Tire Adhesive Layer Co-Crosslinking for High Temperature Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire pressure monitoring systems face challenges in quickly and durably attaching objects to tire surfaces due to limitations in adhesive technologies, particularly during vulcanization and under varying temperature conditions.

Innovation Solution

A tire with an adhesive layer composed of a block styrenic thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) and polyphenylene ether (PPE), which co-crosslinks with the tire's rubber material during vulcanization, providing stable and durable attachment without the need for fabric reinforcement, and allows for reversible fixation by heating the layers above their softening temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional adhesive layer is used during vulcanization, then the adhesive layer can be applied to the tire surface, but the adhesive layer fails to maintain stable attachment under high temperature service conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion stabilityVSAvoidhot adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the adhesive layer by incorporating polyphenylene ether (PPE) and specific plasticizers alongside the block styrenic thermoplastic elastomer. This compositional parameter change enables the adhesive to maintain its bonding properties at elevated temperatures, directly resolving the hot adhesion problem while preserving cold adhesion and vulcanization stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is formulated as a composite material system comprising block styrenic thermoplastic elastomer (TPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE), and plasticizers. This composite structure combines the thermal stability of TPS, the high-temperature resistance of PPE, and the flexibility provided by plasticizers, achieving reliable adhesion across the full temperature range from -40°C to +100°C without requiring fabric reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If fabric is added to reinforce the adhesive layer, then stable attachment during vulcanization is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevulcanization stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the fabric reinforcement component from the adhesive layer structure. By developing a chemically formulated adhesive composition based on TPS-PPE-plasticizer that inherently provides vulcanization stability, the solution removes the need for fabric, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining or improving adhesion reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical reinforcement system (fabric) with a chemical solution (optimized adhesive composition). The chemical crosslinking and adhesion mechanisms of the TPS-PPE-plasticizer system provide the necessary structural stability during vulcanization without requiring additional mechanical reinforcement layers, thus reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If permanent adhesive bonding is used, then durable attachment is achieved, but the ability to modify or replace members is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment durabilityVSAvoidreversibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic reversibility to the attachment system by utilizing the thermoplastic nature of the adhesive composition. The adhesive transitions between bonded and separable states based on temperature: it forms strong bonds at service temperatures and becomes reversible when heated above the softening point of the TPS component, allowing member replacement while maintaining durable attachment during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits the phase transition of the block styrenic thermoplastic elastomer between its solid bonded state and molten separable state. During service, the adhesive remains in the solid phase providing durable attachment. When heated above the softening temperature, it transitions to a molten phase that allows easy separation and repositioning of members, thus achieving both durability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

4Strength

If complex surface preparation is performed, then adhesion strength is improved, but the time and complexity of the manufacturing process increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion strengthVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive composition is formulated to be self-activating and self-sufficient. The TPS-PPE-plasticizer system inherently provides the necessary adhesion properties and vulcanization stability without requiring external surface preparation treatments. The adhesive can be directly applied to the tire surface and performs optimally, eliminating time-consuming preparation steps while maintaining strong adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is pre-formulated with the optimal combination of TPS, PPE, and plasticizers during manufacturing, so that when applied to the tire surface, it is already in the ideal state for bonding. This preliminary preparation of the adhesive composition ensures immediate adhesion strength and vulcanization stability upon application, without requiring additional surface treatment or activation steps at the time of attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution enables rapid, durable, and reversible attachment of members to tire surfaces, maintaining adhesion at high temperatures and allowing for flexible geometry and function, particularly suitable for various vehicle types and applications.

Implementation Method 1

The use of such an adhesive layer has the advantage of allowing co-crosslinking of the adhesive layer and the rubbery material of the surface of the tire, interior or exterior surface, during the vulcanization of the tire thanks to the presence of double bonds present in diene elastomers.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCo-crosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

said adhesive layer and fixing layer are brought to a temperature higher than the softening temperatures or Tg (or Tf, where appropriate) of said block thermoplastic elastomers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal softening: Heating

Implementation Method 3

The presence of polyphenylene ether makes it possible to very surprisingly improve the hot adhesion of the adhesive layer to the surface of the tire under service conditions, that is to say with maximum temperatures of around 100°

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stabilization of adhesion:

Data Source

PatentEP3286022B1Tyre ready to receive a member on the surface thereof
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3286022B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3286022B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Tyre having an inner and/or outer surface comprising a receiving region, an adhesive layer deposited on the receiving region and a protective film deposited on the adhesive layer, characterised in that the adhesive layer is made from a block styrenic thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) comprising an elastomer block made from a diene elastomer having a molecular (or mass) unsaturation level greater than 10%, and in that the adhesive layer additionally comprises one or more polyphenylene ethers ("PPE").