Organic Silica Master Batch Elastomer for Tire Wear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in tire manufacturing is the poor dispersibility of silica particles in rubber, leading to issues with tire wear, life, and mechanical properties, especially when using silica as a reinforcing material, due to its hydrophilic nature and aggregation, which limits the effectiveness of silica master batch elastomers prepared by solution polymerization.
Innovation Solution
The development of an organic silica master batch elastomer involves surface-modifying silica using a specific organosilicon compound and silane coupling agent, followed by solution polymerization with conjugated diene or vinyl aromatic monomers, to enhance silica dispersibility and compatibility with rubber, thereby improving mechanical properties and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If silica is used as a reinforcing material in tire rubber, then environmental friendliness and filler reinforcement are improved, but silica particles aggregate due to inter-particle interaction, worsening dispersibility and mixing performance
Solution Approach 1:
A master batch elastomer is introduced as an intermediary carrier that pre-disperses silica particles uniformly within the rubber matrix. This master batch then serves as a mediator when mixed with additional rubber and filler, preventing silica aggregation and ensuring uniform distribution throughout the final tire compound.
Solution Approach 2:
Silica particles are pre-dispersed and uniformly distributed within the master batch elastomer before being incorporated into the final tire rubber compound. This preliminary dispersion action prevents aggregation during subsequent mixing processes and ensures consistent silica distribution in the final product.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a silica master batch type elastomer is prepared from a diene based copolymer by solution polymerization, then dispersibility of reinforcing material is improved, but silica is lost by water during steam stripping because silica is hydrophilic
Solution Approach 1:
The master batch elastomer acts as an intermediary protective matrix that encapsulates hydrophilic silica particles. This rubber matrix barrier prevents direct contact between silica and water during steam stripping, eliminating silica loss while maintaining the dispersibility benefits of solution polymerization.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber matrix in the master batch elastomer forms a flexible protective shell around hydrophilic silica particles. This thin film barrier prevents water penetration during steam stripping processes, protecting silica from being washed away while allowing the composite to maintain good dispersibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hydrophobic silica is used as a tire reinforcing material, then compatibility with rubber is improved, but chemical bonding with rubber is impossible, worsening mechanical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The silica particles exhibit dual local qualities: the surface layer provides hydrophobicity for compatibility with rubber, while the interior maintains hydrophilic characteristics that enable chemical bonding with rubber molecules. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of both compatibility and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure where hydrophobic surface-modified silica particles are embedded in a rubber matrix from solution polymerization. The composite combines the hydrophobic surface properties for compatibility with the chemical bonding capability, achieving both compatibility and mechanical strength.
4Reliability
If silica is sufficiently dispersed in the rubber mixture, then wear resistance and tire life are improved, but Mooney viscosity increases, worsening processability and production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Silica particles are pre-dispersed uniformly in the master batch elastomer before final compound preparation. This preliminary dispersion action achieves sufficient silica distribution for improved wear resistance while minimizing the viscosity increase that would otherwise occur during intensive mixing of highly filled rubber compounds.
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
This approach significantly improves silica dispersibility and compatibility, resulting in enhanced wear resistance, mechanical properties, and increased tire life, while also simplifying the tire manufacturing process and reducing production time, leading to safer and more uniform tire products.
Implementation Method 1
silica organically surface-modified by a silane coupling agent
Implementation Method 2
surface-modifying silica using a specific organosilicon compound and silane coupling agent
Implementation Method 3
organically modified silica in which an organosilicon compound and a silane coupling agent are coated on a surface of silica
Implementation Method 4
copolymer prepared by solution polymerization of a conjugated diene based monomer, a vinyl aromatic monomer or a mixture thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an organic silica master batch elastomer prepared by mixing a conjugated diene based copolymer, a vinyl aromatic copolymer or a mixture thereof prepared by solution polymerization with organically modified silica in which the surface of silica is modified with a particular organosilicon compound and a silane coupling agent in solution. The resultant organic silica master batch elastomer exhibits improved mechanical properties, wear resistance and blending processability, and can provide the effect of extending durability of a tire.