Tyre Trends magazine reports that Rathi Group has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) to strengthen technical collaboration on the integration of recovered carbon black (rCB) into tyre manufacturing.

The agreement establishes a structured framework to evaluate, standardise, and enhance the material properties of rCB to ensure performance consistency in tyre applications. The initiative focuses on responsible adoption aligned with mechanical performance, durability, and safety requirements.

Science-Based Evaluation Framework

The collaboration will leverage ITTAC’s technical expertise to support:

  • Detailed material characterisation of rCB
  • Performance benchmarking against virgin carbon black
  • Compound formulation optimisation
  • Standard development and validation protocols
  • Long-term durability and regulatory compliance assessment

This structured engagement between industry and academia is designed to address known technical challenges associated with rCB, including variability in particle structure, ash content, surface chemistry, and reinforcement efficiency.

Role of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA)

The initiative is facilitated by ATMA in coordination with ITTAC, bringing together:

  • Leading tyre manufacturers
  • Technical specialists
  • Research institutions
  • Industry stakeholders

This unified platform supports a data-driven, collaborative approach to accelerate circular material adoption while maintaining stringent tyre performance standards.

Advancing Tyre-to-Tyre Circularity

Recovered carbon black derived from end-of-life tyre pyrolysis is increasingly viewed as a strategic feedstock in reducing Scope 3 emissions and improving material circularity within the tyre value chain.

Through this partnership, Rathi Group positions itself within India’s evolving circular economy ecosystem by:

  • Supporting tyre-to-tyre material recovery models
  • Contributing to decarbonisation efforts in rubber compounding
  • Strengthening domestic rCB validation frameworks
  • Enhancing confidence in circular feedstock scalability

The MoU reflects a broader industry shift toward integrating sustainable materials without compromising safety, durability, or performance.

Strategic Significance

This collaboration represents a structured step toward mainstreaming rCB in Indian tyre manufacturing through technical validation, cross-sector coordination, and performance-driven implementation.

Read more in the original article by Tyre Trends.