Silane Modifier for Silica-Dispersed Diene Polymers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conjugated diene-based polymers used in tire rubber face challenges in achieving excellent dispersibility with inorganic fillers like silica, leading to poor interaction and performance issues such as low wet skid resistance and high rolling resistance.
Innovation Solution
A modifier compound is introduced, capable of forming hydrogen bonds with inorganic fillers, enhancing dispersibility and interaction, resulting in a modified conjugated diene-based polymer with improved processability, tensile strength, wear resistance, and reduced rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silica is used as a reinforcing filler to reduce hysteresis loss and improve wet skid resistance, then low hysteresis loss and high wet skid resistance are improved, but dispersibility with rubber deteriorates due to hydrophilic surface properties
Solution Approach 1:
A silane-modified coupling agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the hydrophilic silica filler surface and the hydrophobic rubber polymer. This coupling agent contains both silane groups that bond to silica and organic groups that are compatible with rubber, enabling effective dispersion and interaction between the filler and polymer matrix, thus resolving the incompatibility issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of silica are modified by changing its chemical composition through silane modification. The hydrophilic surface is transformed by introducing organic functional groups via silane coupling, which changes the surface energy and chemical affinity parameters, allowing better interaction with rubber while maintaining the reinforcing benefits of silica.
2Use of energy by moving object
If vinyl content in SBR is increased to adjust glass transition temperature and reduce rolling resistance, then fuel consumption is reduced, but wet skid resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing vinyl content throughout the polymer chain, the invention introduces specific functional groups at the chain ends through modifiers. This localized modification allows adjustment of glass transition temperature and rolling resistance without the negative impact on wet skid resistance that would result from bulk vinyl content increase, as the chain end modifications have minimal effect on the bulk polymer's wet skid properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure at the molecular level by combining the base SBR polymer with chain-end modifiers containing specific functional groups. This composite approach allows the bulk polymer to maintain its original vinyl content and wet skid resistance properties while the modified chain ends provide the desired glass transition temperature adjustment and rolling resistance reduction.
3Strength
If chain ends of polymer are bound using traditional modifiers to increase binding strength with filler, then binding strength is improved, but dispersibility with inorganic filler deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the chain-end modifiers by introducing specific functional groups (such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, or amine groups) that have high affinity for inorganic fillers. This modification of the modifier's chemical properties enables strong binding to silica while maintaining good dispersibility, as the functional groups create effective interfacial interactions without causing aggregation.
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 modified polymer exhibits enhanced mechanical and physical properties, including high tensile strength, wear resistance, and low rolling resistance, while maintaining high wet skid resistance, effectively addressing the limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
A modifier compound is introduced, capable of forming hydrogen bonds with inorganic fillers, enhancing dispersibility and interaction
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a modifier, and more particularly, to a modifier including a compound represented by Formula 1, and a method of preparing the same. Such modifier exhibits excellent dispersibility via hydrogen bonding with an inorganic filler when mixed therewith. The present disclosure also relates to a modified conjugated diene-based polymer and a method of preparing the modified conjugated diene-based polymer by using the modifier. The resulted modified conjugated diene-based polymer exhibits excellent processability, high tensile strength, high wear resistance, low rolling resistance, and high wet skid resistance.