Polyurethane Tire Tread Rubber Compositions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tire tread rubber compositions face challenges in achieving optimal wet and dry traction while maintaining acceptable rolling resistance, often requiring a balance that is difficult to achieve with traditional oil-based formulations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a specified polyurethane with a saturated hydroxy-functionalized polydiene segment into the rubber composition, which reduces the need for processing oils and enhances both wet and dry traction, with the option to either maintain or decrease rolling resistance compared to oil-based compositions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional oil-based formulations are used in tire tread rubber compositions, then processing and mixing properties are improved, but wet and dry traction performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing and mixing propertiesVSAvoidwet and dry traction performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing traditional processing oils with polyurethane containing saturated hydroxy-functionalized polydiene segments. This substitution fundamentally alters the formulation parameters while maintaining processing benefits and improving traction performance through the unique molecular structure of polyurethane.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material strategy by combining polyurethane with conjugated diene-containing polymers and reinforcing fillers (carbon black, silica) to create a new rubber composition system that integrates the processing advantages of oil-based formulations with the superior traction properties of polyurethane-modified rubber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If polyurethane is used to improve wet and dry traction, then traction performance increases, but rolling resistance may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewet and dry tractionVSAvoidrolling resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality principle by specifying that the polyurethane contains saturated hydroxy-functionalized polydiene segments at particular concentrations (1-40 phr). This localized functional composition provides enhanced traction at the tread-road interface while the overall composition formulation controls rolling resistance through balanced polymer and filler selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the parameter balance by controlling polyurethane content within specific ranges (1-40 phr) and adjusting the ratios of conjugated diene polymers and reinforcing fillers. These parameter adjustments allow simultaneous improvement of traction performance and control of rolling resistance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11712926B2Polyurethane-containing tread rubber compositions and related methods

Publication Date: 2023.08.01 BRIDGESTONE CORP

AI summary

Disclosed herein are tread rubber compositions containing a specified polyurethane, tires containing a tread made from the rubber compositions, and related methods of improving the wet and dry traction of a tire tread by using the polyurethane-containing rubber compositions. The polyurethane includes a saturated hydroxy-functionalized polydiene segment as diol.