• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.161-172
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• 2023

Because particulate matter has emerged as a major contributor to air pollution, the tire industry has conducted studies to reduce particulate matters from tires by improving tire performance. In this study, we compared the conventional blending method, in which rubber, filler, and additives are mixed simultaneously, to the Y-blending method, in which masterbatches are blended. We manufactured carbon black (CB)-filled natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) blend and silica-filled epoxidized NR/BR blend compounds to compare the effects of the two blending methods on the physical properties of the compounds and the amount of particulate matter generated. The Y-blending method provided uniform filler distribution in the heterogeneous rubber matrix, improved processability, and exhibited low rolling resistance. This method also improved physical properties owing to the excellent filler-rubber interaction. The results obtained from measuring the generation of particulate matter indicated that, the Y-blending method reduced PM_2.5 particulate matter generation from the CB-filled and silica-filled compounds by 38% and 60%, and that of PM₁₀ by 29% and 67%, respectively. This confirmed the excellence of the Y-blending method regarding the physical properties of truck bus radial tire tread compounds and reduced particulate matter generated.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.234-242
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• 2021

The demand for truck bus radial (TBR) tires with enhanced fuel efficiency and wear resistance have grown in recent years. In addition, as the issue of particulate matter and air pollution increases, efforts are being made to reduce the generation of particulate matter. In this study, the properties of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) containing a silica-friendly functional group were evaluated by considering it as a base rubber and varying the silica ratio in this binary filler system. The results showed that the wear resistance of the NR/BR blend compound decreased as the silica ratio increased. In contrast, the ENR/BR blend compound exhibited an increase in wear resistance as the silica ratio was increased. In particular, the ENR-50/BR blend compound showed the best wear resistance due to the presence of several epoxide groups. Furthermore, we observed that for tan 𝛿 at 60℃, higher epoxide content resulted in the higher T_g of the rubber, indicating a higher tan 𝛿 at 60℃. On the other hand, it was confirmed that increasing the silica ratio decreased the value of tan 𝛿 at 60℃ in all compounds. In addition, we measured the amount of wear particulate matters generated from the compound wear. These measurements confirmed that in the binary filler system, regardless of the filler type, the quantity of the generated wear particulate matters as the filler-rubber interaction increased. In conclusion, the silica filled ENR/BR blend compound exhibited the lowest generation of wear particulate matters.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2021

The demand for truck bus radial (TBR) tires with enhanced fuel efficiency and wear resistance have grown in recent years. In addition, as the issue of particulate matter and air pollution increases, efforts are being made to reduce the generation of particulate matter. In this study, we investigated the effect of varying the content of butadiene rubber (BR) on the properties of the rubber compounds and the amount of particulate matter in the TBR tire tread compound. Furthermore, we utilized carbon black in the NR/BR blend compounds owing to its excellent compatibility, and we used silica in the ENR-25/BR blend compounds because it can interact chemically with epoxide groups. The NR/BR blend compounds and the ENR-25/BR blend compounds were evaluated by varying their BR content between 20 phr and 30 phr. The results showed that the ENR-25/BR blend compounds had superior wear resistance than the NR/BR blend compounds. This was caused by the interaction between silica and ENR. In addition, it was confirmed that the increased wear resistance as the BR content increased. Furthermore, compared to the NR/BR blend compounds, ENR-25/BR blend compounds exhibited a lower tan 𝛿 value at 60℃ because silica was used as filler. This indicates a higher fuel efficiency. The measurement results for wear particulate matter showed that as increasing the BR content resulted in generation of less wear particulate matter. This was caused by the increased wear resistance. Moreover, the ENR-25/BR blend compounds with excellent filler-rubber interaction exhibited lower quantities of generated wear particulate matters as compared to the NR/BR blend compounds.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.330-334
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• 2019

Cryogenic crushing techniques have been employed for recycling waste rubber articles and for extracting residual organic additives present in rubber samples. Rubber particulate derived from tire tread abrasion is one of the key components of road dust. Therefore, in this work, we prepared rubber particulates using a cryogenic crusher and characterized their shapes as well as size distributions according to the type of rubber. The rubber particulates exhibited uneven surfaces with the presence of some small pieces. The order of the particle size distribution was observed to be: NR > BR > SBR. Subsequently, carbon black was added; this led to a decrease in the particle size and the shape becoming rougher. The crushed particulates of the carbon black-filled samples comprised agglomerated shapes of small pieces, which were similar in shape to that of wear debris in tire tread. It was discovered that crosslink density was one of the principal factors that led to the formation of small crushed particulates. The small particulates obtained by cryogenic crushing can be utilized as model rubber particulates for researching micro dust.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2024

As air pollution continues to increase owing to increasing traffic centered in urban areas, the tire industry is researching methods to reduce particulate matter. In this study, functionalized lithium butadiene rubber (F-LiBR) was applied to a natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) blend compound often used in truck bus radial (TBR) tire treads. The effect of the functional group that can react with carbon black (CB) in BR was investigated in terms of the dispersion of CB and the compound performance, including the generation of particulate matter. Compounds that were substituted with F-LiBR exhibited enhanced interaction with CB, resulting in excellent filler dispersion. Although F-LiBR exhibited lower crosslinking density and inferior abrasion resistance due to its high vinyl content, the compound with 30 phr of F-LiBR was advantageous in terms of its rolling resistance due to the excellent filler dispersion, which was also effective in reducing the amount of generated particulate matter (up to 56% reduction for PM_2.5, and 67% reduction for PM₁₀). The results confirmed the benefits of the introduction of functional groups into TBR tire tread compounds, which can aid in improving the fuel efficiency and reducing particulate matter generation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 1986

Atmospheric particulates were collected at a site near the front gate of the Yonsei University using nine stages Andersen air sampler and the distribution of seasonal particle size was investigated. Rubber, Pb and Zn contents of the collected particulates in each stage were determined. Particle size distribution of atmospheric particulate, which was made by concentration distribution curve method, was usually divided into two groups, course (particles larger than 1 - 2 $\mu m in diameter$) and fine (particles smaller than 1 - 2 \mu m in diameter$) groups, regardless of sampling period. More than 80 percent of the total rubber contents in atmospheric particulates were larger than $5 \mu m$ in diameter, meaning that most of rubber particles were originated from tire tread. After benzene extraction for 4 hrs, the extracts were analyzed by Curie-point pyrolysis gas chromatography for rubber content. Pb and Zn contents were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The annual average concentration of rubber particles was $4.2 \mu g/m^3$, which corresponded to 2.2% of the annual average total suspended particulates. Average concentration of styrene brtadiene rubber was about five times that of natural rubber. Annual average concentrations of Pb and Zn were $1.2 \mu g/m^3 and 0.4 \mu g/m^3$ respectively, which corresponded to about 0.7% and 0.2% of the annual average total suspended particulates.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 1987

Rubber particles emitted from automobile tire tread by abrasion were collected by Andersen sampler with atmospheric dusts. The samples of atmospheric dusts at each stage were analysed for rubber particles by Curie point pyrolysis-gas chromatography with Apiezon grease L column. Pyrolysis was done at 740$^circ$C for 5 seconds. In the pyrogram, NR rubber (bus and truck tire tread) was determined by isoprene peak, and SBR rubber (passenger car tire tread) was determined by styrene peak simultaneously. The size distribution of rubber particles was proportioned with the size of rubber particles. The concentrations of NR and SBR rubber were 0.23 $\mug/m^3$ and 1.31 $\mug/m^3$, respectively, in the atmospheric dusts which were collected from the street in front of Yonsei University on April 1986. The ratio of tire tread rubber in the atmospheric dusts was about 0.63%.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tire manufacturing work environments extensively and to identify workers' exposure to hazardous substances in various work processes. Methods: Personal air sampling was conducted to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon disulfide, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylcyclohexane, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, and rubber fume in tire manufacturing plants using the National Institute for Occupational Safety Health Manual of Analytical Methods. Noise, carbon monoxide, and heat stress exposure were evaluated using direct reading instruments. Past concentrations of rubber fume were assessed using regression analysis of total particulate data from 2003 to 2007, after identifying the correlation between the concentration of total particulate and rubber fume. Results: Workers were exposed to rubber fume that exceeded 0.6 mg/$m^3$, the maximum exposure limit of the UK, in curing and production management processes. Forty-seven percent of workers were exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dBA. Workers in the production management process were exposed to $28.1^{\circ}C$ (wet bulb globe temperature value, WBGT value) even when the outdoor atmosphere was $2.7^{\circ}C$ (WBGT value). Exposures to other substances were below the limit of detection or under a tenth of the threshold limit values given by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Conclusion: To better classify exposure groups and to improve work environments, examining closely at rubber fume components and temperature as risk indicators in tire manufacturing is recommended.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review clinical characteristics and working environments of sudden cardiac death (SCD) cases associated with a tire manufacturer in Korea, and review possible occupational risk factors for cardiovascular disease including nanoparticles (ultrafine particles, UFPs). Methods: We reviewed (i) the clinical course of SCD cases and (ii) occupational and non-occupational risk factors including chemicals, the physical work environment, and job characteristics. Results: Possible occupational factors were chemicals, UFPs of rubber fume, a hot environment, shift work, overworking, and noise exposure. The mean diameter of rubber fume (63-73 nm) was (larger than diesel exhaust [12 nm] and outdoor dust [50 nm]). The concentration of carbon disulfide, carbon monoxide and styrene were lower than the limit of detection. Five SCD cases were exposed to shift work and overworking. Most of the cases had several non-occupational factors such as hypertension, overweight and smoking. Conclusion: The diameter of rubber fume was larger than outdoor and the diesel exhaust, the most well known particulate having a causal relationship with cardiovascular disease. The possibility of a causal relation between UFPs of rubber fume and SCD was not supported in this study. However, it is necessary to continue studying the relationship between large sized UFPs and SCD.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2017

This study analyzed the case of diesel car fires that occurred while driving in a tunnel 5 days after maintenance at a car service center. The results of the investigation and analysis found that a large amount of white foreign matter adhered to the inside of the exhaust port and the insulating plate above the DPF (diesel particulate filter) installed in the middle of the exhaust pipe was melted and lost. In particular, the metal floor of the car above the DPF was molten and pierced, and the rubber mat placed on the metal floor was burnt. Moreover, while the exhaust pipe in front of the DPF showed no overheating mark, such a mark was observed in the exhaust pipe from the DPF to the exhaust port. Because these findings may appear only when the DPF is overheated and ignited, this car fire is believed to have been caused by internal overheating of the DPF. The car fire investigation of this study suggests that if white foreign matter is found in the inside of the exhaust port during a fire cause investigation of a diesel car, the cause of the fire should be determined by removing the DPF and examining the internal damage of the DPF.