Hydrophilic Modified Cellulose Rubber for Wet Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rubber compositions for studless tires face challenges in maintaining high braking performance on wet and ice-covered roads while avoiding increased rolling resistance and wear resistance, as previous methods are either ineffective in stabilizing performance or compromise wear resistance.

Innovation Solution

A rubber composition incorporating hydrophilic modified cellulose, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, is added to the diene rubber component, enhancing water film removal and improving braking performance without increasing rolling resistance or wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glass fiber strands or lignocellulosic particles are added to remove water film, then braking performance on wet road is improved, but wear resistance is decreased due to difficulty in uniform dispersion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking performance on wet roadVSAvoidwear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a silane-modified polymer as an intermediary coupling agent between the lignocellulosic particles and the rubber matrix. This coupling agent improves the interfacial adhesion and ensures uniform dispersion of particles, preventing aggregation while maintaining wear resistance. The silane-modified polymer acts as a bridge that connects the hydrophilic particles to the hydrophobic rubber matrix, resolving the contradiction between water film removal capability and wear resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite rubber composition by combining diene rubber with hydrophilic modified cellulose particles (such as carboxymethyl cellulose) and silane-modified polymer. This composite structure leverages the water-absorbing properties of cellulose for braking performance while the silane-modified polymer ensures proper dispersion and maintains the structural integrity and wear resistance of the tire tread.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If fillers and oils are increased to improve braking performance on wet and ice-covered road, then braking performance is improved, but rolling resistance and heat generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking performance on wet and ice-covered roadVSAvoidrolling resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes the hydrophilic properties of modified cellulose (such as carboxymethyl cellulose) specifically for water film removal function. By taking out this specific functional property from the cellulose structure and incorporating it into the rubber composition, the patent achieves improved braking performance on wet and ice-covered roads without needing to increase the overall filler and oil content, thereby avoiding increased rolling resistance and heat generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If hydrophilic modified cellulose is added to improve water film removal, then braking performance is improved, but uniform dispersion becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking performanceVSAvoiduniform dispersion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The silane-modified polymer serves as a coupling agent that mediates between the hydrophilic modified cellulose particles and the hydrophobic rubber matrix. This intermediary substance improves the compatibility and ensures uniform dispersion of the cellulose particles throughout the rubber composition, preventing aggregation and maintaining compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the surface properties of the cellulose particles through chemical modification (such as carboxymethyllation) to change their hydrophilicity parameter. This parameter change enables the cellulose to effectively absorb water for improved braking performance while the silane-modified polymer further adjusts the interfacial properties to ensure uniform dispersion within the rubber matrix.

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 rubber composition effectively removes water films on wet or ice-covered surfaces, enhancing braking performance on both conditions while maintaining wear resistance and reducing rolling resistance.

Implementation Method 1

hydrophilic modified cellulose that is added by 0.1-30 mass parts to 100 mass parts of the diene rubber component... efficient removing of water film on the wet or ice-covered road surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilic absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS8980980B2Rubber composition for pneumatic tire

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 TOYO TIRE CORP

AI summary

A rubber composition for a tire, in particular for a tread rubber part of a studless tire, comprising: diene rubber component consisting of natural rubber and/or other diene rubber; powder of hydrophilic modified cellulose amounting 0.1-30 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the diene rubber component. In preferred embodiments, the hydrophilic modified cellulose has degree of etherification in a range of 0.2-1.0 and its powder has average particle size in a range of 20 μm to 100 μm.