Having identified factors behind the unpleasant odors of natural rubber, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has developed what it calls Reduced Odor Natural Rubber, a product that cuts down on this issue in a major way. To create this new product grade, Sumitomo Rubber has introduced a proprietary method for the processing of raw materials at Sumirubber Thai Eastern Corporation...
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. recently announced that it has been working with footwear brand Skechers USA Inc. to develop new footwear. Outsoles making use of Goodyear’s rubber technology are being utilized in a range of Skechers products. These outsoles incorporate various Goodyear technologies, such as a special polymer that includes renewable soybean oil. As a result, the outsoles provide...
Shimadzu Corp. (TYO:7701) has started development efforts on a genetic test kit for the novel coronavirus. As this new test kit skips the conventional step of extracting ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the sample, it will help to reduce labor and time requirements for testing. A manufacturer of testing, measuring and analytical equipment for the likes of the rubber sector, Shimadzu...
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has worked with the University of Tokyo to develop a rubber composite material that offers heat conductivity on par with that of metal. This was achieved by dispersing two kinds of carbon fiber – specifically carbon nanofiber (CNF) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) – as fillers throughout polyrotaxane, a type of...
Chemical manufacturer Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) announced on Feb. 13 that consolidated subsidiary Denka Seiken Co. Ltd. has started development of a diagnostic test kit for China’s novel coronavirus. Making use of the immunochromatography method for coronavirus antigens, the kit can be used quickly and simply even at general medical facilities. Since its establishment in 1950, Denka Seiken has been...
Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) has developed a new line of special acrylic elastomer with the ability to withstand temperatures of up to around 190 degrees Celsius. The material is currently undergoing user evaluations and is slated to hit the market at some point in fiscal 2020. Plans are to produce the new elastomer at Denka’s Chiba Plant in Ichihara, Chiba...
