Hemp Oil Rubber Compositions for Tire Tear Resistance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Rubber compositions used in tires face challenges in maintaining tear resistance, particularly under harsh conditions, as they are prone to fatigue fracture and degradation, leading to issues like chipping or chunking, which existing methods such as adding reinforcing fillers or polyolefins do not adequately address.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating hemp oil into rubber compositions at levels of 5 to 50 phr to enhance tear resistance, improving the rubber's durability and resistance to degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reinforcing fillers such as carbon black or silica are added to improve tear strength, then the tear strength increases, but the viscosity of the rubber composition increases and processing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetear strengthVSAvoidprocessing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by substituting traditional reinforcing fillers (carbon black, silica) with hemp oil. This parameter change achieves tear strength improvement while avoiding the viscosity increase and processing difficulties associated with conventional fillers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hemp oil, a renewable and cost-effective natural resource, as a substitute for expensive and difficult-to-process reinforcing fillers. This approach provides an economically viable solution that simplifies manufacturing while maintaining or improving tear strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Strength

If polyolefin is added to improve tear resistance, then the tear resistance improves, but the rolling resistance and traction properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetear resistanceVSAvoidrolling resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameter by replacing polyolefin with hemp oil. This substitution maintains tear resistance improvement while avoiding the negative impact on rolling resistance and traction, as hemp oil does not exhibit the same harmful effects as polyolefin in tire applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional oils are used to maintain processability, then the viscosity remains low, but the tear resistance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidtear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite effect by using hemp oil, which combines the benefits of conventional oils (low viscosity, good processability) with the reinforcing properties typically provided by fillers. This single component achieves both ease of manufacture and improved tear resistance, eliminating the need to choose between the two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10435542B2Hemp oil-containing rubber compositions and related methods

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are rubber compositions comprising hemp oil and a rubber, and tires (and tire components) made from the rubber compositions. Also disclosed are methods of improving the tear resistance of a rubber composition by utilizing hemp oil in the rubber composition.