Sustainable Rubber Composition Using Recycled Carbon Black

Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire rubber compositions often rely on non-renewable materials, which can be costly and have environmental impacts, and lack efficient incorporation of recyclable materials that maintain material properties.

Innovation Solution

A tire rubber composition incorporating recycled carbon black and plant-based oils, combined with natural and synthetic rubber elastomers, to create a sustainable and cost-effective subtread material with improved viscoelastic properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional non-renewable materials are used in tire rubber compositions, then material properties and performance are maintained, but environmental impact increases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating recycled carbon black (rCB) at 1-80 phr and plant oil at 1-50 phr into the rubber composition, replacing traditional virgin carbon black and petroleum-based oils. This parameter substitution maintains material performance while improving environmental sustainability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers and reuses carbon black from end-of-life tires through pyrolysis or grinding processes, converting waste material into a functional ingredient. This recovery approach reduces environmental impact while maintaining the reinforcing properties needed for tire performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If recycled carbon black is incorporated into rubber composition, then sustainability improves and cost decreases, but material properties may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite rubber composition combining natural rubber, synthetic rubber, recycled carbon black, and plant oil. This composite approach allows the synergistic interaction of ingredients to compensate for potential weaknesses of recycled materials, maintaining strength and elasticity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the distribution and concentration of recycled carbon black within specific regions of the rubber compound, ensuring that areas requiring high strength receive adequate reinforcement while other areas benefit from the sustainability and cost advantages of rCB

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If plant-based oils are used instead of petroleum-based oils, then environmental sustainability improves, but processing characteristics may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts processing parameters such as mixing temperature, mixing time, and shear rate to accommodate the different rheological properties of plant-based oils. These parameter modifications ensure proper incorporation and distribution of the renewable oil without compromising manufacturing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3237530B1Rubber composition and tire comprising sustainable resources and related methods
Publication Date: 2023.05.31

AI summary

Recycled elements and/or renewable resources, such as recycled carbon black or recycled carbon black and recycled particulate rubber, are incorporated into a rubber composition. The rubber composition can be used to manufacture tires or various tire components including tire subtreads.