Material and Product Development for Carbon Neutrality

－Rubber Product Weight Reduction Technology－

Abstract

In recent years, the promotion of carbon neutrality has been required all over the world. We are implementing various initiatives that will lead to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. Weight reduction of automobile parts is also one of the efforts to reduce CO₂. Not only improving fuel efficiency but also reducing the amount of materials used, weight reduction leads to reduction of CO₂ emissions.

This paper introduces an example of weight reduction by developing a high-stiffness rubber material for an air cleaner hose. The important functions required for an air cleaner hose are negative pressure resistance, assembly performance, and sealing performance. In order to reduce the weight while maintaining these functions, it was necessary to develop a highly stiffness material with low temperature dependence of stiffness. In the development, we developed a new high-stiffness rubber material with low temperature dependence by using the rubber elasticity theory.