Polysulfide Rubber Compound Tear Resistance
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber mixtures for pneumatic vehicle tires, belts, and hoses face a conflict between improving tear resistance and reducing heat generation, with existing solutions either compromising on one aspect or being limited in application and stability.
Innovation Solution
A rubber compound comprising at least one polar or non-polar rubber, a filler, and a branched polysulfide polymer with a heteroatom in the main chain, which enhances tear resistance while minimizing heat build-up, particularly in thermally and oxidatively aged mixtures, maintaining other physical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If silica replaces carbon black in rubber mixtures to improve driving properties, then rolling resistance and fuel consumption are improved, but tear resistance deteriorates and heat build-up increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite filler system combining silica with specific surface treatments and organic modifiers to create a multi-component filler network that maintains the low rolling resistance benefits of silica while improving tear resistance through enhanced polymer-filler interactions and optimized network structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the silica particle characteristics including surface area, pore structure, and surface chemistry through controlled synthesis and treatment processes to optimize the balance between rolling resistance and tear resistance by changing the physical and chemical parameters of the filler
2Use of energy by moving object
If silica is used in rubber mixtures to improve fuel economy, then heat generation increases, but this compromises the stability and longevity of rubber items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces organic modifiers and surface treatment agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the silica filler and the rubber polymer matrix, improving heat dissipation through enhanced interfacial thermal transfer and reducing the harmful heat build-up effect while maintaining fuel economy benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the heat-generating effect of silica by optimizing its network structure and surface properties to create controlled thermal pathways that dissipate heat more effectively, transforming the harmful heat build-up into a manageable thermal characteristic that maintains fuel efficiency
3Strength
If special crosslinking products like Vulcuren, Perkalink or Duralink are used to resolve the conflict between tear resistance and heat generation, then the network node density can be adjusted, but these products are limited in application area and form unstable linear network nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple crosslinking mechanisms operating at different levels: primary crosslinks for basic network formation, secondary crosslinks for enhanced stability, and tertiary interactions for additional reinforcement, creating a segmented crosslinking architecture that provides both tear resistance and network stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different crosslinking densities and types in different regions of the rubber compound, with enhanced crosslinking at the polymer-filler interface and optimized crosslinking in the bulk polymer matrix, providing local optimization of both tear resistance and network stability
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 compound significantly improves tear resistance and aging resistance while reducing heat build-up, maintaining consistent physical properties across various applications, including tire treads and inner tire components.
Implementation Method 1
The conflict of objectives between tear resistance and heat generation can be influenced, for example, via the vulcanization system in such a way that a suitable network node density of the polymer-filler system can be set
Data Source
AI summary
Rubber mixture (I) comprises at least one polar or non-polar rubber, at least one filler, at least one linear or branched polysulfide polymer having at least one heteroatom in the main chain and other additives. An independent claim is included for producing (I), comprising adding the polysulfide polymer in a first mixing step.