Trelleborg works toward more circular materials

Historically, the Group’s polymer-based solutions were largely fossil-based, building on the unique sealing and damping properties of synthetic rubber and plastics. Over the last couple of years, there has been a focus on us making our solutions more sustainable, primarily by increasing the share of recycled/recyclable or bio-based material in polymer based products.

Used in all black compounds, carbon black is a fine carbon powder that gives rubber its black color. It is added to formulations to reinforce the rubber and improve its physical properties, such as resistance to sunlight.

“Trelleborg is looking at using recycled carbon black from end-of-life tires; there are a large number of these in the world. It is also available from sustainable sources, such as bio-oils or recycled oils,” says Carl Cumming, Material Development Manager at Trelleborg Mixing in

Forsheda in Sweden. Our facility is responsible for carbon black and other fillers, as well as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) within the ‘Polymers for Tomorrow’.

According to Carl, numerous activities within the industry now concentrate on developing more sustainable fillers as an alternative to carbon black. These fillers can come from waste in the food industry or from, for example, wood. Evaluation of new fillers is based on how sustainable they are and whether they give the required properties in rubber.

Material: EPDM

Used in a lot of extruded profiles, such as window and door seals and as a gasket material for many demanding applications, EPDM is a polymer that is very good in high temperatures, sunlight, and with most chemicals.

However, it is poor in contact with oils and solvents. “A partly bio-based EPDM polymer has been available for a couple of years. But now we are seeing the launch of new types coming from bio-waste or from recycled scrap plastic. These sustainable polymers give the same properties and a dramatically reduced CO2  footprint,” says Carl. He adds: “It feels fantastic to be part of the movement toward a more sustainable rubber industry.”