Momentive Starts Making a Tire-Tread Silane in India

Momentive Performance Materials has started local production of its NXT™ P97 silane at its facility in Chennai, India, expanding domestic access to advanced tire materials designed to improve performance, manufacturing efficiency and sustainability. Announced on October 7, 2026, the move strengthens the company’s supply capabilities for tire manufacturers in India and across the IMEA (India, Middle East and Africa) and Asia-Pacific regions. <Cite refs={["turn222484search0","turn222484search1"]}/>

The investment comes as tire manufacturers seek materials that balance low rolling resistance, wear resistance and efficient processing. NXT P97 is a bio-based silane designed for silica-reinforced tire-tread compounds, with 79% renewable carbon content. <Cite refs={["turn222484search0","turn222484search3"]}/>

Chennai Production Strengthens Regional Supply

By manufacturing NXT P97 in Chennai, Momentive aims to improve supply reliability and responsiveness for customers in one of the world's major tire-producing markets. Local production can also support closer technical collaboration with manufacturers as they develop and optimize tire formulations.

The Chennai facility is supported by Momentive's corporate research and development centre in Bengaluru. The centre provides expertise in silane chemistry, formulation development, product optimization, regulatory compliance and application support.

Together, the manufacturing and R&D operations give Momentive a regional platform for product development, laboratory work and customer collaboration. The expansion also aligns with India's Make in India initiative by increasing domestic production of advanced materials. <Cite refs={["turn222484search0","turn222484search1"]}/>

NXT P97 Targets Silica-Reinforced Tire Treads

Silane coupling agents play an important role in tire compounds containing silica. They help improve the interaction between silica filler and rubber, supporting the development of tread compounds with targeted mechanical and dynamic properties.

Momentive's NXT P97 is designed to improve filler dispersion and polymer–filler interaction in silica-reinforced tread formulations. The company identifies rolling resistance, tread wear and mercaptosilane processing as key areas where the material can deliver benefits.

These characteristics are particularly relevant to passenger-car tires, including electric-vehicle applications, where efficiency, durability and consistent manufacturing performance are important design considerations. Actual results depend on the complete formulation, processing conditions and tire design. <Cite refs={["turn222484search0","turn222484search3"]}/>

Renewable Carbon Supports Tire Sustainability Goals

NXT P97 contains 79% renewable carbon, according to Momentive. This bio-based content offers tire manufacturers an option for increasing the renewable-carbon share of their material inputs without changing the overall objective of producing high-performance tread compounds.

The company says the silane can help support longer-lasting tires and improved fuel efficiency, with the potential to reduce carbon dioxide and particulate emissions during tire use. These outcomes are dependent on the final tire formulation, vehicle, driving conditions and service life; the renewable-carbon figure alone does not establish the product's full lifecycle environmental impact. <Cite refs={["turn222484search0","turn222484search3"]}/>

Tire Manufacturers Seek a Balance Between Efficiency and Durability

Tire developers must balance competing requirements. Lower rolling resistance can help reduce energy losses during vehicle operation, while wear resistance affects tread life. Manufacturing teams also need compounds that can be mixed, processed and extruded consistently at commercial scale.

Momentive's local production of NXT P97 provides Indian tire manufacturers with closer access to the material and the company's application-development expertise. Whether it becomes part of a commercial tire formulation will depend on customer testing, product qualification and manufacturing requirements.

India Becomes a Stronger Hub for Advanced Tire Materials

The Chennai production start expands Momentive's presence in India's tire-materials supply chain. Combining local manufacturing with Bengaluru-based R&D and technical support may help the company respond more quickly to customer requirements and support development work across the region.

The announcement also reflects a wider shift in specialty chemicals: suppliers are increasingly expected to provide both high-performance materials and technical support that helps manufacturers meet efficiency, durability and sustainability targets.

For tire producers, NXT P97 represents an additional option for silica-reinforced tread development, with renewable-carbon content and processing performance among its stated selling points.

Sources:

https://www.momentive.com/pt-br/news-press-releases/momentive-nxt-p97-silane-india-tire-performance-sustainability