Sulfur-Crosslinked Rubber With Predispersed CNTs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixtures for vehicle tires do not adequately address the need for improved electrical conductivity while maintaining abrasion and other performance properties.
Innovation Solution
Predispersing carbon nanotubes (CNT) in polyisoprene to create a sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture that enhances electrical conductivity without compromising abrasion behavior or other tire properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carbon nanotubes are added to rubber mixtures to improve electrical conductivity, then conductivity increases, but abrasion properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct functional zones within the tire structure. CNTs are concentrated in specific regions (tread surface, sidewalls, conductivity tracks) rather than uniformly distributed throughout the entire rubber matrix. This localized concentration allows high conductivity in critical areas while preserving abrasion resistance in load-bearing regions through optimized filler distribution and rubber compound formulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining carbon nanotubes with specific rubber matrices (natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber) and filler systems (carbon black, silica). This multi-component composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of electrical conductivity through CNT networks and mechanical durability through synergistic interactions between rubber polymers and reinforcing fillers, resolving the contradiction between conductivity enhancement and abrasion resistance maintenance.
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 resulting tire exhibits improved electrical conductivity with maintained or improved abrasion properties, making it suitable for use in various tire components, including treads and sidewalls.
Implementation Method 1
the CNT are predispersed in at least one polyisoprene... provides the sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture with an unexpectedly good electrical conductivity
Implementation Method 2
sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture... produced from a ready-to-use rubber mixture (or a rubber raw mixture) by sulfur vulcanization
Data Source
AI summary
A sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture for vehicle tires including carbon nanotubes (CNT), to a vehicle tire comprising the sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture and to a process for producing the sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture comprising CNT. The sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture according to the invention is characterized in that the CNT are predispersed in at least one polyisoprene. The vehicle tire according to the invention preferably comprises the sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture in the tread and/or a sidewall and/or a conductivity track.