Multicomponent Copolymer Production for Tire Rupture Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
The copolymer described in existing literature still lacks improvement in rupture strength, specifically in rubber products such as tires and conveyor belts, which require high durability and resistance to cracking and wear.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a multicomponent copolymer comprising a conjugated diene unit, a non-conjugated olefin unit, and an aromatic vinyl unit is developed, where a reactor is set up with a catalyst, non-conjugated olefin, and aromatic vinyl compounds, and additional conjugated diene is continuously or intermittently added to achieve uniform chain length and crosslinking, enhancing rupture strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional copolymer composition is used (as in PTL 1), then weather resistance and crack growth resistance are improved, but rupture strength remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a multicomponent copolymer that integrates three distinct functional units: conjugated diene units for elasticity and crack resistance, non-conjugated olefin units for structural stability, and aromatic vinyl units for strength enhancement. This multi-component composite structure at the molecular level resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties to achieve both reliability and rupture strength simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by controlling the microstructure and sequence distribution of different monomer units within the copolymer chain. By optimizing the local arrangement and composition ratios of conjugated diene, non-conjugated olefin, and aromatic vinyl units, the patent creates regions with different functional characteristics that collectively provide both crack growth resistance and high rupture strength
2Strength
If additional conjugated diene is added to improve rupture strength, then chain uniformity and crosslinking are enhanced, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by implementing continuous addition of conjugated diene compound during the polymerization process. This continuous feeding strategy maintains steady-state polymerization conditions, ensures uniform incorporation of conjugated diene units throughout the copolymer chain, and achieves consistent rupture strength improvement without requiring complex batch-wise process control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the polymerization system with catalyst and other monomers before initiating continuous conjugated diene addition. This preliminary setup optimizes reaction conditions in advance, allowing the continuous addition process to proceed smoothly with minimal adjustments, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining product quality
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 method results in a multicomponent copolymer and rubber composition with significantly improved rupture strength, leading to enhanced durability and resistance in tire applications.
Implementation Method 1
providing a reactor containing a catalyst, a non-conjugated olefin compound, an aromatic vinyl compound and 0.001 mol to 1 mol of a conjugated diene compound
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
To provide a method for producing a multicomponent copolymer with which a multicomponent copolymer having excellent rupture strength can be obtained, and a multicomponent copolymer, a rubber composition and a tire having excellent rupture strength. The method is a method for producing a multicomponent copolymer having a conjugated diene unit, a non-conjugated olefin unit and an aromatic vinyl unit, comprising adding continuously or intermittently continuously a conjugated diene compound into a reactor containing a catalyst and at least one selected from the group consisting of a non-conjugated olefin compound and an aromatic vinyl compound. The multicomponent copolymer is obtained with the production method. The rubber composition comprises the multicomponent copolymer as a rubber component. The tire uses the rubber composition.