Surface Modified Carbon Black for Tire Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire compounds struggle to simultaneously improve rolling resistance, wet traction, and wear resistance, as silica-based solutions are costly and not effective in all rubber compounds, particularly natural rubber used in truck tires, while modified carbon blacks have not achieved these properties concurrently.

Innovation Solution

A surface modified low hysteresis carbon black (SMLHCB) is treated with a surface modifier containing an amino acid and amine group, which is chemically linked to the carbon black surface, reducing filler-filler networking and increasing polymer-filler interactions, thereby enhancing the rubber compound's properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silica is used as filler to improve rolling resistance and wet traction, then rolling resistance and wet traction are significantly improved, but cost increases due to abrasive nature requiring costly machinery maintenance and expensive coupling agents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverolling resistance and wet tractionVSAvoidcost and machinery maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive silica filler with carbon black, which is significantly cheaper and non-abrasive. The carbon black provides comparable or superior performance in rolling resistance and wet traction without the need for expensive coupling agents or special machinery maintenance, directly addressing the cost issue while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the surface properties of carbon black through chemical treatment to change its interaction characteristics with rubber polymers. By adjusting surface chemistry parameters, the treated carbon black achieves enhanced polymer-filler interactions that replicate silica's performance benefits without the drawbacks of cost and abrasion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If silica is used as filler to improve rolling resistance and wet traction, then rolling resistance and wet traction are improved, but processing difficulty increases and it is not effective in all rubber compounds particularly natural rubber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverolling resistance and wet tractionVSAvoidprocessing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Carbon black is used instead of silica because it is easier to process and universally effective across different rubber types including natural rubber. The non-abrasive nature of carbon black eliminates processing difficulties associated with silica while maintaining effectiveness across all compound formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a carbon black surface treatment that provides universal effectiveness across different rubber compounds and types. The treated carbon black works effectively in both synthetic and natural rubber compounds, making it a universal replacement for silica that doesn't require compound-specific formulation adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If carbon black with widened aggregate size distribution is used to decrease filler-filler networking strength, then rolling resistance is improved, but polymer-filler interactions are insufficient to improve other rubber properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverolling resistanceVSAvoidpolymer-filler interactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a surface treatment layer as an intermediary between the carbon black aggregates and the rubber polymer. This surface treatment acts as a mediator that enhances polymer-filler interactions while maintaining the aggregate size distribution needed for low rolling resistance, thereby bridging the gap between these two competing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by combining carbon black aggregates with a surface treatment layer. This composite approach allows the bulk aggregate structure to provide low rolling resistance while the surface treatment layer provides enhanced polymer interactions, achieving both goals simultaneously

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 SMLHCB compound achieves improved rolling resistance, wet traction, and wear resistance comparable to silica-based compounds without the drawbacks of silica, such as cost and processing difficulties, and is effective in both synthetic and natural rubber compounds.

Implementation Method 1

A surface modified low hysteresis carbon black (SMLHCB) is treated with a surface modifier containing an amino acid and amine group, which is chemically linked to the carbon black surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS12116485B2Surface modified carbon black to simultaneously improve rolling resistance, wet traction, and wear resistance

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 CONTINENTAL CARBON COMPANY INC

AI summary

A method of producing a surface modified low hysteresis carbon black (SMLHCB). The method includes treating a surface of a low hysteresis carbon black with from about 0.1 to about 50 wt % of a surface modifier to form the SMLHCB. The surface modifier includes an amino acid and at least one amine group.