“Plant to Produce Rubber” Grown in Arid Zones - Guayule

Development of a new source of natural rubber

Guayule, a new source of natural rubber

Guayule is an evergreen shrub that originated in the arid zone from the southwestern part of the USA to northern Mexico and therefore can be grown in environments totally different from those suited for para rubber trees (the current primary source of natural rubber (*1)). Also, the rubber constituent contained therein is very similar to that of para rubber trees. Given these factors, guayule is expected to become a new source of natural rubber.

*1Hevea brasiliensis, Euphorbiaceae; evergreen tree originated in Brazil. Latex extracted from the tree contains natural rubber.

From guayule cultivation to tire development

From cultivation to processing natural rubber

Guayule
Para rubber tree ( for reference )

Guayule requires a series of process to produce natural rubber consisting of grinding whole plant, solvent extraction and impurity removal, which is more complex than the natural rubber production process concerning para rubber trees that requires coagulation and drying of latex only.
The Bridgestone Group has been conducting integrated R&D activities from cultivation technology, natural rubber extraction process to application to tires toward practical use of guayule.

Tire made from guayule-derived natural rubber

In 2015, the Bridgestone Group produced the first tire made from guayule-derived natural rubber. This was an impressive step toward “expansion and diversification of renewable resources.”
The Bridgestone Group’s proprietary technologies were applied to every process in the production of this tire; From guayule cultivation and natural rubber extraction, purification, and evaluation, to tire production and evaluation.