tldr: “ The killer was the 6PPD-quinone from the tires in the roadway runoff.”
6PPD is an antioxidant added to tires, and the -quinone is the oxidized form (not sure if it oxidizes before/during/after manufacturing or after escaping the tire).
6PPD is an antioxidant added to tires, and the -quinone is the oxidized form (not sure if it oxidizes before/during/after manufacturing or after escaping the tire).
I just read that ozone will cause cracks in regular rubber bands over time, I never knew that was the cause [1]. Interesting.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6PPD [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_cracking
Cracked tires: dangerous? Cosmetic? Or early warning that tires are getting old?
Ozone in the atmosphere react with the tire compound and weakens it, leading to cracks forming which exposes more and more area deeper in the tire body to ozone. increased area increases chance of reaction.
A tire that has recently been inflated to the upper limit of it's pressure range making stiff is traveling at 70 miles an hour, suddenly there is a spike in pressure as if hits a bump. The sidewall is weak.... How will this failure end?
Tire are not a fixed technology, the companies are always having to create and reformulate to drive the price lower, last longer, have better traction.
"The researchers determined that the chemical is formed when a preservative known as 6PPD reacts with ozone. 6PPD is designed to extend the lifespan of tires by reacting with ozone in the surrounding air before it has a chance to interact with the rubber and weaken it, Kolodziej said."
https://www.popsci.com/story/environment/coho-salmon-toxic-c...