Modified Conjugated Diene Polymer for Tire Fuel Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rubber compositions for automotive tires face a trade-off between low fuel consumption performance and abrasion resistance, with modifications that improve fuel efficiency often compromising processability and vice versa, leading to a need for a material that balances these properties.

Innovation Solution

A modified conjugated diene-based polymer is produced by modifying the terminal and main chain of a conjugated diene-based polymer using specific compounds that interact with silica, including a polymerization step, terminal modification, and main chain modification, to create a crosslinked polymer with improved low fuel consumption performance and abrasion resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a conjugated diene-based polymer is modified using a compound that includes a nitrogen atom or a silicon atom, then low fuel consumption performance is improved, but processability decreases due to increased interaction between the polymer and silica

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow fuel consumption performanceVSAvoidprocessability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The modification is divided into two separate steps: terminal modification and main chain modification. This segmentation allows control over the degree and location of modification, enabling optimization of both low fuel consumption performance and processability by adjusting the amount of modification at each site independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the polymer are modified differently - the terminal groups receive one type of modification while the main chain receives another. This local differentiation allows the terminal-modified polymer to provide low fuel consumption performance while the main chain modification controls the interaction with silica, maintaining processability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If mineral oil or compatibilizer is added to improve processability, then processability is improved, but abrasion resistance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidabrasion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The modified conjugated diene-based polymer acts as an intermediary that simultaneously improves processability and maintains abrasion resistance. The specific modification structure enables the polymer to interact favorably with silica (improving processability) while maintaining its structural integrity for abrasion resistance, eliminating the need for mineral oil or compatibilizer additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the terminal of a conjugated diene-based polymer is modified using a compound that includes an amino group and an alkoxysilyl group, then low fuel consumption performance is improved, but the interaction with silica increases reducing processability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow fuel consumption performanceVSAvoidprocessability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 resulting polymer composition exhibits excellent low fuel consumption performance, wet skid resistance, and processability, making it suitable for automotive tires while maintaining mechanical properties.

Implementation Method 1

polymerizing a conjugated diene compound, or polymerizing a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound, in the presence of an alkali metal compound or an alkaline-earth metal compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization:

Implementation Method 2

reacts the active terminal of the conjugated diene-based polymer with a compound (A1) that includes a functional group that interacts with silica

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

reacts at least either an unsaturated bond or a functional group that is included in a terminal-modified polymer and is not situated at a terminal of the terminal-modified polymer, with a specific compound that includes a functional group that interacts with silica

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS9951167B2Method for producing modified conjugated diene polymer, modified conjugated diene polymer, polymer composition, crosslinked polymer, and tire

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 ENEOS MATERIALS CORP

AI summary

A modified conjugated diene-based polymer is produced that is a modified product of a conjugated diene-based polymer obtained by polymerizing a conjugated diene compound, or polymerizing a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound, in the presence of an alkali metal compound or an alkaline-earth metal compound. The modified conjugated diene-based polymer is produced by a production method that includes a main chain modification step that reacts at least either an unsaturated bond or a functional group that is included in a terminal-modified polymer and is not situated at a terminal of the terminal-modified polymer, with a specific compound that includes a functional group that interacts with silica, the terminal-modified polymer being obtained by introducing a functional group that interacts with silica into at least one terminal of the conjugated diene-based polymer.