Depolymerized Tire Wax Formulations for Ozone Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tire waxes used in formulations are environmentally damaging and energy intensive due to their petroleum-based origin, necessitating a more sustainable alternative that can enhance tire physical properties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating depolymerized waxes derived from recycled plastics through thermal or catalytic depolymerization processes, utilizing catalysts like zeolite or alumina supported systems, to create waxes that can replace traditional waxes in tire formulations, improving compatibility and reactivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional petroleum-based waxes are used in tire formulations, then the tires achieve adequate protection against ozone damage, but the production process becomes environmentally damaging and energy intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the source material parameter from petroleum-based feedstocks to plastic waste feedstocks (polyethylene, polypropylene). This parameter change transforms the harmful environmental factor into a beneficial solution by converting waste materials into functional tire additives that provide ozone protection while reducing environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts harmful plastic waste materials into beneficial depolymerized waxes that protect tires from ozone damage. The harmful factor (plastic waste) is transformed through depolymerization into a useful product that serves the same protective function as traditional waxes while addressing environmental concerns.
2Reliability
If multiple traditional waxes are used in tire formulations, then adequate protection and performance are achieved, but the formulation complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the depolymerized wax a multi-functional additive that can replace multiple traditional waxes (paraffin wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, microcrystalline wax) with a single product. This universal wax provides ozone protection, improves processing, and enhances tire performance, thereby reducing formulation complexity while maintaining protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple traditional waxes into a single depolymerized wax product derived from plastic waste. By combining the protective and processing benefits of various waxes into one additive, the formulation becomes simpler while achieving the same or better performance outcomes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If depolymerized waxes are used to replace traditional waxes, then environmental sustainability improves, but the manufacturing process requires additional depolymerization steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the depolymerization process in advance, converting plastic waste into depolymerized waxes before incorporation into tire formulations. This preliminary action transforms the complex waste material into a ready-to-use additive that can be directly mixed with other tire compounds, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The depolymerized wax acts as an intermediary product between plastic waste and final tire formulation. The depolymerization process creates this intermediate substance that bridges the gap between waste material and functional tire additive, making the transition from waste to product manageable and efficient.
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 depolymerized waxes reduces ozone damage, potentially eliminates the need for multiple waxes, reduces tire cracking, and enhances manufacturing processes by improving melt flow rate and mold release, while being environmentally responsible.
Implementation Method 1
Paraffin waxes, Fischer Tropsch waxes, and/or microcrystalline waxes can be used in tire formulations to aid in reducing the damage of ozone
Implementation Method 2
waxes produced from thermal degradation and/or catalytic depolymerization of plastic feedstocks
Implementation Method 3
utilizing catalysts like zeolite or alumina supported systems, to create waxes that can replace traditional waxes in tire formulations
Data Source
AI summary
Tire formulations containing at least one depolymerized wax, a natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, zinc oxide, an anti-ageing agent, sulfur, a napthenic process oil, polybutadiene rubber, carbon black, a paraffin wax, a microcrystalline wax, a Fischer Tropsch wax, stearic acid, and/or a rubber accelerator are disclosed. The wax can be made by catalytic depolymerization and/or thermal degradation of polymeric material. The polymeric material can be polypropylene and/or polyethylene. In some embodiments, the polymeric material can contain at least partially recycled material.