Tire Tread Rubber Composition With β-Pinene Resin and High Silica
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber compositions for tire treads face challenges in achieving a well-balanced improvement of wet performance and low heat generation properties, with previous techniques either insufficiently enhancing these aspects or failing to simultaneously achieve them with high silica content.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition comprising 40% or more of isoprene-based rubber, 5-50% polyterpene resin with a softening point of 110°C or more and a glass transition point of 55°C or more containing a β-pinene unit, and 50-150 parts of silica by mass, which improves compatibility and dispersibility, thereby enhancing wet performance and low heat generation properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If silica content is increased to improve wear resistance, then wet performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polyterpene resin as an intermediary substance between isoprene-based rubber and silica. This intermediary resin improves the compatibility and dispersibility of silica within the rubber matrix, allowing high silica content (50-150 parts) to be incorporated without deteriorating wet performance. The resin acts as a bridge that enables the coexistence of high filler content and good wet traction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a tri-component composite material system consisting of isoprene-based rubber, polyterpene resin, and silica in specific ratios. This composite structure allows the components to work synergistically, where the resin matrix accommodates high silica content while maintaining the flexibility and wet performance characteristics of the isoprene-based rubber, thus achieving both wear resistance and wet performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition for a tire tread according to an embodiment includes, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component including 40 parts by mass or more of at least one selected from the group consisting of a natural rubber and a synthetic isoprene rubber: 5 to 50 parts by mass of a polyterpene resin having a softening point of 110° C. or more and a glass transition point of 55° C. or more and containing a β-pinene unit; and 50 to 150 parts by mass of silica.