Polynorbornene Rubber Tire Tread Compound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber mixtures for tire treads struggle to balance low rolling resistance with good abrasion and tear properties, often resulting in 'chip & chunk' effects and compromised wet grip and elongation at break.
Innovation Solution
A rubber mixture containing polynorbornene rubber, amphiphilic compounds, and mercaptosilane, along with synthetic diene rubber and silica, which improves rolling resistance, abrasion resistance, and tear strength while maintaining wet grip properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If silica and mercaptosilane are added to reduce rolling resistance, then rolling resistance is improved, but abrasion and tear properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing polynorbornene rubber (5-40 phr) alongside traditional diene rubber and natural rubber. This compositional parameter change modifies the tread's molecular structure to simultaneously achieve low rolling resistance and high abrasion/tear resistance, resolving the contradiction between energy loss reduction and strength maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite rubber system combining polynorbornene rubber with diene rubber and natural rubber. This composite material approach allows the tread to exhibit both the low rolling resistance characteristics of polynorbornene and the good abrasion/tear properties of the traditional rubber components, eliminating the need to choose between conflicting performance requirements.
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 mixture achieves low rolling resistance, high abrasion resistance, and high tear strength, reducing the likelihood of 'chip & chunk' effects and maintaining wet grip properties, thereby optimizing tread performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one mercaptosilane, in particular in an amount of 5 phf to 20 phf, which acts as a coupling agent
Implementation Method 2
which has low rolling resistance and high abrasion resistance, and surprisingly the wet grip properties remain unchanged
Implementation Method 3
By adding these substances, the rolling resistance of treads made from these rubber mixtures can be improved
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rubber compound, in particular for the treads of vehicle tires, which contains at least one synthetic diene rubber, one natural rubber, at least one silica, and at least one mercaptosilane. The rubber compound contains at least one polynorbornene rubber.