Cyclohexanedicarboxylic Acid Esters as Non-Toxic Rubber Plasticizers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The rubber industry seeks a non-toxic substitute for phthalate diesters like dioctyl phthalate (DOP) that can maintain equivalent rubber properties, particularly in tire treads, while addressing environmental and health concerns related to phthalate use.

Innovation Solution

Cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid esters, specifically 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid esters, are used as plasticizers in rubber compounds, replacing phthalic acid diesters on a one-to-one weight basis, providing equivalent rubber properties including wet and snow traction, and are environmentally non-toxic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If phthalate diesters (e.g., DOP) are used as plasticizers in rubber compounds, then rubber properties such as rebound elasticity and traction are improved, but toxicological and environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverubber propertiesVSAvoidtoxicological effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameter of the plasticizer from phthalate diesters to cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid esters, specifically 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid esters. This structural parameter change maintains the plasticizing function and rubber properties while eliminating the toxicological harmful effects of phthalates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes a harmful chemical substance (phthalate diester) with a benign alternative (cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid ester) that serves the same functional purpose. This replacement allows the system to achieve the desired rubber properties without introducing persistent toxicological harm into the environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If non-phthalate plasticizers are sought as substitutes, then environmental safety is improved, but equivalent rubber properties are not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental safetyVSAvoidrubber properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes specific parameters of the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid ester structure, particularly the 1,2-cis configuration and the ester chain length (C8-C11), to achieve both environmental safety and equivalent rubber properties. This precise parameter optimization enables the substitute plasticizer to match the performance of DOP

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a functional copy of the phthalate diester's plasticizing effect using cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid esters. The substitute compound replicates the beneficial rubber properties (rebound elasticity, traction) without copying the harmful toxicological characteristics of phthalates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8383698B2Esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids as plasticizers in rubber compounds
Publication Date: 2013.02.26 BRIDGESTONE CORP

AI summary

It has been discovered that the use of a plasticizer, an ester of a cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid, especially a 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid ester, that is environmentally non-toxic, can replace environmentally unfriendly phthalate plasticizers, such as dioctyl phthalates used in vulcanizable rubber compositions, especially for tires, on a one to one weight basis (phr) without sacrificing beneficial rubber properties.