Our experienced technologists and scientists are often in demand at international meetings and seminars to present papers on recent developments at our laboratories. Paul Brown, Head of the Product Evaluation & Testing Unit at Rubber Consultants, is at Tire Tech Expo in Hamburg, Germany from 17th-19th February 2009 to give a paper entitled 'Enhanced passenger tire tread performance from sustainable resources'.

Paul studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, specialising in organic chemistry. He joined the Chemistry group at TARRC (then MRPRA) in 1983 to study the factors effecting strength in sulphur crosslinked rubbers.

After three years studying sulphur-vulcanization and strength properties of vulcanizates, he transferred to Dry Rubber Technology to investigate the crosslinking in rubber blends, specifically the distribution of crosslinks between the two rubbers. Paul worked on blends of natural rubber with EPR in a UN funded three-year programme studying blends of natural rubber with speciality elastomers. His interest in blends led, eventually, to being involved with tyre compounds and thus to tyre testing.

In 1997 Paul moved to the Physical Test Laboratory where he remains as Head. Over the past decade he has been involved with several EU funded joint research projects, all retreaded tyre related. Paul continues to be involved with tyre tread programmes at our laboratories.

Paul also sits on two BSI standards committees.

Contact Paul: pbrown@rubberconsultants.com