Rubber Process Oils (TDAE, RAE, MES, Naphthenic) & Precipitated Silica for Tyres

REACH-compliant low-PAH extender oils and highly dispersible precipitated silica for tyre and rubber compounders

Process oil is the second largest ingredient in a tyre tread after the polymer, and the trade changed when REACH Annex XVII entry 50 restricted extender oils in tyres sold in the EU to less than 1 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene and less than 10 mg/kg for the sum of eight listed PAHs, from 1 January 2010. The oils that pass are TDAE (treated distillate aromatic extract), RAE (residual aromatic extract), MES (mild extraction solvate) and naphthenic oils; the highly aromatic DAE oils they replaced do not. A process oil is bought on kinematic viscosity at 100 °C, aniline point, carbon-type distribution (aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic carbon), glass transition temperature, flash and pour point, density and the PAH figures on the certificate of analysis, and the compounder matches it to the polymer: TDAE and RAE to SBR and natural rubber treads, MES to lower-aromatic compounds, naphthenic to EPDM, butyl and light-coloured goods. Process oils are MARPOL Annex I cargo and move in flexitanks of about 20-22 t, ISO tanks and 180-210 kg drums or in bulk parcels.

Precipitated silica is the second reinforcing filler, and highly dispersible silica (HDS) with a silane coupling agent is what makes the low-rolling-resistance passenger tread. It is bought on BET and CTAB surface area, loss on drying, pH, oil absorption and sieve residue, and tyre plants approve a grade on the mixing line before switching. Madhu Silica at Bhavnagar in Gujarat lists conventional, easy-dispersible and highly dispersible grades for tyres. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 2811.22 (silicon dioxide) total about USD 3.45 billion and 2.47 million MT across 96 reporters: China USD 840 million and 1.33 million MT, Germany USD 445 million and 171,000 MT, the United Kingdom USD 294 million, Japan USD 282 million, the USA USD 281 million, France USD 198 million and 111,000 MT, Korea USD 154 million, Belgium USD 138 million, Poland USD 113 million, Taiwan USD 97 million, India USD 83 million and 86,000 MT and Thailand USD 67 million; the code also covers fumed and other silicas, so it overstates precipitated grades. The buyer is a tyre or retread plant, a footwear sole compounder, a conveyor-belt, hose or seal maker, or a rubber-chemicals distributor. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers TDAE, RAE, MES and naphthenic process oils from refiners in India, Europe and the USA, and precipitated silica from plants in India, Europe, the USA, China, Japan and Korea, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms against the producer's certificate of analysis, the refinery or plant named on it, and SGS or Intertek inspection at load where the buyer asks. Send the grade you run today, viscosity and aniline point window or BET/CTAB window, monthly volume, pack and destination.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.