What is the role of lanthanum-doped zinc oxide in tires?
3 Answers
Lanthanum-doped zinc oxide acts as a promoter and auxiliary agent in tires. The following is an introduction to zinc oxide and its role in tires: Introduction to zinc oxide: It serves as a reinforcing agent, activator, and vulcanizing agent for natural rubber and synthetic rubber, as well as a colorant and filler for white rubber compounds. Adding active zinc oxide to rubber compounds can enhance the rubber's wear resistance, tear resistance, and elasticity. Role of zinc oxide in tires: Zinc oxide is primarily used as a vulcanization activator in rubber, improving the crosslinking density of rubber to ensure optimal physical and mechanical properties. Zinc oxide also acts as a crosslinking agent for chloroprene rubber. As a new functional material, nano zinc oxide possesses unique properties and applications in magnetism, optics, electricity, antibacterial sterilization, and UV shielding that ordinary zinc oxide products lack. It can impart new characteristics to rubber products, such as high-speed wear resistance, electrostatic shielding, sunlight aging resistance, luminescence storage, and antibacterial properties, enabling the production of high-performance rubber and related products.
I've read many research papers, and the role of lanthanum oxide-doped zinc oxide in tires is primarily to enhance the efficiency of rubber vulcanization and overall durability. Zinc oxide itself is a vulcanization accelerator in tire rubber, helping rubber molecules cross-link to form an elastic structure. When doped with lanthanum oxide, as a rare earth additive, it boosts the catalytic activity of zinc oxide, making the vulcanization reaction faster and more uniform. This not only makes tires harder and more wear-resistant but also maintains stability without softening under high temperatures, improving grip. Additionally, lanthanum oxide's UV absorption properties help prevent tire aging and cracking, extending service life by 2-3 years. While this is more common in high-performance or racing tires and not found in every vehicle, it reflects material innovation, making driving safer and more worry-free, especially during long trips or in extreme weather conditions.
My over ten years of experience in car repair tells me that lanthanum-doped zinc oxide in tires is like an upgraded version of ordinary zinc oxide. It optimizes the rubber vulcanization process, making the tire cure more solidly and avoiding deformation or softening issues. During daily driving, you might notice that such tires are more wear-resistant and less prone to cracking, and they don't slip easily under the summer sun. Lanthanum also acts as a protective agent, reducing UV damage and extending the tread life. In actual repairs, this material is rarely seen, mostly used in high-end tires, with slightly higher costs but outstanding performance. There are no special maintenance requirements; just regularly check tire pressure and wear to ensure a safe and stable drive.
