Modified Natural Rubber for Tire Fuel Economy and Heat Aging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural rubber used in tires faces challenges in achieving a balance between improved fuel economy, heat-aging resistance, and processability, with existing methods either compromising on fuel economy or providing insufficient heat resistance.
Innovation Solution
A highly purified modified natural rubber is developed by adjusting its pH to 2 to 7, removing non-rubber components, and treating the rubber with acidic compounds, resulting in improved fuel economy, heat-aging resistance, and processability without the need for mastication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If natural rubber is mixed with peptizing agent and masticated to reduce Mooney viscosity, then processability is improved, but molecular chains are broken and high molecular weight polymer characteristics are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-modifying natural rubber with maleic anhydride before tire manufacturing. This preliminary modification reduces Mooney viscosity and improves processability in advance, eliminating the need for subsequent mastication that would break molecular chains and compromise breaking resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of natural rubber by introducing maleic anhydride groups through reaction. This parameter change modifies the polymer structure to achieve lower viscosity and improved processability while preserving the integrity of molecular chains and maintaining high molecular weight characteristics.
2Strength
If conventional natural rubber is used, then good breaking resistance is maintained, but fuel economy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of natural rubber by introducing maleic anhydride groups. This modification alters the rubber's properties to reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel economy while maintaining good breaking resistance through controlled reaction conditions that preserve molecular chain integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining natural rubber with grafted maleic anhydride groups. This composite material integrates the advantages of both components: the elasticity and strength of natural rubber with the modified properties that reduce energy loss and improve fuel economy.
3Loss of energy
If natural rubber is highly purified by removing non-rubber components, then fuel economy is improved, but heat-aging resistance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of highly purified natural rubber to the specific range of 2-7. This parameter adjustment stabilizes the rubber structure and improves heat-aging resistance while maintaining the fuel economy benefits achieved through purification. The pH modification prevents excessive degradation during heat aging.
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 modified natural rubber exhibits enhanced fuel economy, heat-aging resistance, and processability, achieving a better balance of properties compared to conventional natural rubber, while eliminating the need for mastication processes.
Implementation Method 1
treating the resultant rubber with an acidic compound
Implementation Method 2
highly purified by removing non-rubber components and the like from rubber
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a modified natural rubber having a good balance of improved fuel economy, heat-aging resistance, processability, and breaking resistance, and a method for producing such a rubber. The present invention also provides a tire rubber composition and a pneumatic tire which are prepared using the modified natural rubber. The present invention relates to a highly purified, modified natural rubber whose pH is adjusted to 2 to 7.