Jae-Won Choi
University of Akron Main Campus, OH·Materials Science
Tires must grip in all weather, last a long time and limit harm to the environment, and better cars and roads keep raising those demands. This work is part of the Center for Tire Research (CenTiRe), an industry–university center shared by Virginia Tech and the University of Akron.
- Fields
Materials Science
Engineering
Chemistry
- Topics
tire science
tire materials
silica-filled rubber
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Apr 2027
What they work on
- Explain how silica-filled rubber in tire tread compounds performs by modeling the complex heterogeneous dynamics inside these filled materials.
- Recycle bottle-grade plastics into technical-grade fibers strong enough to reinforce tires, as a more sustainable tire material.
- Study how road wear particles shed from tires degrade, and build reliable models of how tire materials age over time.
- Develop a 3D printing process to manufacture sensors built into tire treads.
More about the research
The center studies how the tire, the road surface and the vehicle interact, and uses that knowledge to help the tire industry. Virginia Tech leads vehicle modeling and tire–road interaction. The University of Akron site focuses on tire materials, material models, simulation tools, test equipment, manufacturing methods and sustainability.
Why it matters
Tire makers need materials that grip in all weather, last longer and pollute less. This work could help them design better tread rubber and reuse waste bottle plastic as tire reinforcement. It could also clarify how road wear particles break down in the environment, and it could make tread sensors easier to manufacture. Drivers and the tire industry may both benefit.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
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The school
University of Akron Main Campus: 2 labs on PI Pages, $25M a year on research, 75 research doctorates a year.
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