Image courtesy of: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

jsc2019e040132 (3/10/2015) --- Preflight image of silica, a common element used in tires to help enhance performance in areas such as fuel efficiency and wet traction. The Pushing the Limits of Silica Fillers for Tire Applications (Goodyear Tire) investigation evaluates creation of novel silica forms and structures, or morphologies, using traditional techniques to form silica fillers in microgravity. The space environment may yield results not possible in ground-based environments. Better understanding of silica morphology and the relationship between silica structure and properties may improve the silica design process as well as silica rubber formulation and tire manufacturing and performance on the ground. (Image courtesy of: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company)