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Challenges in tire wear particle collection: A laboratory perspective using DIN abrasion testing
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Every time tires roll on pavement, they shed tiny rubber particles into the environment—but scientists have struggled to actually capture and study these particles to understand health and environmental risks. This study found that a controlled lab test can recover nearly all the rubber particles it creates, making it a useful tool for researching tire wear, though it's important to note these lab particles aren't a perfect match for real-world road debris since they're missing the road minerals that mix in during actual driving. This matters because better lab methods could help tire makers design products that shed less particulate pollution, which is increasingly linked to concerns about air and water contamination from vehicle traff
Tires are a key component of vehicle safety, ensuring stability and control through traction, while their design and maintenance strongly affect abrasion behavior. Tire abrasion generates particulate matter, raising environmental concerns. These particles, known as tire and road wear particles (TRWP), consist of rubber from the tread and road minerals. Recent studies revealed that recovering a large share of TRWP during vehicle testing remains challenging. This article investigates abrasion particle recovery under controlled laboratory conditions using a DIN abrasion tester in accordance with DIN ISO 4649. Simplified tread compounds with varying sulfur network densities were prepared by adjusting sulfur and accelerator levels at a constant ratio. Recovery rates were then analyzed as a function of particle size distribution and composition. In contrast to vehicle testing, results show that abrasion particles produced with the DIN abrasion tester can be almost completely recovered for certain rubber compositions. Furthermore, comparison of abrasion loss values with tearing energy, T , measured by the Intrinsic Strength Analyzer (ISA) demonstrates a strong correlation between abrasion resistance and tear properties. This confirms that the DIN abrasion tester provides meaningful insights into wear initiation mechanisms. Overall, the study shows that laboratory testing enables efficient recovery of abrasion particles while simultaneously linking abrasion loss to tear properties. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized that lab generated particles differ from TRWP, as they lack mineral components from the road. These findings underline both the advantages and limitations of laboratory-based approaches for studying tire wear and particle emissions.
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