Our group is involved in a research collaboration with Michelin tyre company for more than 25 years. The knowledge gained over the years on the copolymerization of ethylene and butadiene via coordination-insertion led to a new class of elastomers called ethylene-butadiene rubber (EBR). This new polymer and the macromolecular structures based on hold great promise in the field of material particularly for the design of tyres with improved performances. Within CHEMISTLAB, the ambition is to create new generations of high-performance elastomers with applications in tyres in particular. In addition, CHEMISTLAB’s research themes are in line with Michelin’s strategy of promoting more sustainable mobility through the development of high-tech, high-performance, potentially bio-based and recyclable/reusable materials.
According to these lines, the goal of the present project co-funded by Michelin is to develop synthetic tools that would allow to develop new EBRs according to three different ways.