Silane Coupling Agent Composition for Rubber-Silica Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional silane coupling agents face issues with low affinity and reactivity with low-polarity organic polymer materials, leading to poor dispersion and insufficient improvement in viscoelastic properties of crosslinked rubber products, and existing rubber compositions have room for improvement in tensile properties and process complexity.

Innovation Solution

A silane coupling agent composition comprising alicyclic silane compounds with moderate reactivity and a protein denaturant, promoting coupling reactions and improving dispersibility of inorganic materials like silica, resulting in rubber compositions with enhanced scorch resistance and viscoelastic properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a silane compound with high-polarity reactive functional group (e.g., mercapto, amino, epoxy) is used to improve reactivity with rubber, then reactivity with organic polymer material is improved, but affinity with low-polarity organic polymer material decreases, causing poor dispersion and mixing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereactivity with organic polymer materialVSAvoiddispersion and mixing

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polarity parameter of the reactive functional group from high-polarity (mercapto, amino, epoxy) to low-polarity (hydroxyl, carboxyl). This parameter change maintains adequate reactivity with rubber while significantly improving affinity with low-polarity organic polymer materials, thereby achieving both good reactivity and dispersion/mixing properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If a silane compound with low-polarity reactive functional group is used to increase affinity with low-polarity organic polymer material, then affinity is improved, but reactivity with organic polymer material decreases, resulting in insufficient silane coupling agent performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaffinity with organic polymer materialVSAvoidreactivity with organic polymer material

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects low-polarity functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl) that strike an optimal balance between affinity and reactivity. These groups have sufficient polarity to react with rubber while maintaining adequate affinity with low-polarity organic polymer materials, resolving the contradiction between affinity and reactivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional silane coupling agents are used to improve dispersibility of inorganic material, then dispersibility is improved, but viscoelastic properties of crosslinked product are insufficiently improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispersibility of inorganic materialVSAvoidviscoelastic properties of crosslinked product

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the functional group type to hydroxyl or carboxyl, which provides better compatibility with both rubber and inorganic materials. This leads to improved dispersibility of inorganic fillers and simultaneously enhances the viscoelastic properties of the crosslinked product through better interfacial bonding and network formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coupling system where the silane compound with hydroxyl or carboxyl groups acts as an interface material between organic polymer (rubber) and inorganic materials. This composite approach improves both dispersibility and viscoelastic properties by establishing strong interfacial interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition achieves improved scorch resistance, viscoelastic properties, and a balanced wet grip performance and low-fuel consumption in tires.

Implementation Method 1

a silane compound having a reactive functional group and a hydrolyzable group

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

having high reactivity with an inorganic material such as silica

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

a reactive functional group having high reactivity with an organic polymer material such as rubber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS12540231B2Silane coupling agent composition and rubber composition comprising same

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 ENEOS MATERIALS CORP

AI summary

Provided is a silane coupling agent composition with which it is possible to obtain a rubber composition having excellent scorch resistance and a crosslinked product of a rubber composition having excellent viscoelastic properties. The silane coupling agent composition of the invention includes a silane compound and a protein denaturant and/or a silanization reaction accelerator, in which the silane compound includes a first silane compound represented by the following Formula (1) and a second silane compound represented by the following Formula (11):