Tires & safety systems

In vehicles, frontal and side airbags provide added protection to occupants in case an accident occurs. They help prevent severe injuries, and even save lives. To do their jobs, airbags must deploy intact and extremely fast, without fail, so they can serve as cushions on impact, and then deflate in a controlled amount of time.

Compacted graphite iron is increasingly used in specialist automotive and transport applications, thanks to its combination of high tensile strength, good fatigue properties, and ease of machining. With our combination of expertise, product quality and global reach, you’ll find Elkem is your ideal partner for optimizing production of compacted graphite iron.

Gray iron accounts for the majority of cast iron production, and is valued where its unique properties, including castability, stiffness, heat dissipation and vibration damping, take priority – for example, in automotive engine cylinder blocks and brake discs.

Polymer additives play a crucial role in the formulation of rubber compounds. They can enhance the properties of the rubber, such as improving its durability, flexibility, and strength. Elkem offers a range of silicone-based polymer additives for rubber compounds, which can be customized to meet specific performance requirements.

Silicone release agents are crucial for tire manufacturing operations as they facilitate the release of tires from molds without damaging the tire's surface. Elkem offers a range of silicone release agents for tire manufacturing, including water-based and solvent-based options. These release agents are specifically designed to provide high-quality tire surface finish and minimize the need for post-treatment processes, leading to increased production efficiency and reduced costs.