Rubber-Like Polymer Composition for Tire Tread Strength and Vulcanization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rubber-like polymers face challenges in achieving a balance between low fuel consumption performance and mechanical strength, as higher aromatic vinyl monomer ratios improve fuel efficiency but reduce tensile strength, while hydrogenation enhances mechanical strength but lowers vulcanization rates, leading to production inefficiencies and co-crosslinkability issues.
Innovation Solution
A rubber-like polymer with specific component ratios and molecular weights, including a sum of certain structural contents and aromatic vinyl monomer units, along with a weight average molecular weight of 300,000 or more and a modification ratio of 60% or more, is developed to achieve a balance between fuel efficiency and mechanical strength, ensuring a sufficient vulcanization rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the aromatic vinyl monomer ratio is increased to improve low fuel consumption performance, then fuel efficiency is improved, but tensile strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the aromatic vinyl monomer content (4-18 mol%) and the contents of specific structural units (C1-C4) to achieve optimal balance between low fuel consumption performance and tensile strength. This quantitative parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the precise compositional range where both properties are satisfied simultaneously.
2Strength
If hydrogenation is performed to improve mechanical strength, then tensile strength is improved, but vulcanization rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by controlling the hydrogenation degree through specific structural unit contents (C1-C4 representing different hydrogenation levels) rather than applying uniform hydrogenation. By maintaining unsaturated bonds at controlled levels while introducing saturated bonds, the patent achieves improved mechanical strength while preserving sufficient vulcanization rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different structural environments within the polymer chain - some regions with saturated bonds for strength, others with unsaturated bonds for vulcanization. This spatial differentiation of bond types within the same polymer structure allows simultaneous achievement of mechanical strength and vulcanization reactivity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the 1,2-vinyl bond ratio is increased to improve low fuel consumption performance, then fuel efficiency is improved, but tensile strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by controlling the 1,2-vinyl bond content through specific structural unit ratios (C1 and C2 representing 1,2-vinyl configurations). By optimizing this parameter within the defined ranges, the patent achieves the balance between low rolling resistance (fuel efficiency) and tensile strength that cannot be obtained by simply increasing or decreasing the 1,2-vinyl bond ratio alone.
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 solution provides a rubber-like polymer that maintains a high vulcanization rate, balances low fuel consumption performance with mechanical strength, and improves tire production efficiency by optimizing the ratio of structural units and molecular weight.
Implementation Method 1
When an unsaturated bond is hydrogenated into a saturated bond, there arises a problem that a vulcanization rate in obtaining a vulcanizate is largely lowered.
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber-like polymer,wherein a sum of a content C1 of a structure represented by the following formula (1) and a content C2 of a structure represented by the following formula (2) is 40 mol % or more and 60 mol % or less;a content C3 of a structure represented by the following formula (3) is 15 mol % or more and 60 mol % or less;a content C4 of a structure represented by the following formula (4) is 2 mol % or more and 25 mol % or less;a content S of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit is 4 mol % or more and 18 mol % or less;a weight average molecular weight measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is 300,000 or more; anda modification ratio measured by column adsorption GPC is 60% by mass or more: