Tire Tread Rubber Composition Using Hydrogenated SBR for Wet Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tire manufacturers face a trade-off between improving abrasion resistance and maintaining braking performance on various road surfaces, particularly on dry and wet roads, which is exacerbated by the need for weight reduction in tires to enhance fuel efficiency and safety, while existing rubber compositions compromise on either performance when trying to enhance both.

Innovation Solution

A rubber composition for tire tread comprising 100 parts of raw rubber, 100 to 130 parts of reinforcing filler, 5 to 100 parts of hydrocarbon-based resin, and 5 to 50 parts of hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber, with specific molecular weight and glass transition temperature ranges, along with silica and a silane coupling agent, to enhance abrasion resistance and braking performance without compromising on dry or wet road surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the glass transition temperature of rubber composition is increased or the content of reinforcing agent is increased to improve braking performance on wet road surface, then braking performance is improved, but abrasion resistance performance and braking performance on ice and snow road surface are deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking performance on wet road surfaceVSAvoidabrasion resistance performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass transition temperature of the rubber composition within -50°C to -10°C, and adjusting the vinyl content of butadiene rubber to 10-40 wt%. It also optimizes the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ratio of 1.05-2.0) and uses specific reinforcing agent contents (100-150 parts by weight per 100 parts rubber) to achieve a balance between braking performance and abrasion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with specific vinyl content and molecular weight characteristics, along with reinforcing agents and other additives in optimized proportions. This composite approach creates a rubber composition that simultaneously achieves good braking performance on wet surfaces, ice and snow, and abrasion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If the content of butadiene rubber is increased to improve abrasion resistance performance, then abrasion resistance is improved, but braking performance on dry or wet road surface is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistance performanceVSAvoidbraking performance on dry or wet road surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the butadiene rubber content and its vinyl content (10-40 wt%), while also managing the glass transition temperature range and molecular weight distribution. This balanced parameter optimization ensures that abrasion resistance is improved without sacrificing braking performance on dry or wet surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If the thickness of tread is reduced to achieve weight lightening, then weight is reduced, but abrasion resistance performance is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire weightVSAvoidabrasion resistance performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the rubber composition's glass transition temperature, vinyl content, and molecular weight distribution to enhance abrasion resistance per unit thickness. This allows for thinner tread designs that maintain adequate abrasion resistance while achieving weight reduction goals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 proposed rubber composition maximizes abrasion resistance while maintaining excellent braking performance on both dry and wet surfaces, suitable for four-season and summer tires, and improves rolling resistance, thereby addressing the limitations of existing tire compositions.

Implementation Method 1

which is denaturalized into a rubber chain by using silicate such as tetraethyl orthosilicate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSilane coupling: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Data Source

PatentEP3771728B1Rubber composition for tire tread and tire manufactured by using same
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a rubber composition for tire tread and a tire manufactured by using the rubber composition for the tire tread, and more specifically to, a rubber composition for tire tread, the rubber composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of a raw rubber; 50 to 200 parts by weight of a reinforcing filler; 5 to 100 parts by weight of a hydrocarbon-based resin; and 5 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber, and a tire manufactured by using the rubber composition for the tire tread.