Advancing tire and road wear particles research with cryogenically milled tire tread (CMTT)
Cryogenically milled tire tread (CMTT) offers a surrogate test material for tire and road wear particles (TRWP) research that does not contain elements from the external sources that tires are exposed to during normal use. CMTT is not a direct replacement for TRWP in all research applications, but it does allow researchers to isolate and focus on the tire tread component.
CMTT is the product of a standardized and reproduceable laboratory process developed by the Tire Industry Project (TIP), that cryo-grinds (or cryo-mills) tire tread to simulate the tire particles that are generated by the friction between tires and road surfaces during driving. The cryo-milling technology minimizes any chemical transformation changes to the particles. CMTT is comprised of tiny pieces of the vulcanized rubber compound found in tire tread but does not contain elements arising from pavement or any interactions with pavement.
With more than a decade of experience researching TRWP and producing tire test materials, TIP recognizes the scientific importance of representative test materials. TIP created the CMTT methodology to support research on tire wear by providing a reliable and affordable material for lab experiments.
In making this material available to researchers, the tire industry is contributing to improve access to appropriate materials for TRWP research.
Learn more about CMTT and how it is being made available to support TRWP research.
