According to new from Rubber World, a new standard ASTM D8016 Precipitated Silica Testing Method-Sears Number was issued recently.
Precipitated hydrated silicon dioxide（SiO2•nH2O）is also called silica and it is a raw material for preparing green tires. Tire manufacturer and silica producer is the major user of this new standard.
Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, a member of ASTM introduced that silica technology can effectively reduce rolling resistance of tires without losing braking performance. This will facilitate improving fuel oil efficiency of automobiles and reducing emission of carbon dioxide. ASTM plans to carry out a series of tests to evaluate the accuracy of new standard next year. Laboratories of rubber companies, silica producers and sci-tech institutions will also be invited to participate in the test.
ASTM is the abbreviation of American Society for Testing Materials and is one of the largest non-profit standard academic groups in USA. ASTM standard has covered various performance tests in rubber and plastics products fields and is the widely recognized testing standard in the world.