Development of synchrotron radiation technology that can measure the movement of atoms and molecules in rubber over a wide period of time – Towards an application for developing tires with high strength and excellent wear resistance – | Sumitomo Rubber Industries

Sumitomo Rubber Industries Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Associate Professor Shinkina Saito of Tohoku University, Aoki Hatsui, Director of the RIKEN Group, and Principal Investigator Yoshitaka Yoda of the High Luminosity Image Science Research Center, have developed a wide range of time domains including 1. New synchrotron radiation can measure the movement of atoms, molecules and nanostructures. Through this research, we will continue to develop tires with high strength and excellent wear resistance.

Our company has conducted joint research with Associate Professor Makina Saito of Tohoku University to improve tire wear resistance. Using conventional measurement techniques, it has been possible to measure atomic and molecular motions in rubber only on a time scale of 10 nanoseconds to 1000 nanoseconds. In order to improve wear resistance, it was necessary to study atomic and molecular motion in rubber in more detail over a shorter period of time.
Newly developed synchrotron radiation technology can measure motion from 0.1 nanoseconds to 100 nanoseconds, so when combined with conventional measurement technology, it is possible to measure atomic and molecular motion over a wide range of time. This technology is used at the SPring-8 large-scale synchrotron radiation research facility.^※1It was first developed using . Moreover, the latest 2D X-ray camera “CITIUS”^※2Using, it is possible to measure not only the time scale but also the spatial size of moving objects. By applying the developed technique to rubber materials, we succeeded in measuring the movement of molecular chains in rubber over a wide time range from 0.1 nanoseconds to 100 nanoseconds.Physical review letters｣^※3).
This research is carried out within the framework of CREST, a strategic project for the promotion of creative research led by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, which encourages original and high-level research internationally. By applying this technology, we will contribute to achieving a sustainable society.

■Tohoku University press release
“Development of synchrotron radiation technology to monitor atomic motions to one-billionth of a second ─ a major contribution to the development of materials and understanding the mechanisms of biological phenomena ─”　

*1 Large-scale synchrotron radiation facility that can produce synchrotron radiation with the highest performance in the world (Sayo City, Sayo District, Hyogo Prefecture)
*2 High-performance X-ray camera developed by RIKEN with a pixel size of 72.6 µm and a frame rate of 17.4 kHz.
※3 M. Saito, et al., Phys. Rev. Lit. (2024), DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.256901