Anhydride Processing Aids for Low-Permeability Tire Innerliners
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tire industry faces challenges in processing elastomeric compositions, particularly in reducing the permeability of tire innerliners and optimizing processing conditions, as existing processing aids either increase permeability or impose processing restrictions, limiting flexibility in achieving desired properties for different end-use tires.
Innovation Solution
The use of functionalized polymers with anhydride groups as processing aids, which are contacted with elastomers to produce elastomeric compositions that enhance processing efficiency and reduce permeability, allowing for more flexible and optimized manufacturing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional processing aids are used to facilitate elastomer processing, then processing ease is improved, but permeability of tire innerliners increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of processing aids by using functionalized polymers with specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amine, or isocyanate groups) instead of conventional processing aids. This parameter change allows the processing aid to interact chemically with the elastomer and filler surfaces, reducing permeability while maintaining processing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite system where the processing aid is not a simple additive but a functionalized polymer that forms part of the elastomeric composition matrix. The functionalized polymer integrates with the elastomer and filler to create a composite structure with reduced permeability while maintaining processability.
2Productivity
If processing conditions are optimized for production rates, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The functionalized polymer processing aid serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a processing aid for ease of mixing and processing, a permeability reducer for tire innerliners, and a manufacturing flexibility enhancer that allows optimization of production rates. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between productivity and flexibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing processing aids are used to reduce permeability, then permeability is reduced, but processing restrictions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the molecular structure parameters of the processing aid by introducing functional groups that provide both permeability reduction and processing compatibility. The functionalized polymer maintains appropriate viscosity and reactivity parameters to avoid processing restrictions while achieving permeability reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides for processes to produce elastomeric compositions, the processes including contacting at least one elastomer with a processing aid, wherein the processing aid comprises at least one functionalized polymer having at least one anhydride group. The invention also provides for articles such as innerliners for tires produced from the aforementioned elastomeric compositions.