ED25HDQ0G0013
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: The purpose of this grant program is to validate and scale up an alternative to 6-phenylendiamine (6PPD), allowing tire manufacturers to meet national safety regulations.
The program will focus on validating the real-world performance of 6PPD alternatives, conducting toxicological testing, and transitioning to commercial-scale production.
Additionally, it will prepare for market acceleration and commercialization while engaging with academia and community partners to analyze the presence of 6PPD-quinone in the Lake Erie watershed.
Activities to be performed:
- Purchase new lab equipment at Flexsys for antidegradant testing and for chemical process development.
- Assign incumbent workers and hire new personnel as needed to complete testing.
- Conduct simulated application testing of candidate additives and industrial testing of passenger car tires, with expanded testing to include commercial truck and bus tires.
- Execute tests to demonstrate lower toxicity compared to 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone, and produce results for registration under the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Substances Control Act new chemicals program. Summarize progress annually.
- Reproduce the reaction sequence developed at Flexsys at an external process engineering firm and complete experiments to optimize process design, leading to a mini-plant design.
- Demonstrate the operation of the mini-plant and develop a comprehensive market entry strategy.
- Formalize a partnership with the University of Akron (UA) and develop a sample collection plan. Execute the plan and analyze water samples for 6PPD-quinone presence, issuing a summary report with recommendations for mitigation.
Expected outcomes: Validate an alternative to 6PPD that meets stringent safety regulations, while demonstrating lower toxicity compared to existing compounds, advance to commercial-scale production, and provide a comprehensive market entry strategy.
Additionally, support water quality analysis in the Lake Erie watershed to address the presence of 6PPD-quinone.
Intended beneficiaries: Beneficiaries include tire manufacturers who will gain access to safer additives, as well as communities affected by safety concerns related to 6PPD.
Additionally, the program benefits regulatory agencies, researchers, and local communities through improved water quality.
The program will focus on validating the real-world performance of 6PPD alternatives, conducting toxicological testing, and transitioning to commercial-scale production.
Additionally, it will prepare for market acceleration and commercialization while engaging with academia and community partners to analyze the presence of 6PPD-quinone in the Lake Erie watershed.
Activities to be performed:
- Purchase new lab equipment at Flexsys for antidegradant testing and for chemical process development.
- Assign incumbent workers and hire new personnel as needed to complete testing.
- Conduct simulated application testing of candidate additives and industrial testing of passenger car tires, with expanded testing to include commercial truck and bus tires.
- Execute tests to demonstrate lower toxicity compared to 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone, and produce results for registration under the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Substances Control Act new chemicals program. Summarize progress annually.
- Reproduce the reaction sequence developed at Flexsys at an external process engineering firm and complete experiments to optimize process design, leading to a mini-plant design.
- Demonstrate the operation of the mini-plant and develop a comprehensive market entry strategy.
- Formalize a partnership with the University of Akron (UA) and develop a sample collection plan. Execute the plan and analyze water samples for 6PPD-quinone presence, issuing a summary report with recommendations for mitigation.
Expected outcomes: Validate an alternative to 6PPD that meets stringent safety regulations, while demonstrating lower toxicity compared to existing compounds, advance to commercial-scale production, and provide a comprehensive market entry strategy.
Additionally, support water quality analysis in the Lake Erie watershed to address the presence of 6PPD-quinone.
Intended beneficiaries: Beneficiaries include tire manufacturers who will gain access to safer additives, as well as communities affected by safety concerns related to 6PPD.
Additionally, the program benefits regulatory agencies, researchers, and local communities through improved water quality.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NON-CONSTRUCTION - FY23 REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB PROGRAM PHASE 2
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Akron,
Ohio
44333-0000
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Flexsys America L.P was awarded
6PPD Alternative Validation & Commercialization Grant
Project Grant ED25HDQ0G0013
worth $10,093,286
from Economic Development Administration in December 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Akron Ohio United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.039 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs.
$1,367,000 (12.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY 2023 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program Phase 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/29/25
Period of Performance
12/1/24
Start Date
11/30/27
End Date
Funding Split
$10.1M
Federal Obligation
$1.4M
Non-Federal Obligation
$11.5M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
ED25HDQ0G0013
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
For-Profit Organization (Other Than Small Business)
Awarding Office
1331K5 DEPT OF COMMERCE EDA
Funding Office
1331K5 DEPT OF COMMERCE EDA
Awardee UEI
JXLYZED2EGF3
Awardee CAGE
9VCJ1
Performance District
OH-13
Senators
Sherrod Brown
J.D. (James) Vance
J.D. (James) Vance
Modified: 8/29/25