From left: Dr. James Eagan, Dr. Hyeonu Heo and Dr. Gopal Nadkarni, CenTiRe funding recipients.

The University of Akron’s (UA) College of Engineering and Polymer Science (CEPS) has secured funding from the Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) for two faculty-led research projects. The CenTiRe Industry Advisory Board approved three new research proposals this year, with UA earning two of the awards.

“It is gratifying to see three CEPS faculty members recognized through the highly competitive, industry-driven CenTiRe funding process,” said Dr. Ajay Mahajan, associate dean for research in CEPS. “Their success reflects the enduring leadership of The University of Akron, whose globally recognized legacy in polymer science and tire research continues to be strengthened through deep, impactful partnerships with industry.”

“The outcomes of this year’s selections underscore The University of Akron’s established strengths in advanced materials and manufacturing research,” said Dr. Jae-Won Choi, professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering and UA site director for CenTiRe. “Faculty engagement has been strong. Of the seven preproposals submitted in the most recent solicitation, four advanced to the finalist stage and were invited to submit full proposals. With a new request for proposals expected in August, we anticipate continued robust participation from UA.”

Congratulations to the following faculty members, whose dedication to interdisciplinary research, innovation and collaboration continues to elevate UA’s impact in the field.

Dr. James Eagan, assistant professor of polymer science
Funding: $140,000 over two years
Project title: Butadiene CO₂ Polymers: Formulation and Testing
Research area: Materials

This two-year project explores how carbon dioxide can be incorporated as an additional building block (comonomer) in synthetic rubber to create innovative, more sustainable tire materials. The research addresses a key challenge in the tire industry: developing high-performance rubber compounds while reducing carbon footprint.

By building carbon dioxide directly into the core structure of the material, Eagan’s work aims to improve environmental sustainability without competing for land, water or other agricultural resources. The project also investigates carbon dioxide-derived oils to increase the overall carbon dioxide content in tire compounds.

Building on earlier CenTiRe-sponsored studies, Eagan’s team has demonstrated the ability to control glass transition temperatures, comonomer placement and baseline mechanical properties of carbon dioxide-based elastomers. This project will advance those findings by scaling synthesis, formulating carbon dioxide-based polymers into tire compounds, and testing their thermal and mechanical properties.

The work represents a step toward the development of carbon-negative tires and highlights the potential of combining novel chemistry, sustainable feedstocks and advanced materials engineering to reduce the environmental impact of tire manufacturing.

Dr. Hyeonu Heo, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
Dr. Gopal Nadkarni, associate professor of mechanical engineering
Funding: $140,000 over two years
Project title: Additively Manufactured Meshed Air Cooling/Heating for Tire Industry Applications
Research area: Manufacturing

This project focuses on improving temperature control in tire manufacturing, a critical factor in ensuring product quality, energy efficiency and operational reliability.

Current manufacturing systems rely heavily on water-based cooling, which can be difficult to control and prone to corrosion, leaks and maintenance challenges. This research aims to develop a next-generation alternative using additively manufactured metal mesh structures.

These lattice-like structures are integrated into equipment such as cooling drums, extruders and mixers, allowing air, rather than water, to regulate temperature. This approach enables more precise and uniform heat transfer while reducing maintenance demands and eliminating issues associated with water-based systems.

The potential benefits for manufacturers include more consistent product quality, faster production cycles, reduced downtime and lower energy costs. Beyond tire manufacturing, the technology has broader applications in rubber processing and advanced manufacturing industries.

The research team will validate the designs through experimental testing, with graduate students leading core research efforts and undergraduate students contributing to hands-on design work. The project received strong support from CenTiRe industry members for its comprehensive scope, which spans material design, heat transfer modeling, testing and direct industry collaboration.

About CenTiRe

The Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe) is a university-industry consortium dedicated to advancing precompetitive research in tire materials, physics, testing, manufacturing and sustainability. Supported by global tire manufacturers, material suppliers, vehicle manufacturers and testing equipment providers, CenTiRe operates through two leading research institutions: Virginia Tech and The University of Akron.

Virginia Tech specializes in tire and vehicle mechanics, dynamics and road simulation, while The University of Akron is internationally recognized for its expertise in polymer science and engineering. CenTiRe projects are guided by industry members and carried out by university faculty and graduate students, ensuring research outcomes are relevant and transferable to member organizations.

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Media contact: media@uakron.edu