Sulfur-Crosslinkable Rubber Mixture for Tire Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire rubber mixtures face challenges in achieving a balance between improved winter properties, abrasion resistance, rolling resistance, and wet grip without compromising on processing ease, as traditional approaches often result in conflicting objectives such as increased rolling resistance or deteriorated wet grip when enhancing one property.
Innovation Solution
A sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture comprising a blend of high molecular weight and low molecular weight solution-polymerized diene polymers, functionalized with groups like epoxy, hydroxy, and silane sulfide groups, combined with silica and mercaptosilane as a silane coupling agent, to enhance processing and property interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silica replaces carbon black in rubber mixtures to improve wet grip and dry braking, then wet grip and dry braking are improved, but rolling resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite filler system combining silica with specific surface treatments and a dual polymer blend (natural rubber and synthetic polydiene rubber) to create a multi-component composite material that balances wet grip improvement with rolling resistance reduction through synergistic interactions between components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical and physical parameters of the rubber mixture by controlling polymer molecular weights (high and low), vinyl content (20-80%), silane coupling agent ratios, and filler surface area to optimize the balance between adhesion (wet grip) and hysteresis (rolling resistance)
2Reliability
If silica replaces carbon black in rubber mixtures to improve wet grip and dry braking, then wet grip and dry braking are improved, but abrasion behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system combining silica filler with specific polymer blends and surface treatments that provide both the adhesion needed for wet grip and the durability required for abrasion resistance through complementary material properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different surface treatments and polymer compositions to different aspects of the rubber compound formulation, creating local variations in material properties that simultaneously improve wet grip at the silica-rubber interface and abrasion resistance in the bulk material
3Ease of manufacture
If functionalized polymers are used to improve filler interaction and processing, then processing behavior is improved, but mixture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces silane coupling agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the silica filler and polymer matrix, improving filler-rubber interaction and processing behavior without requiring complex functionalized polymers, thus reducing mixture complexity while achieving the desired effect
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 significant improvements in winter properties, abrasion resistance, and rolling resistance while maintaining excellent wet grip, with improved processing behavior and physical properties, such as increased rigidity and tear resistance.
Implementation Method 1
combined with silica and mercaptosilane as a silane coupling agent, to enhance processing and property interactions
Implementation Method 2
sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, containing: a rubber blend of at least one high-molecular-weight, solution-polymerized diene polymer A and at least one low-molecular-weight, solution-polymerized polymer B, wherein at least one of the polymers A or B is functionalized at the chain end and/or along the polymer chain and/or in a coupling center with at least one group selected from epoxy groups, hydroxy groups, carboxy groups, silane-sulfide groups, amino groups, siloxane groups, organosilicon groups, phthalocyanine groups, and from alkoxysilyl groups containing amino groups, 30 to 300 phr of at least one silicic acid, and 1 to 20 phf of at least one blocked and/or unblocked mercaptosilane as a silane coupling agent.