Materials focuses on the discovery, development, and characterization of advanced materials that will enable the next generation of tire technologies. Research efforts span sustainable polymers, novel reinforcing materials, environmentally responsible additives, smart sensing materials, energy-harvesting systems, and intelligent tire technologies. By combining expertise in polymer science, nanomaterials, materials engineering, and functional materials design, these projects seek to create innovative solutions that enhance tire performance, improve sustainability, and expand tire functionality beyond traditional transportation applications. Through the development of new materials derived from captured carbon, advanced graphene technologies, and embedded sensing and energy-harvesting capabilities, CenTiRe researchers are helping the tire industry address emerging environmental challenges while laying the foundation for safer, smarter, and more sustainable mobility systems of the future.
Ongoing Projects
- Carbon Negative Butadiene CO₂Polymers: Material Synthesis and Property Evaluation
Dr. James Eagan — University of Akron
- Flexoelectric Polyelectrolyte Elastomer for Tire Sensors and Tire Energy Harvesters
Dr. Jae-Won Choi — University of Akron
- Coal-Derived Biocompatible Graphene as an Effective and Safer Alternative to 6PPD in Tires
Dr. Roop Mahajan — Virginia Tech
- Wireless Flexible Piezo-polymer Sensors for Smart Tires
Dr. Zhenhua Tian — Virginia Tech
- Butadiene CO₂-Polymers: Formulation and Testing
Dr. James Eagan — University of Akron
