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

Chinese researchers have completed trials of a new rare earth-based synthetic rubber production facility, industrialising a major raw material for manufacturing electric vehicle and heavy-duty vehicle tyres. High-quality synthetic rubber, most of which uses metal as a catalyst during production, is vital to the transport industry, manufacturing and national defence. The unit, built by Xinjiang-based PetroChina subsidiary Dushanzi Petrochemical with support from the Changchun Institute of…