Tire Carcass Rubber Compound With Anti-Reversion Vulcanization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rubber compounds for tire carcasses face challenges in balancing handling, rolling resistance, viscosity, and reversion properties, as improving one property often worsens others, particularly due to increased carbon black content which affects processing and vulcanization.

Innovation Solution

A rubber compound with a polymer base comprising at least 50% natural rubber, carbon black as filler, and a vulcanization system consisting of a mixture of sulfenamides and anti-reversion agents, such as N-t-butylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide and hexamethylene bis(thiosulfate, to optimize vulcanization without increasing carbon black content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the content of carbon black in the compound is increased to improve handling stiffness, then handling performance is improved, but rolling resistance increases and processing conditions worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling stiffnessVSAvoidrolling resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the vulcanization system by introducing a specific mixture of sulfenamide accelerators and anti-reversion agents in defined ratios (25-80% accelerator, 75-20% anti-reversion agent). This chemical parameter change enables achieving the desired handling stiffness through optimized cross-linking rather than through increased carbon black content, thereby avoiding the penalty of increased rolling resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite vulcanization system combining multiple components (sulfur, sulfenamide accelerators, anti-reversion agents) in specific proportions. This composite approach produces a synergistic effect where the combination of ingredients achieves superior handling properties and controlled reversion without requiring additional carbon black, thus maintaining lower rolling resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the content of carbon black in the compound is increased to improve handling stiffness, then handling performance is improved, but viscosity increases and processing conditions worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling stiffnessVSAvoidprocessing conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the vulcanization system composition parameters to include anti-reversion agents that control degradation during processing. This enables maintaining lower carbon black content while still achieving adequate handling stiffness, thereby keeping viscosity and processing conditions within acceptable ranges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the content of carbon black in the compound is increased, then handling stiffness is improved, but reversion phenomenon during vulcanization worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling stiffnessVSAvoidreversion control
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces anti-reversion agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the cross-linking process and the rubber polymer. These agents (comprising 75-20% of the vulcanization system mixture) prevent the degradation and reversion phenomena that would otherwise occur during vulcanization, enabling reliable processing even with optimized carbon black content for handling stiffness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If natural rubber content is increased to achieve optimal balance of properties, then handling and rolling resistance balance is improved, but reversion susceptibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling performanceVSAvoidreversion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses anti-reversion agents as intermediary substances that specifically protect natural rubber from reversion during vulcanization. These agents intervene in the chemical reactions to prevent polymer degradation, enabling the use of high natural rubber content (at least 50% of polymer base) to achieve optimal handling and rolling resistance balance without suffering from reversion problems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution achieves a balanced improvement in handling, rolling resistance, viscosity, and reversion properties without worsening any of these factors, demonstrating effectiveness across various carbon black concentrations and ensuring optimal performance with the specified natural rubber quantity.

Implementation Method 1

a vulcanization system comprising sulphur; said compound being characterized in that said vulcanization system comprises a mixture of at least one accelerator and at least one anti-reversion agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVulcanization: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a polymer base with a cross-linkable unsaturated chain comprising at least 50% by weight of the polymer base of natural rubber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCross-linking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

at least one accelerator belonging to the class of sulfenamides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 4

the reversion phenomenon, besides implying a given degree of rubber degradation, necessarily requires an accurate control of the vulcanization process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReversion prevention: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS20240384070A1Compound for a tire carcass portion
Publication Date: 2024.11.21 BRIDGESTONE EURO NV SA

AI summary

A rubber compound for tire carcass portions comprising at least a polymer base with a cross-linkable unsaturated chain comprising at least 50% by weight of the polymer base of natural rubber, a filler comprising carbon black and a vulcanization system comprising sulphur. The vulcanization system comprises a mixture of at least one accelerator and at least one anti-reversion agent, said mixture consisting of 25 to 80% by weight of the mixture of at least one accelerator belonging to the class of sulfenamides and 75 to 20% by weight of the mixture of at least one anti-reversion agent.