Diene Polymer Microstructure Control for Low Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rubber compositions used in tires do not adequately reduce tire rolling resistance, despite the incorporation of silica and carbon black, which are intended to enhance fuel efficiency and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
A diene polymer is produced by polymerizing a monomer using an initiator composed of an organolithium compound, alkyl aluminum, and metal alcoholate, and then terminating the polymerization with electrophiles such as titanium halides, cyclic silazanes, or alkoxysilanes, resulting in a polymer with improved dispersibility and activity when combined with silica and carbon black.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If silica and carbon black are blended into conventional diene rubber, then wear resistance is enhanced, but rolling resistance is not sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the diene rubber by controlling the polymerization process to achieve specific microstructure parameters (cis-1,4 bond content of 80-95%, trans-1,4 bond content of 3-15%, vinyl group content of 5-25%). These parameter changes optimize the rubber's interaction with silica and carbon black, simultaneously improving wear resistance and reducing rolling resistance by optimizing the balance between hysteresis loss and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system by blending silica and carbon black into the specifically structured diene rubber. The unique microstructure of the polymer (controlled bond composition and vinyl group content) enables optimal composite formation with the fillers, where the filler-rubber interface is optimized to reduce energy loss while maintaining wear resistance.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymerization methods are used, then production is straightforward, but the resulting polymer does not achieve sufficient low rolling resistance performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs solution polymerization with specific catalyst systems (organolithium compound, alkyl aluminum, and carbon dioxide) to achieve precise control over polymer microstructure parameters. By controlling the cis-1,4 bond content, trans-1,4 bond content, and vinyl group content within specific ranges, the method produces rubber with optimized properties for low rolling resistance while maintaining a relatively straightforward manufacturing process.
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 resulting diene polymer exhibits excellent low rolling resistance and enhanced wear resistance when used in tire rubber compositions, effectively addressing the limitations of existing tire materials.
Implementation Method 1
polymerizing a monomer containing at least a diene monomer by using an initiator prepared from an organolithium compound, an alkyl aluminum, and a metal alcoholate
Implementation Method 2
terminating the polymerization by using an electrophile selected from the group consisting of titanium halides, tin halides, cyclic silazanes, alkoxysilanes, epoxides, amines, ketones, and compounds represented by Formula (N)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to provide a diene polymer that exhibits excellent low rolling resistance when used in a tire, a method for producing the diene polymer, and a rubber composition containing the diene polymer. The diene polymer of an embodiment of the present invention is produced by polymerizing a monomer containing at least a diene monomer by using an initiator prepared from an organolithium compound, an alkyl aluminum, and a metal alcoholate, and then terminating the polymerization by using an electrophile selected from the group consisting of titanium halides, tin halides, cyclic silazanes, alkoxysilanes, epoxides, amines, ketones, and compounds represented by Formula (N) below.