Eggshells as raw material for tires

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), a part of Stellantis, has patented the use of calcium oxide derived from eggshells as a raw material in tire production. According to the patent application, the new material can serve as a filler and binder, replacing both carbon black and silica, and thus become an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional raw materials in the industry.

FCA notes that, for example, chicken eggs are more than 90% composed of calcium carbonate, from which the necessary raw materials for the tire industry can be obtained. At the same time, recycling eggshells will reduce the amount of waste in landfills, and replacing petroleum-based raw materials will also reduce environmental damage.

According to FCA, the new raw material is also capable of improving tire characteristics, in particular, increasing traction on wet roads by 20%, reducing rolling resistance, providing a 3% fuel saving, and ensuring high durability.

What's interesting is that tires are black due to the use of carbon black, which increases their strength, so the question arises: will the traditional color be preserved, and how will it be done? Consumers still prefer black tires (tires of other colors have been tried to be produced by several companies, such as the Chinese Doublestar and the Russian "Nizhnekamskshina", but ultimately these projects were not successful), so either a certain proportion of carbon black or other dyes will be required, and if they are not used, the tires will be milk-white.

In addition, part of the extraction process will involve heating the eggshells to at least 900 °C, and it is also not specified how the new raw material will be added to the rubber mixtures of car tires, and how effective the entire technological process will be in terms of time and economic costs.

Tire companies are now increasing the share of environmentally friendly raw materials used, including those from biological sources. For example, silica has begun to be obtained from rice husk ash, another type of agricultural waste, and several manufacturers also use rapeseed, orange, and soybean oils.

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