Why are TYRES always BLACK ?

It’s known to all of us that tyres are made from rubber. Then why the milky white rubber is changed to black always? Why are the industries not opting for the vibrant colours? If all are doing the same, there must be a reason behind it. Shall we explore it?

A vehicle has to ride over hard terrains and since tyres are the muscle of the vehicle they need to be designed in such a way that it can do so easily. As we know, hard roads lead to beautiful destinations. Carbon black is what is responsible for the black colour of the tyres. This carbon black is a multitalented partner to the rubber. It acts as a reinforcing agent which increases the strength and life span of the rubber. Then, what is this carbon black? Carbon black is a product formed by the incomplete combustion of petroleum products. The carbon black particle ranges from nanometer to micrometers in size. The mixing of carbon black with rubber is very critical. The strength and durability of the tyres depend on the amount of carbon black added. This process is a little bit tricky. That’s why we can see different grades of tyres. Just have a close look into the world of vehicles. You can see a wide variety of tyres. Wonder why? Also, carbon black protects the tyres from heat and UV light which is also an important factor that extends their life span. It’s also interesting to know that tyres are designed in such a way that the carbon black content is with different composition at different parts of the tyres such as treads, side wall, inner liner etc.

Research is going on to replace burned fossil fuel carbon black with natural fibres burned carbon black. Mainly used natural fibre is bamboo which can lead to a green revolution.