Functionalized Polymers with Protected Amino Lactones for Tire Hysteresis
Solution Overview
Problem
Current functionalized polymers used in tire manufacturing exhibit unpredictable hysteresis reduction and high cold flow, making them unsuitable for efficient use in tire components due to their linear backbone structure.
Innovation Solution
The development of functionalized polymers by polymerizing conjugated diene monomers and reacting them with lactones or thiolactones containing protected amino groups, which reduces hysteresis and cold flow by modifying the polymer chain ends, thereby improving the mechanical properties of tire components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If functionalized polymers are prepared by post-polymerization treatment with conventional functionalizing agents, then the polymer can be functionalized to reduce free chain ends, but the hysteresis reduction is unpredictable and the polymer exhibits high cold flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the functionalizing agent by using lactones or thiolactones containing protected amino groups instead of conventional functionalizing agents. This parameter change results in predictable hysteresis reduction while simultaneously reducing cold flow, as the specific chemical structure of these lactones/thiolactones provides both hysteresis reduction capability and cold flow suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite functional group on the polymer chain by combining the lactone or thiolactone moiety with a protected amino group. This composite functional group provides multiple benefits simultaneously: it reduces free chain ends for hysteresis reduction, and the specific combination of functional groups suppresses cold flow, which would not be achieved with single functional groups alone.
2Strength
If cis-1,4-polydienes are prepared with lanthanide-based catalysts to achieve better tensile properties and abrasion resistance, then the polymer displays improved mechanical properties, but the linear backbone structure causes high cold flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the polymer by functionalizing the cis-1,4-polydiene with lactones or thiolactones containing protected amino groups. This chemical modification maintains the beneficial mechanical properties from the cis-1,4 structure while the introduced functional groups suppress cold flow by reducing chain end mobility and promoting intermolecular interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lactone or thiolactone with protected amino group acts as an intermediary that modifies the polymer chain ends. This intermediary functional group mediates between the linear backbone structure (which causes cold flow) and the desired mechanical properties, providing a solution that maintains strength while reducing harmful cold flow behavior.
3Reliability
If functional groups are introduced to reduce filler agglomeration, then the polymer-filler interaction improves, but the effectiveness is unpredictable with conventional functionalizing agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the functionalizing agent to lactones or thiolactones containing protected amino groups. This specific chemical composition provides predictable and reliable filler agglomeration reduction across different polymer systems, overcoming the unpredictability associated with conventional functionalizing agents. The protected amino group specifically interacts with filler surfaces to prevent agglomeration.
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 polymers demonstrate reduced hysteresis and cold flow, enhancing the performance and handling of tire components by providing better tensile properties and abrasion resistance.
Implementation Method 1
reacting the reactive polymer with a lactone or thiolactone that contains a protected amino group
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) polymerizing monomers to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a lactone or thiolactone that contains a protected amino group.