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Durability has been the name of the game at Airable Research Lab, where Barry McGraw, Airable founder and chief laboratory officer, is focusing on this potential benefit of soy-based products. For the past couple of months, McGraw and the team have been developing ways to give the softer parts of vehicles a little more staying power.

Why durability? McGraw points to Roof Maxx. “As anyone who follows OSC-sponsored R&D knows, Roof Maxx is a demonstrable success — perhaps the jewel of the Council’s R&D crown. The treatment soaks into old shingles — ones that are cracking and peeling from all that exposure to sun and weather — and brings back their flexibility, which extends the roof ’s lifetime.

“I thought, ‘If soy-based formulations can do that for asphalt, what else can they rejuvenate? Leather? Vinyl? Rubber?’ I realized there must be myriad applications. And many of these materials are used in cars,” said McGraw.

McGraw pitched the idea to an automotive maintenance company (AMC) that provides quality products and equipment to vehicle dealerships, as well as producing a line of products for the classic car enthusiast. AMC recognized an opportunity to meet a growing need: “greener” car components that perform as well as their less eco-friendly competitors.

Thus, McGraw and the team have been hard at work on two products: leather conditioner and tire protectant.

Leather conditioners are used to prevent cracking, drying and degradation of leather products over time. This deterioration is caused by UV rays, extreme temperature changes and moisture loss (similar to the environmental circumstances that age roofing shingles).

The Airable team has developed a soy-based conditioner that will help leather retain moisture and extend the material’s life without leaving a greasy residue after application. The researchers tested the formulation on a leather coat. Results indicate that the soy-based product performs as well as commercial products and does not leave an oily residue.

The target user for this product is automotive care enthusiasts, but it could be used across all types of leather products. In parallel with the leather conditioner R&D, McGraw and team are working on tire protectant. This product is applied to the outside wall of the tire to protect it from cracking (in response to UV light and various weather conditions, as with the roof shingles and car leather). The treatment will also maintain the tire’s appearance, keeping it dark and shiny.

Some initial formulations have already been delivered to AMC, and the company has evaluated them. The tire treatment met AMCs’ specifications for performance and appearance (for example, the tire has good gloss and acceptable longevity), and the Airable team is now optimizing the formulation based on AMCs’ feedback.

“Roof Maxx pointed the way toward a lot of exciting opportunities,” said McGraw. “And we’re not limiting ourselves to AMCs’ current list. For example, Airable has an internal project developing a biodegradable polyol, which could be used in the foams that make up much of a car’s interior.

“And we’re not necessarily stopping at vehicles, either. Just imagine how many manufacturers want greener products with better durability. Yesterday, it was roofs; today, it’s cars; next year, something bigger and better!”

Ohio Soybean Council’s investment in Airable Research Lab increases profitability for Ohio soybean farmers because it expands market opportunities and increases the demand for soybeans. To learn about other success stories and current projects at Airable visit AirableResearchLab.com.

The Airable team has developed and tested several formulas and identified oils that weatherize tires nearly as well as silicone-based products.

Half the seat (toward the viewer) has been treated with the Airable product.