SinS - Abstract

Abstract Information :

Tyres are complex products, with sophisticated physical design and chemical composition. They must deliver a range of often conflicting performances including slow wear (for maximum life), low rolling resistance (to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption), wet grip and low noise. There exist regulatory and labelling requirements around these. Where information is currently lacking is in the wear rates and chemical composition of the tyres. This is relevant to the amount material released into the environment, where it goes and what damage it does to human and animal health, and the environment more widely. This presentation will focus on the chemical composition of hundred of different models of tyres sold, drawn from both the US and European markets. Commonalities and differences will be analysed. A hypothesis will be considered that US tyres contain different chemical components as the market focuses more on durability, compared to the European market that tends to value lower rolling resistance more highly. It will draw on Emissions Analytics' tyre material database, which typically identifies over 400 organic compounds in each tyre, using its optimised process of thermal desorption and pyrolysis, coupled with two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Organic species that will be specifically analysed are 6PPD and their substitutes. These are preservatives that are added to tyres to prevent ageing and cracking, especially under sunlight. Recently, 6PPD has been linked to the death of a significant proportion of coho salmon and trout on the West Coast of the US. The concentration of 6PPD will be shown to vary significantly between different models of tyre. The method will be shown to be the potential basis for enhanced product labelling.