Silica-Reinforced Elastomer Composition for Low Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire elastomer compositions struggle to balance improved rolling resistance with maintaining tensile strength and stiffness, as enhancing rolling resistance often compromises material stiffness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a partially saturated elastomer with a high double bond content and silanized or pre-silanized silica into the composition, which includes 40 to 200 phr of silanized silica and greater than 15% to 30% double bonds in repeat units, enhances tensile strength and maintains stiffness while reducing hysteresis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If rolling resistance is improved in tire elastomer compositions, then energy efficiency is enhanced, but stiffness of the composition is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining silanized silica with partially saturated elastomers containing 15-30% double bonds. This composite approach allows the material to simultaneously achieve low rolling resistance through silica's energy-dissipating properties and maintained stiffness through the elastomer's molecular structure with retained unsaturation, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the double bond content in the elastomer within a specific range of 15-30%. This precise parameter optimization allows the material to balance hysteresis losses (affecting rolling resistance) with structural rigidity (affecting stiffness), enabling simultaneous improvement in energy efficiency while maintaining adequate strength.
2Strength
If tensile strength is improved in elastomer compositions, then material durability is enhanced, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite system of silanized silica and partially saturated elastomer creates a synergistic effect where the silica network provides tensile strength reinforcement while the elastomer matrix with controlled unsaturation maintains low hysteresis. This composite structure achieves both high tensile strength and low rolling resistance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the double bond content to 15-30% and controlling silica concentration at 40-200 phr, the patent fine-tunes the balance between tensile strength and rolling resistance. This parameter optimization ensures that the material achieves adequate strength without excessive energy loss during deformation.
3Strength
If stiffness is maintained in elastomer compositions, then structural integrity is preserved, but rolling resistance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains stiffness while improving rolling resistance by precisely controlling the double bond content parameter within 15-30% and silica content within 40-200 phr. This parameter optimization allows the material to achieve a unique state where structural rigidity is preserved but hysteresis losses are minimized, breaking the traditional trade-off between these properties.
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 tensile strength and reduced hysteresis, indicating better rolling resistance with minimal loss in stiffness, suitable for tire applications.
Implementation Method 1
uncured compositions that include a partially saturated elastomer and silanized or pre-silanized silica
Implementation Method 2
at least one partially saturated elastomer including repeat units, where greater than 15% to 30% of all repeat units of the partially saturated elastomer include a double bond
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an uncured elastomer composition that includes a partially saturated elastomer and a silanized or pre-silanized silica. The uncured compositions includes 40 phr to 200 phr of the silanized or pre-silanized silica and at least one partially saturated elastomer including repeat units. Greater than 15% to 30% of all repeat units of the partially saturated elastomer include a double bond. Also disclosed are vulcanized compositions including the uncured compositions that have been vulcanized and articles including tires and/or components of tires comprising the vulcanized compositions.