Algae Oil Rubber Composition for Tire Tread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rubber compositions for tire components face challenges in achieving optimal traction in cold weather, abrasion resistance, and fuel economy, particularly due to limitations in using petroleum-based oils, which do not effectively combine with diene-based elastomers and reinforcing fillers like silica to enhance uncured rubber processability and cured rubber properties.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition incorporating a high mono-unsaturated triglyceride ester-based algae oil, combined with diene-based elastomers and reinforcing fillers such as carbon black and precipitated silica, which promotes improved uncured rubber processing and enhanced cured rubber properties, including better traction, abrasion resistance, and reduced rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If petroleum-based oils are used in rubber compositions, then uncured rubber processability is improved, but cured rubber properties such as traction and abrasion resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the processing oil from petroleum-based to algae oil-based, specifically utilizing triglyceride esters with high mono-unsaturation content (at least 80% oleic acid). This parameter change allows the oil to maintain processability benefits while enabling effective co-sulfur curing with diene-based elastomers, thereby improving cured rubber properties including traction and abrasion resistance.
2Reliability
If algae oil with high mono-unsaturation is used, then co-sulfur curing with diene-based elastomers is promoted, but compatibility with reinforcing fillers like silica may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces silane coupling agents as intermediaries between the algae oil-containing rubber matrix and the silica reinforcing fillers. These coupling agents have reactive groups that interact with both the rubber components and the silica surface, ensuring proper dispersion and adhesion. This intermediary approach maintains the beneficial co-sulfur curing effects of algae oil while ensuring compatibility and effective reinforcement from the silica filler.
3Reliability
If functionalized diene-based elastomers are used to promote silica reinforcement, then abrasion resistance is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single system by using algae oil to simultaneously achieve co-sulfur curing with diene-based elastomers and promote silica reinforcement through its chemical interactions. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate functionalized elastomers or complex multi-step processing, thereby maintaining abrasion resistance while reducing processing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of triglyceride ester-based algae oil in rubber compositions significantly improves traction, abrasion resistance, and winter performance while maintaining processability, offering a beneficial reduction in abrasion loss and enhanced tire tread durability compared to petroleum-based oils and soybean oil alternatives.
Implementation Method 1
the algae oil becoming co-sulfur cured with the diene-based elastomers of the rubber composition
Implementation Method 2
functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer or functionalized cis 1,4-polybutadiene containing at least one functional group reactive with hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) contained on the precipitated silica reinforcing filler
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition is disclosed. comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr): (A) at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer, and (B) from 5 to 60 phr of triglyceride ester based algae oil, wherein fatty acid components of said triglyceride ester of said algae oil comprise: (1) from 80 to 95 percent mono-unsaturated oleic acid component, (2) from 1 to 5 percent di-unsaturated linoleic acid component, (3) from 2 to 6 percent palmitic acid component, (4) from 2 to 6 percent stearic acid component, and (C) from 30 to 140 phr of a reinforcing filler comprising: (1) a rubber reinforcing carbon black, or (2) a combination of a rubber reinforcing carbon black and silica, preferably precipitated silica.