Vegetable Oil Ester Process Oils for Exudation-Free Tire Treads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current process oils used in elastomer production, particularly in tire treads, contribute to environmental pollution due to their aromatic structure, are difficult to biodegrade, and pose health risks, while vegetable oils lack compatibility and lead to exudation and loss of elastic properties.

Innovation Solution

Using fatty acid esters derived from Glycerol Formal (GFE) as process oils to improve dispersion and elasticity, reducing modulus of elasticity, and enhancing compatibility with elastomers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If aromatic petroleum oils are used as process oils, then compatibility with elastomers and processability are improved, but environmental pollution and health risks increase due to PAH content

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of process oils by using fatty acid esters with specific molecular structures (C12-C22 chain lengths, specific ester groups) that maintain compatibility with elastomers while eliminating PAH content, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturability and environmental harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite fatty acid ester formulations combining different ester types (adipates, sebacates, dibenzoates) to achieve both good elastomer compatibility and environmental safety, creating a composite material solution that satisfies both processing requirements and environmental constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vegetable oils are used as process oils, then environmental friendliness is improved, but compatibility with elastomers deteriorates leading to exudation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidcompatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of vegetable-based oils by transforming them into fatty acid esters with controlled molecular weights and specific functional groups, which prevents exudation while maintaining environmental benefits, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and compositional stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If filler content is increased to improve mechanical strength, then rigidity and strength are improved, but viscosity increases making processing difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidviscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces fatty acid esters as intermediary substances that mediate between filler particles and elastomer matrix, improving filler dispersion and reducing aggregate formation, which allows high filler content to be maintained while keeping processing viscosity acceptable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If process oils are added to reduce viscosity and improve dispersibility, then processability is improved, but environmental pollution increases due to oil dispersal from tread abrasion

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of process oils to use biodegradable fatty acid esters with specific molecular structures that maintain good dispersibility and processability during manufacturing but degrade harmlessly in the environment after tire wear, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and environmental harm

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

GFE esters enhance tire tread performance in winter conditions, improve abrasion resistance, and provide better barrier properties for medical gloves, without surface exudation, addressing environmental and health concerns.

Implementation Method 1

Process oils are mainly added to improve the dispersibility of the filler and reduce the viscosity of the compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

For this property of untangling the tangles between the polymer chains, process oils are also called extenders

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteric hindrance:

Implementation Method 3

reduce the viscosity of the compound, thus allowing not only to have a homogeneous distribution of the filler and other components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity reduction:

Implementation Method 4

a more correct distribution of chains allows to optimize the process of vulcanization or cross-linking with sulphur of the double bonds contained in the polymer chains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250313693A1Esters from vegetable oils as process oils for the production of elastomers

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 FLUOS S A S DI GIUSEPPE CHIARADIA & C

AI summary

The use of specific fatty acid esters for the production of elastomers, in particular in the production of tyre treads, which are given better performance properties. In addition, elastomers including these fatty acid esters, as well as tyres or tyre treads including such elastomers.