Why use rare earths in rubber production? Chinese scientists are engineering tougher tyres

Chinese researchers have successfully trialed a new rare earth-based synthetic rubber production facility. This facility, located in Xinjiang and operated by PetroChina subsidiary Dushanzi Petrochemical with support from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, industrializes a key raw material for electric and heavy-duty vehicle tires. The unit boasts an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes. High-quality synthetic rubber, which typically uses metal catalysts in its production, is essential for the transport industry, manufacturing, and national defense.