MIDLAND, Mich. (March 29)—Dow Corning Corp. claims it has a new process for making organosilanes—used in the compounding of silica-reinforced rubber for lower rolling resistance "green" tires—that is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than its existing process.
Dow Corning said its new technology, "phase-transfer catalysis," accelerates the reaction time needed for making silanes, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and the amount of materials needed. The technology requires no salt filtration, hazardous solvents or solvent recovery, moving the green philosophy up the supply chain to the processing level.
The firm did not quantify the cost savings or say to what extent the new process technology is in place at its manufacturing facilities.