Rubber Composition with Terpene Resin for Balanced Tire Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire rubber compositions face challenges in achieving a balance between wet grip performance, abrasion resistance, and fuel efficiency, as improving one aspect often compromises the others, and current solutions like adding carbon black or specific liquid resins do not fully address the need for a good balance.

Innovation Solution

A rubber composition comprising 5 to 30 parts by mass of a terpene resin with a softening point of 100 to 120°C and a molecular weight of 500 to 10,000, combined with 2 to 10 parts by mass of a liquid rubber or resin, based on a rubber component that includes 72 to 95% aromatic olefin rubber and 5 to 28% diene olefin rubber, where the terpene resin is finely dispersed to enhance compatibility and control hysteresis loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If carbon black is added to improve abrasion resistance, then abrasion resistance is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to increased hysteresis loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistanceVSAvoidhysteresis loss
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber compound by using a specific diene olefin rubber (7-20 mass% butadiene rubber) in combination with aromatic olefin rubber, and optimizing the silica content (20-80 parts by mass) and coupling agent ratio, to achieve both low hysteresis loss and high abrasion resistance without relying on carbon black

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite rubber composition combining aromatic olefin rubber and diene olefin rubber with specific ratios, along with silica and coupling agents, to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously improve wet grip performance, abrasion resistance, and fuel efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If butadiene rubber is used to improve abrasion resistance and fuel efficiency, then abrasion resistance and fuel efficiency are improved, but wet grip performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistanceVSAvoidwet grip performance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the parameter of butadiene rubber content within 7-20 mass% of the total rubber component, and combines it with aromatic olefin rubber in a specific ratio, to balance the low hysteresis loss benefit with adequate wet grip performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite system where aromatic olefin rubber and diene olefin rubber work together with silica and coupling agents, where the aromatic olefin rubber compensates for the limited wet grip of butadiene rubber while maintaining the low hysteresis loss advantage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If silica and liquid resin are added to improve wet grip performance, then wet grip performance is improved, but abrasion resistance and fuel efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewet grip performanceVSAvoidabrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the silica content to 20-80 parts by mass and controls the molecular weight of liquid resin within 100-3,500 with specific ratios, to achieve adequate wet grip performance without excessive hysteresis loss that would harm fuel efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses coupling agents to create localized strong bonding between silica and the rubber matrix at the interface, improving wet grip performance through enhanced surface properties without requiring high bulk silica content that would increase hysteresis loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10913840B2Rubber composition and tire
Publication Date: 2021.02.09 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A rubber composition comprises 5 to 30 parts by mass of a terpene resin having a softening point of 100 to 120° C. and a molecular weight of 500 to 10,000, and 2 to 10 parts by mass of a liquid rubber or a liquid resin having a molecular weight of 100 to 3,500, based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component comprising 72 to 95% by mass of an aromatic olefin rubber and 5 to 28% by mass of a diene olefin rubber, wherein a ratio of a content of the terpene resin to a content of the liquid rubber or the liquid resin (a content of the terpene resin/a content of the liquid rubber or the liquid resin) is from 0.5 to 5, and the tire is one having a tire member composed of the rubber composition.