Modified Diene Polymer Composition for Stable Tire Compounds

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing polymer compositions used in tire manufacturing result in high contamination and poor transportability of discharged water, along with changes in physical properties over time, which affect the quality and performance of the final crosslinked products.

Innovation Solution

A polymer composition is developed using a modified conjugated diene-based polymer with a specific molecular weight distribution and a surfactant with an HLB of 9.0 or less and an oxypropylene group, which improves water transportability and stability, and is combined with a reinforcing filler to enhance tensile characteristics and low fuel consumption performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional surfactants are used in polymer composition production, then water contamination and poor transportability of discharged water occur, but using specific surfactants with HLB ≤ 9.0 and oxypropylene groups resolves this issue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater contamination and transportabilityVSAvoidsurfactant selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the surfactant: HLB value of 9.0 or less and presence of oxypropylene groups. By controlling these parameters, the invention achieves improved water transportability and reduced contamination while maintaining production versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces specific functional characteristics (oxypropylene groups) at particular locations within the surfactant molecule structure. This local modification of surfactant quality enables effective water transportability improvement without requiring complete redesign of the surfactant system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If polymer composition is stored for extended periods, then physical properties change over time, but the specified molecular weight distribution and surfactant combination maintains stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical property stability over timeVSAvoidstorage time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary optimization of the polymer composition by specifying the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn of 1.50 to 3.00) and surfactant characteristics before storage. This preliminary configuration prevents physical property changes during subsequent storage periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The surfactant acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the polymer molecules and the storage environment. By selecting surfactants with specific properties (HLB ≤ 9.0, oxypropylene groups), the invention stabilizes the polymer composition against time-dependent physical property changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If modified conjugated diene-based polymer with specific molecular weight distribution is used, then tensile strength and rolling resistance improve, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strength and rolling resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the molecular weight distribution parameter (Mw/Mn ratio between 1.50 and 3.00) of the conjugated diene-based polymer to achieve optimal balance between tensile strength and rolling resistance. This parameter control enables improved performance without requiring complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively reduces water contamination and physical property changes during storage, while producing crosslinked products with improved rolling resistance and tensile strength, maintaining performance over time.

Implementation Method 1

a surfactant having HLB of 9.0 or less and having an oxypropylene group (—C3H6—O—)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

a modified conjugated diene-based polymer which includes a monomer unit derived from a conjugated diene compound and has a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 1.50 to 3.00

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMolecular weight distribution:

Implementation Method 3

a formulation includes the polymer composition of the above-described [1] and a reinforcing filler (D)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReinforcing filler:

Data Source

PatentUS20230312889A1Polymer composition, method for producing same, formulation, crosslinked product, and tire

Publication Date: 2023.10.05 ENEOS MATERIALS CORP

AI summary

Provided is a polymer composition containing (A) a modified conjugated diene-based polymer which includes a monomer unit derived from a conjugated diene compound and has a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 1.50 to 3.00 and in which some or all of the molecules are modified, the molecular weight distribution being represented by a ratio of polystyrene-equivalent weight-average molecular weight Mw to number-average molecular weight Mn measured by gel permeation chromatography, and (B) a surfactant having HLB of 9.0 or less and having an oxypropylene group, the polymer composition further containing (C) an extender oil as an optional component, in which a total amount of the modified conjugated diene-based polymer (A), the surfactant (B) and the extender oil (C) is 95 mass % or more based on the entire composition.