Hydrocarbon Polymer Additives for Tire Traction and Abrasion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aromatic oils used in tire manufacturing are being phased out due to health, safety, and environmental concerns, leading to a need for alternative processing aids that maintain tire performance without adverse effects on processing or performance characteristics.

Innovation Solution

The use of hydrocarbon polymer additives comprising 60-90% piperylene, 5-15% cyclic components, and 5-20% styrenic components, which can partially or fully replace aromatic oils, improving tire-vehicle traction performance, abrasion resistance, and durability while maintaining traction ratings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If aromatic oils are used as processing aids, then processing effectiveness and adhesion are improved, but health, safety, and environmental concerns arise due to PAH content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing effectivenessVSAvoidPAH content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using processed aromatic oils with reduced PAH content (TDAE and MES) or alternative oils (naphthenic, paraffinic), thereby maintaining processing effectiveness while reducing harmful PAH levels to comply with environmental regulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs alternative processing oils that are more environmentally friendly and safer, even if they require higher usage levels, to replace the harmful aromatic oils in the short term while transitioning to sustainable solutions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If TDAE and MES are used to replace aromatic oils, then PAH content is reduced, but dynamic properties, wet traction, tear strength, and adhesion deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePAH contentVSAvoidtire performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple oil types (aromatic, naphthenic, paraffinic) in specific ratios to create blended processing oil compositions that compensate for the deficiencies of individual low-PAH oils, thereby maintaining tire performance while reducing overall PAH content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops composite processing oil formulations by blending different oil types with specific properties, creating a synergistic mixture that achieves both reduced PAH content and maintained or improved tire performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If aromatic oils are replaced with alternative oils, then health and environmental safety is improved, but processing effectiveness and tire performance may be adversely impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealth and environmental safetyVSAvoidprocessing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the composition parameters of alternative oils and their blends to match the processing effectiveness of conventional aromatic oils, adjusting viscosity, polarity, and other key parameters to ensure compatibility with rubber compounds and processing equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9062189B2Elastomeric compositions comprising hydrocarbon polymer additives

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL PATENTS INC

AI summary

Provided are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer and a hydrocarbon polymer additive. Preferably the hydrocarbon polymer additive comprises from 60 to 90% piperylene, from 5 to 15% cyclic components, from 5 to 20% styrenic components, up to 5% isoprene, up to 5% indenic components, and up to 10% amylene. Also provided are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer and a hydrocarbon polymer additive, wherein the hydrocarbon polymer additive has a molecular weight of from 520 to 650 g/mole and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from 48 to 53° C. The elastomeric compositions are particularly useful in making tires and other cured rubber articles.