Heterogeneous Rubber Mixture for Tire Rigidity and Abrasion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber mixtures for pneumatic vehicle tires and belts face challenges in achieving improved rigidity behavior, particularly at low temperatures, while maintaining other essential properties like abrasion resistance and wet skid behavior, due to conflicting goals such as thermal softening and rolling resistance.
Innovation Solution
A rubber mixture with a heterogeneous structure comprising two phases, where the first phase contains polar or non-polar rubber, silica, and a plasticizer, and the second phase also contains these components, but with different rubber types and proportions, optimized with specific fillers and coupling agents, to enhance rigidity and grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the degree of filling is increased to increase stiffness, then rigidity is improved, but abrasion behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber mixture is divided into two distinct phases: a first phase with high filler content (50-90 phr silica/carbon black) providing rigidity, and a second phase with low filler content (0-30 phr silica/carbon black) providing good abrasion resistance and processability. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize its properties independently while working together in the final vulcanizate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the rubber mixture have different filler concentrations tailored to local requirements. The first phase with high filler content is positioned where rigidity is needed, while the second phase with low filler content is positioned where flexibility and abrasion resistance are critical, achieving spatial optimization of properties.
2Strength
If crosslinking density is increased to improve stiffness, then rigidity is improved, but wet skid behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The two-phase structure separates the crosslinking function from the filler reinforcement function. The first phase provides structural rigidity through high filler content, while the second phase maintains wet skid behavior through low filler content and appropriate polymer composition, allowing independent optimization of both properties.
3Strength
If filler proportion is increased to improve rigidity, then stiffness is improved, but processability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixture is segmented into a first phase with high filler content for rigidity and a second phase with low filler content for processability. The second phase acts as a processing aid, reducing overall mixture viscosity and improving flow characteristics during manufacturing while the first phase provides the required structural rigidity in the final product.
4Stability of the object's composition
If coupling agents are added to improve silica distribution, then homogeneity is improved, but the mixture becomes more hydrophobic
Solution Approach 1:
The two-phase structure allows the first phase to utilize coupling agents for improved silica-rubber bonding and distribution uniformity, while the second phase maintains lower filler content and can be formulated with appropriate additives to balance hydrophobicity requirements, reducing the overall negative impact of coupling agent addition.
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 rubber mixture significantly improves rigidity behavior, especially at low temperatures, and maintains positive effects on grip and abrasion resistance, addressing the limitations of previous methods by achieving a better compromise between properties.
Implementation Method 1
A rubber mixture with a heterogeneous structure comprising two phases, where the first phase contains polar or non-polar rubber, silica, and a plasticizer, and the second phase also contains these components
Implementation Method 2
at least one silica and at least one carbon black, in particular in the first phase A and/or in the second phase B
Implementation Method 3
with the exception of the vulcanization chemicals (sulphur, vulcanization accelerators, resins, etc.) are mixed with each other
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rubber compound, in particular for vehicle tires, belts, and straps, and a method for its production. The rubber compound consists of a first phase A, which contains at least one polar or non-polar rubber, at least one filler, and at least one plasticizer, and a second phase B, which contains at least one polar or non-polar rubber, at least one filler, and at least one plasticizer. The first phase A and the second phase B are each produced separately in a mixer, in particular in a tandem mixer, in at least one mixing stage, and then simultaneously mixed together with the vulcanization system in a mixer, in particular in a tandem mixer, on a rolling mill, or in a mixing extruder.