Bridgestone has successfully polymerized high-cis polyisoprene (IR) synthetic rubber from isoprene provided by Ajinomoto, a partner in synthetic rubber development for tires. Isoprene is produced with biomass.
Since IR can replace natural rubber in some cases, Bridgestone expects it to be a means of diversifying raw material sources for tires, and it aims to promote IR bioengineering technologies while confirming its rubber properties and further enhancing polymerization catalyst technologies for developing IR with more advanced performance features.
The Bridgestone Group is promoting a variety of initiatives for creating "100% sustainable materials" by 2050, but IR extracted from crude oil feedstock is a market with limited potential for supply. The Group has been searching for ways to procure raw materials from renewable resources to ensure the supply of sustainable resources.
Polymerized IR has been successfully polymerized using isoprene produced with biomass by Ajinomoto, which has the world's most advanced fermentation technologies. This development could be a major catalyst for achieving Bridgestone's goal of a sustainable society.
In addition, IR bonded with isoprene from biomass feedback using Bridgestone's proprietary polymerization catalyst technologies can verify the practical feasibility of IR.
Bridgestone is involved in other efforts to develop technologies and processes that reduce, reuse and recycle resources as well as projects to developconcept tires made from "100% sustainable materials".
