Nemus Materials™

Bio-Based Reinforcement Premix for Tire Compounds — Drop-In Ready

Nemus Materials™ is a premix of natural rubber (NR) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) — a renewable, biodegradable reinforcement designed to replace traditional fossil-based tire fillers.

Developed by Black Donuts and validated through independent assessment, Nemus enables substantial CO₂ reduction at compound level while maintaining, and in specific metrics improving, tire performance. Nemus is designed primarily for tread compounds and can replace carbon black, silica, and portions of synthetic rubber. Replacement efficiency:

MFC reinforcement: 1:3 replacement ratio vs carbon black or silica
Natural rubber carrier: 1:1 replacement ratio vs natural rubber

In modern passenger car tire treads, Nemus can replace approximately 70–75% of conventional carbon black content without performance loss.

Nemus is engineered as a drop-in ready material and integrates into existing tire manufacturing processes without equipment modification.

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Bio-Based Reinforcement for Modern Tire Requirements 

Tire treads rely on carbon black, silica, and synthetic rubber for reinforcement and durability. These materials are effective but fossil-based. As regulatory pressure increases, Scope 3 emissions become mandatory reporting items and OEM sustainability targets tighten. Tire manufacturers face a structural dilemma: how to reduce fossil-based content without compromising rolling resistance, wet grip, wear resistance, durability, process stability, and cost competitiveness. Most bio-based alternatives fail at performance scale. Nemus was engineered specifically to address this gap.

Nemus is produced by combining:

80–87% natural rubber (NR)
13–20% microfibrillated cellulose (MFC)

Why the Name Nemus?
Derived from Latin, Nemus means “forest” or “sacred grove,” reflecting both the material’s origin and its alignment with regenerative carbon cycles.

Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC)

The MFC component is derived from cellulose fibers that are obtained from sustainably managed forests. Through mechanical processing, these fibers are converted into high-surface-area microfibrils that provide exceptional reinforcement capability inside the rubber matrix.

Nemus Materials™ combines renewable natural rubber and plant-derived microfibrillated cellulose to reduce fossil-derived reinforcement content while maintaining tire-grade performance.

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Nemus Materials™ is committed to transforming the tire industry with renewable, high‑performance materials derived from nature. Our mission is to help tire manufacturers reduce CO₂ emissions, decrease reliance on fossil‑based fillers, and advance tire sustainability throughout the product life cycle.

Sustainability Advantage

Nemus is among the few materials in the tire industry with a verified negative carbon footprint. Its carbon balance is –1.8 kg CO₂-eq per kilogram of material, driven by biogenic carbon uptake. This footprint was independently calculated by nova-Institut, a recognized expert in bio-based material sustainability assessments.

Made solely from natural rubber and cellulose, Nemus is 100% bio‑based, free of fossil-derived ingredients and fully biodegradable. This makes Nemus an ideal solution for manufacturers seeking to reduce environmental impact across the entire tire life cycle.

Nemus is engineered as an easy‑to‑use premix. It integrates seamlessly into existing tire manufacturing processes—no changes to equipment or compounding procedures are required.

Application & Performance

Check NATURAL – replacement for fossil‑based fillers

Nemus is designed to replace carbon black, silica, and portions of synthetic rubber, offering superior replacement ratios:

  • MFC reinforcement efficiency:
    – 1:3 replacement ratio vs. carbon black or silica
  • NR in Nemus works as the carrier for MFC
    – 1:1 replacement ratio vs. natural rubber

Depending on target compound properties, Nemus can also partially replace synthetic rubber, enabling a significant shift toward bio-based formulations.

Check NATURAL – performance enhancement for tread compounds

Few bio‑based solutions meet the demanding performance expectations of modern tires. Nemus stands out by delivering:

  • Reduced rolling resistance
  • Improved biodegradability of abrasion particles
  • Stable processing performance
  • Long‑term durability

These characteristics make Nemus especially valuable for tread compounds, where efficiency, grip, and safety are critical.

Check VERIFIED – Results from InTire LabS

Nemus has been extensively evaluated in the Black Donuts InTire Labs material research laboratory, a center of excellence in tire technology and material development. Studies conducted at InTire Labs confirm that Nemus delivers:

  • Reduced rolling resistance
  • Improved processability
  • Improved tire handling
  • Neutral to improved chip & chunk resistance

These results demonstrate that Nemus enables tire manufacturers to advance sustainability while maintaining — and in certain parameters enhancing — core performance metrics.

Evaluate Nemus for Your Next Compound Program

Access Technical Data or Schedule a Technical Consultation

Assess Nemus for tread reinforcement, fossil-content reduction, and pilot-scale performance validation. Submit your request below to receive technical documentation or arrange a direct discussion with our Nemus material experts.

We welcome technical discussions with compound developers, R&D teams, and sustainability leaders.

Technical Contacts

Dr. Antti Laukkanen
CTO, Nemus Business Unit
+358 50 409 3497
+358 40 750 6060
antti.laukkanen@blackdonuts.com

Ilkka Lehtoranta
Head of Tire and Material Development, Black Donuts
ilkka.lehtoranta@blackdonuts.com

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