Rubber Composition with Hydrocarbon Wax for Tire Blooming Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle tire rubber mixtures face issues with blooming, which affects visual appearance, and existing solutions compromise ozone resistance and aging resistance while trying to improve crack resistance and visual appearance.

Innovation Solution

A rubber mixture containing specific hydrocarbon waxes with a defined carbon atom distribution, along with natural and synthetic polyisoprene and polybutadiene, and reinforcing fillers like carbon black and silica, to enhance blooming behavior, ozone resistance, and physical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-aging agents and anti-ozone waxes are added to rubber mixtures, then aging resistance and ozone resistance are improved, but blooming occurs on the surface affecting visual appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaging resistanceVSAvoidblooming
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the carbon atom distribution of hydrocarbon waxes. Specifically, it limits C15-C24 hydrocarbons to 5-30% (reducing blooming), sets C25-C30 hydrocarbons at 40-70% (providing protection), and controls C31-C40 hydrocarbons at 15-40% (enhancing ozone resistance). This optimized composition ratio resolves the contradiction between protection and appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple hydrocarbon wax components with different carbon chain lengths in specific proportions. The composite wax mixture integrates the benefits of shorter-chain waxes (protection) and longer-chain waxes (ozone resistance) while minimizing the blooming effect, achieving a balanced performance profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If hydrocarbon waxes are added to improve visual appearance by reducing blooming, then optical appearance is improved, but ozone resistance and aging resistance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidozone resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter optimization by setting specific ranges for different carbon chain length distributions. The C25-C30 hydrocarbons (40-70%) provide anti-blooming benefits for visual appearance, while C31-C40 hydrocarbons (15-40%) ensure adequate ozone resistance. This balanced composition achieves both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If existing wax compositions are used to improve crack resistance, then crack resistance is enhanced, but the composition may not provide optimal blooming behavior and visual appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrack resistanceVSAvoidblooming behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes crack resistance while controlling blooming by adjusting the carbon distribution parameters. The C25-C30 hydrocarbons (40-70%) contribute to crack resistance through effective ozone protection, while the controlled presence of C15-C24 hydrocarbons (5-30%) minimizes blooming. This parameter optimization achieves both crack resistance and acceptable visual appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 mixture exhibits improved blooming behavior, maintaining good ozone resistance and enhancing optical appearance without adversely affecting other physical properties like tensile strength and tear resistance.

Implementation Method 1

the hydrocarbon wax composition serves as an antiozonant wax and is described in detail below

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntiozonant protection:

Data Source

PatentEP3331948B1Rubber composition and tire
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a rubber mixture containing the following components: at least one rubber, at least one reinforcing filler, and 0.5 to 10 phr of at least one hydrocarbon wax composition, wherein the hydrocarbons of the wax composition have 15 to 110 carbon atoms, and: a) 25 to 40% of the hydrocarbons are linear hydrocarbons with 20 to 30 carbon atoms; and, among others, b) 5 to 18% of the hydrocarbons are linear hydrocarbons with 31 to 38 carbon atoms; and, among others, c) 25 to 40% of the hydrocarbons are linear hydrocarbons with 39 to 60 carbon atoms. In each case, the percentages are specified on the basis on the total number of hydrocarbons with 15 to 110 carbon atoms. The rubber mixture is contained at least in an outer part of the vehicle tire.