Rubber Composition for Tires Reducing Heat Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to develop a rubber composition for tires that balances abrasion resistance and low heat generation properties, as reducing carbon black particle size improves abrasion resistance but increases heat generation, leading to poor fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition is produced by mixing natural rubber, modified conjugated dienic polymer, and carbon black with specific properties, using a kneading method that controls the temperature and composition to enhance dynamic storage elastic modulus and reduce heat generation, while maintaining improved abrasion and tear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the particle size of carbon black is reduced to improve abrasion resistance, then abrasion resistance is improved, but heat generation property increases leading to poor fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber component by incorporating a specific ratio of polybutadiene rubber (30-70 parts) and styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber (30-70 parts) with controlled styrene content (5-20 mass%), which modifies the matrix properties to accommodate carbon black particles and reduce hysteresis loss, thereby reducing heat generation while maintaining abrasion resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite rubber system combining polybutadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber in specific ratios, where each component contributes different properties: polybutadiene provides low hysteresis loss and heat generation reduction, while styrene-butadiene copolymer enhances abrasion resistance and structural integrity, creating a synergistic effect that resolves the contradiction between abrasion resistance and heat generation
2Loss of energy
If the amount of carbon black is reduced to reduce heat generation, then heat generation is reduced, but abrasion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the carbon black content parameter within the range of 20-40 parts per 100 parts of rubber component, which is a reduced amount compared to conventional formulations, while compensating for the potential loss in reinforcement by adjusting the rubber component composition and using carbon black with specific surface area (40-80 m²/g) to maintain dispersion and interaction efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enhances the local quality of the rubber matrix by carefully selecting the ratio of polybutadiene rubber to styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, creating regions with optimized molecular structure and crosslinking density that improve the efficiency of carbon black reinforcement, allowing reduced carbon black content while maintaining abrasion resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for producing a rubber composition for tire tread, which is prepared by mixing 100 parts by mass of a rubber component containing 60 to 80 parts by mass of a natural rubber and 20 to 40 parts by mass of a modified conjugated dienic polymer having one or more functional groups having another atom than carbon and hydrogen, and 40 to 60 parts by mass of carbon black having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N2SA) of 40 to 95 m2/g and a hydrogen release rate of 0.37% by mass or more based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, wherein the temperature of the rubber composition at the time of discharge in the kneading step for mixing carbon black therein is 170°C or higher, a rubber composition obtained according to the production method, and a tire using the rubber composition. According to the production method for a rubber composition, the heat generation property of the rubber composition can be reduced, and the dynamic storage elastic modulus thereof can be increased. By using the rubber composition obtained according to the production method as tread, there can be provided a tire having not only reduced rolling resistance but also improved abrasion resistance, anti-tear performance (tear resistance) and cut resistance.