-property relationships of polymer composites with Molecular Rebar as a replacement for carbon black in silica-silane (‘Green’) tire tread compounds. Objective #3 – Develop structure-property relationships of polymer composites with Molecular Rebar as a replacement for the dominant silica phase, in addition to the carbon black, in silica- silane (‘Green’) tire tread compounds. Final Deliverable: A report generated on the overarching trends and effects of MR nanotubes in a polymer composite for EV tires in preparation for the Phase II project. Molecular Rebar Design is capable of helping both tire companies focused on sustainability meet their green goals, while also helping car manufacturers and car dealerships offer vehicle improvements without any costly repair to the vehicle itself. Molecular Rebar Design’s commercial goals are as follow: Partner with a tire manufacturer to help produce higher-quality, sustainable tires Sell the improved tires directly or indirectly to car dealerships and car manufacturers Procure a contract with military branches to provide higher quality tires for all forms of military vehicles.