Sulfur-Crosslinkable Rubber Mixture for Tire Handling and Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber mixtures for vehicle tires face challenges in balancing conflicting tire properties such as wet grip, dry braking, handling, rolling resistance, winter performance, abrasion, and tear resistance, with improvements in one property often leading to deterioration in another.
Innovation Solution
A rubber mixture comprising diene rubber, silica, and specific silanes (A and B) with molecular formulas A-I and B-I, where silane A has a reactive S-H group and silane B has a non-reactive sulfur atom configuration, optimizing handling, rolling resistance, and abrasion behavior while maintaining other properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the network node density of the vulcanized rubber mixture is increased to improve handling behavior, then handling behavior is improved, but tear properties and wet grip indicators deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing a specific silane compound with formula (I) containing S-H groups that can bind to both silica and polymer chains. This chemical parameter change modifies the vulcanization network structure to achieve improved handling behavior while maintaining tear resistance and wet grip properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by using silane as a coupling agent that bonds silica filler to the rubber polymer matrix. This composite approach allows the silica network to enhance handling behavior while the polymer-silica interface maintains flexibility and grip properties
2Stability of the object's composition
If the filler content is increased to improve handling behavior, then handling behavior is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the filler-polymer interface parameters by using silane coupling agents with specific S-H groups that create strong chemical bonds between silica and rubber. This parameter change allows for optimized filler content that improves handling while minimizing energy loss through reduced filler-polymer slippage
Solution Approach 2:
The silane compound acts as an intermediary between the inorganic silica filler and the organic rubber matrix. This mediator creates a transition zone that improves stress transfer (enhancing handling) while reducing hysteresis losses (lowering rolling resistance)
3Loss of energy
If silane coupling agents are used to bond silica to polymer for improved rolling resistance behavior, then rolling resistance is improved, but the combination of silanes with reactive S-H groups provides additional benefits in handling and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The silane compound with formula (I) performs multiple functions simultaneously: it bonds to silica through silyl groups, bonds to polymer chains through reactive S-H groups, and participates in sulfur vulcanization. This multi-functionality allows a single additive to improve rolling resistance, handling, and abrasion resistance together
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 achieves improved handling, reduced rolling resistance, and enhanced abrasion resistance, balancing the conflicting tire properties effectively.
Implementation Method 1
silanes that, in addition to a silyl group, have a reactive sulfur group, such as in particular an Sx group (with x ≥ 2) or have a mercapto group S-H
Implementation Method 2
there are advantages in terms of rolling resistance behavior and the processability of the rubber mixture if the silica is bonded to the polymer (s) using silane coupling agents
Implementation Method 3
sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, the vulcanizate thereof, and a vehicle tyre. The sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture contains the following constituents: - at least one diene rubber; and 10 to 300 phr of at least one silica acid; and 1 to 30 phf of at least one silane A having the general empirical formula A-I) A-I) (R1)oSi-R2-S-H; and 0.5 to 30 phf of at least one silane B having the general empirical formula B-I) B-I) (R1)oSi-R3-(S-R4)u-(S-R5)v-Si(R1)o, wherein u is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and v is 0 or 1.