HSBC Rubber Composition Reducing Resin and Plasticizer Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire compositions require high amounts of resins and plasticizers to maintain traction, wet grip, and rolling resistance properties, leading to increased costs, and there is a need to reduce these components while maintaining performance.
Innovation Solution
A tire composition comprising a first diene elastomer and a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) with specific molecular weight and structural characteristics, which reduces or eliminates the need for resins and plasticizers, while maintaining or improving wet grip and rolling resistance properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high amounts of resins and plasticizers are used in tire composition, then wet grip and rolling resistance properties are maintained, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) with specific molecular weight (50,000-200,000 g/mol) and styrene content (10-40%), replacing traditional resin-plasticizer systems. This parameter change achieves the required wet grip and rolling resistance properties while reducing the quantity of additives needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite rubber composition system combining HSBC with diene elastomers (5-50 phr HSBC with 95-50 phr diene elastomer). This composite approach achieves synergistic effects where the HSBC provides structural support and the diene elastomer provides elasticity, maintaining performance while reducing resin content to 0-20 phr
2Reliability
If high amounts of resins are used in tire composition, then traction and handling properties are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the HSBC molecular weight parameter (50,000-200,000 g/mol) and styrene content (10-40%) to achieve the desired traction and handling properties. This specific parameter range provides optimal balance between grip performance and manufacturing cost, eliminating the need for expensive high-amount resin formulations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a cost-effective HSBC polymer that can be processed in standard tire manufacturing operations. The material provides sufficient performance life for tire applications without requiring expensive specialized resins, achieving economical manufacturing while maintaining traction and handling properties
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 composition achieves improved wet grip and dry handling performance by up to 3% and reduced rolling resistance, with tan δ values comparable to compositions containing resins and plasticizers, while minimizing the use of these materials.
Implementation Method 1
Subsequent to hydrogenation, 0-10% of the arene double bonds have been reduced, at least 90% of the conjugated diene double bonds have been reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a blend based on 100 parts by weight (phr) of diene elastomers: 5 to 95 phr of a first diene elastomer, 5 to 50 phr of a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC), 50 to 200 phr of a filler, up to 25 phr of a plasticizer. The HSBC has a melt flow ratio of 1.0 to 50.0 measured according to ASTM D-1238 at 230° C. and 2.16 kg load, a Shore A hardness of 40 to 80 measured according to ASTM D-2240, a DMA peak tan delta temperature of 0° C. to 40° C. at 1 Hz measured according to ASTM D-4065, and an order-disorder transition temperature of 200° C. to 300° C. The composition does not comprise a resin, a plasticizer, or comprises a resin or a plasticizer in an amount of less than 20 phr.