All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) organized webinar on "Safer Ingredients and more sustainable materials for Rubber Compound" under their Knowledge Series: Rubber & Beyond on 13 January 2026. The speaker was Dr. Kannika Sahakaro, Dean of the Faculty of Science & Technology, Prince of Songkla university, Thailand. The webinar was joined by 150+ participants.

The webinar covered compounding design, the importance of cross-link density, and the challenges of optimizing properties like tensile strength and tear resistance.

Dr. Sahakaro highlighted concerns about the toxicity of certain compounding ingredients, particularly those marked in red, and discussed efforts to find safer alternatives and bio-based materials for use in rubber compounds. She presented research on reducing sulfur oxide in aquatic environments and discussed the use of nano sulfur compounds and explained the transition from highly aromatic oils to safer alternatives in rubber compounding, including the use of plant-based oils like epoxidized palm and soybean oils.

The research focused on modifying oil properties to improve compatibility with rubber and enhance properties like tan delta and dynamic modulus. She also discussed the toxicity of additives used in rubber compounds, particularly DPG and 6PPD, and the need to find alternatives. She explained the role of 6PPD in tire production and the environmental concerns associated with tire wear particles and also highlighted the importance of natural rubber as a sustainable material and its unique properties due to non-rubber components.

She mentioned ongoing research into bio-based elastomers and fillers, including work on lignin-based fillers. Overall, the webinar was very informative and engaging, given a thorough knowledge about Rubber Compounds and sustainable materials.