Car tires, like a tired traveler, face many challenges in their daily journey. Among them, the increase in temperature and continuous friction with the ground, like the merciless passage of time, gradually age the tire rubber. This aging phenomenon is like a chronic disease, silently but with enormous harm. It not only mercilessly reduces the service life of tires, making tire replacement a frequent and expensive burden, but also generates tire rubber friction particles, which pollute the environment like garbage.

In the long-term struggle against tire aging, rubber anti-aging agents have emerged. It is like the “guardian spirit” of tires, protecting them from the erosion of time. Rubber anti-aging agents, through their unique chemical properties, effectively delay the aging process of rubber, enhance its wear resistance, and become a key factor in extending tire life. In this process, different types of rubber anti-aging agents play their respective roles and play an important role in the “freezing age” of tires.

1. Rubber anti-aging agent RD

(1) The miraculous properties of rubber anti-aging agent RD

Rubber antioxidant RD, as a ketoamine antioxidant, has a unique chemical composition. It is a mixture of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline dimers, with the dimer portion exhibiting excellent anti-aging properties. This anti-aging agent is like a professional bodyguard, mainly preventing the oxidation and aging problems of rubber materials caused by factors such as heat, oxygen, and metal catalysis during use. Especially, it has a significant protective effect on thermal and oxygen aging, and also has a strong inhibitory effect on metal catalytic oxidation.

Moreover, rubber anti-aging agent RD exhibits a light yellow color, which makes it suitable for use in sanitary rubber products with high color requirements. At the same time, it has low toxicity and is widely used in various synthetic rubbers including chloroprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, and isoprene rubber, as well as natural rubber products such as tires, hoses, tapes, wires, and other fields. However, RD also has its limitations, as it has a relatively poor protective effect on the flexural aging of rubber. Therefore, in practical applications, it is often used in combination with anti-aging agents AW or other para phenylenediamine antioxidants to form a “protective alliance” and provide more comprehensive and effective protection for rubber products.

(2) Colorful classification of rubber anti-aging agents

From the perspective of anti-aging agents, the world of rubber anti-aging agents is rich and diverse. They can be roughly divided into several categories, including amines, phenols, sulfides, reactive types, and composite types. Amine anti-aging agents also include aromatic amines and fatty amines. Aromatic amines such as anti-aging agents RD and 6PPD are highly favored for their excellent antioxidant properties and cost-effectiveness, but they also have minor drawbacks that may cause discoloration of rubber products. Phenolic anti-aging agents such as anti-aging agents 264 and 1010 perform well in oxidative aging protection and are suitable for natural rubber and styrene butadiene rubber, but their high temperature resistance is limited. Although sulfide anti-aging agents can improve the aging resistance of rubber, their application is limited due to processing difficulties and reaction rate control issues. Reactive anti-aging agents act as “integrated” protectors, able to bond with rubber molecules and provide long-lasting protection for high-performance rubber products. Composite anti-aging agents are the ‘fusion masters’, combining the advantages of multiple anti-aging agents and building a comprehensive protective system for rubber products through synergistic effects, such as the use of anti-aging agent RD in combination with other anti-aging agents.

(3) The Position of Rubber Antioxidant RD in the Industry

RD plays an important role in the family of rubber anti-aging agents. It has a wide range of applications, from car tires to various industrial rubber products. With the development of industry, the quality and lifespan requirements for rubber products are becoming increasingly high, and the role of rubber anti-aging agent RD is becoming more prominent. It not only concerns product quality, but also affects the efficiency and sustainable development of the entire rubber industry chain.

2. Development history and industrial chain analysis of rubber anti-aging agent RD

(1) Development History: From Rise to Environmental Protection Transformation

The development process of rubber anti-aging agent RD has witnessed the tremendous changes in the rubber industry. In the early 20th century, the automotive industry rose like a new star, driving a huge demand for tires and other rubber products, and the rubber industry also flourished. During this period, people accidentally discovered that adding certain chemicals could improve the durability of rubber products and extend their service life, and research on anti-aging agents began to emerge.

In the 1930s, anti-aging agents began to be systematically studied and applied, and various types of anti-aging agents such as ketoamines and diaryl secondary amines emerged successively. In the 1940s and 1950s, the progress of the chemical industry gave birth to more new types of anti-aging agents, among which p-phenylenediamine anti-aging agents were outstanding. They significantly improved the resistance of rubber to oxidation and thermal aging.

However, in the 1960s and 1970s, environmental issues gradually surfaced, which prompted the research and development of anti-aging agents to shift towards finding safer products with less impact on the environment and human health. Since the 1980s, global awareness of environmental protection has reached an unprecedented level, and research and development of non-toxic or low toxicity environmentally friendly anti-aging agents have become mainstream. At the same time, international standards and regulations have put forward stricter requirements for the safety, durability, and environmental friendliness of anti-aging agents, promoting continuous innovation in the entire industry.

(2) Industry chain: closely connected upstream and downstream

The industrial chain of rubber anti-aging agent RD involves multiple upstream and downstream links. In the upstream, it mainly includes the production and supply of raw materials such as aniline, carbon disulfide, sulfur, liquid alkali, chlorine gas, etc. These raw materials are like the cornerstone of building a building, and their quality and supply stability directly affect the production of rubber anti-aging agent RD.

Downstream, rubber anti-aging agent RD shines in the production of rubber products such as tires, tapes, hoses, wires and cables, and rubber shoes due to its excellent heat and oxygen resistance. These rubber products are widely used in various fields such as automobiles, healthcare, and construction, providing important support for people’s daily lives and industrial production. Especially in the automotive industry, as the main application area of rubber anti-aging agent RD, the demand for it continues to grow with the continuous growth of the automotive industry. Meanwhile, in the field of healthcare, it is used to manufacture medical rubber products to ensure medical safety; In the field of architecture, it improves the durability of building materials and extends their service life.

3. Sinochem International: a shining star in the field of high-end anti-aging agents

Sinochem International has a carefully planned overall layout in the high-end anti-aging agent industry chain. In addition to the widely used anti-aging agent 6PPD, a complete industrial chain including rubber anti-aging agents 7PPD, 77PD, TMPPD, and MIAK has been constructed based on the important intermediate methyl isoamyl ketone (MIAK) independently developed and produced. In addition, we have also laid out mature products such as rubber anti-aging agents IPPD, TMQ, and 3100, forming a comprehensive and multi-level industrial structure to provide customers and the market with comprehensive and high-quality services in the field of anti-aging agent applications, meeting diverse market demands.

In 2023, Sinochem International made significant breakthroughs in technological research and development, successfully synthesizing the key raw material methyl isopentyl ketone for rubber anti-aging products 7PPD, 77PD, and TMPPD. Previously, this product relied on imports in China, and this breakthrough can be regarded as a milestone in the domestic rubber anti-aging agent industry. The production process of methyl isopentyl ketone independently developed by Sinochem International has significant advantages, with a mild reaction process and internationally advanced catalytic efficiency, conversion rate, selectivity, and raw material utilization rate. This achievement fills the gap in the domestic rubber anti-aging agent industry supply chain, ensures stable supply of high-end rubber anti-aging agent raw materials, reduces supply risks caused by import dependence, and lays a solid foundation for the independent development of the domestic industry.

The research and development achievements of methyl isopentyl ketone have shown outstanding performance in intellectual property and industry evaluation. Three invention patent applications and two utility model patent applications have been filed, providing valuable references for the common technology of high-quality methyl isopentyl ketone products in China. At the same time, it was awarded the title of “Innovative Product of Chemical New Materials in 2023” and passed the first domestic demonstration of chemical process safety and reliability by the Anhui Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, demonstrating the outstanding achievements of Sinochem International in research and development and production, as well as the important value of its products in the industry.

Sinochem International’s technical strength in the research and development of methyl isopentyl ketone has been recognized by the industry and government. Its R&D application team has been awarded the title of “115” Industry Innovation Team in Anhui Province in 2023, reflecting the team’s innovation ability and professional competence. Commissioned by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, we have taken the lead in drafting the group standard for “Methyl Isoamyl Ketone for Industrial Use”, demonstrating the authority and leading role of Sinochem International in the industry, providing standard basis for standardized production and application of products, and promoting the healthy development of the industry.

4. Characteristics and advantages of high-end anti-aging products from Sinochem International

(1) 7PPD product: excellent anti-aging performance

(2) 77PD product: unique protective features

77PD has unique advantages in rubber anti-aging, with excellent static ozone resistance, which can effectively resist ozone depletion when the tire is stationary. At the same time, it has a certain improvement effect on flexural fatigue and has protective ability against catalytic oxidation of variable valence metals such as copper and manganese. Under special working conditions, such as prolonged parking or driving in environments containing metal impurities, 77PD can reduce tire aging caused by ozone and metal catalytic oxidation.

(3) 7PPD and 77PD carbon black masterbatch products: convenient and efficient combination

Considering that 7PPD and 77PD are in liquid state at room temperature, Sinochem International has developed carbon black masterbatch products. This form retains the excellent performance of both and solves the problem of inconvenient transportation and processing of liquid anti-aging agents. Carbon black masterbatch is easier to operate and measure, meeting the production process requirements of rubber products, improving production efficiency and product quality.

(4) TMPPD products: excellent ozone resistance and appearance protection

TMPPD, a triazine anti-aging agent, has shown strong anti ozone aging protection effects in the field of rubber anti-aging, significantly improving the anti ozone aging performance of tires and rubber products, as well as the appearance discoloration of rubber materials. In the application of rubber products or tires with high requirements for appearance quality, it can effectively prevent the rubber material from changing color, maintain the appearance quality, extend the service life, and improve the overall quality and market competitiveness of the product.

The high-end anti-aging product series of Sinochem International plays a key role in the rubber tire industry. These products, with their excellent performance, effectively delay tire rubber aging, improve wear resistance and overall performance, and extend tire service life. From the perspective of the industrial chain, a comprehensive industrial chain layout and stable raw material supply ensure that tire production enterprises obtain high-quality and stable supply of anti-aging products, ensuring production continuity and product quality stability. In terms of environmental protection, green production processes and low pollution, low emissions characteristics meet environmental requirements and contribute to the sustainable development of the tire industry. At the same time, the technological innovation and product research and development of Sinochem International promote technological progress in the entire tire anti-aging agent field, driving the industry towards more efficient, environmentally friendly, and high-quality development, providing strong support for the safety and sustainable development of the global automotive and transportation industries.

Article source: www.xianjichina.com

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