Tire Rubber Composition Using Tg Gap Control for Grip and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire rubber compositions face challenges in achieving both wet grip properties and wear resistance simultaneously, as methods to enhance one often compromise the other, such as increasing glass transition temperature for better wet grip leading to reduced wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for tires is developed, comprising 10-50 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin in 100 parts by mass of diene rubber, specifically styrene-butadiene rubber with a styrene content of 5-30% and vinyl content of 10-35%, combined with silica and an alkylalkoxy silane, where the glass transition temperatures of the diene rubber, thermoplastic resin, and their mixture satisfy specific differences to balance wet grip and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the glass transition temperature of the rubber composition is reduced to improve wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but wet grip properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass transition temperatures of individual rubber components (diene rubber Tg1 and thermoplastic resin Tg2) and their specific difference (Tg2-Tg1) to fall within 110-150°C. This parameter optimization enables the rubber composition to achieve both improved wear resistance and wet grip properties, resolving the contradiction between these two performance aspects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining diene rubber and thermoplastic resin in a specific composition ratio (10-50 parts thermoplastic resin per 100 parts diene rubber) where the thermoplastic resin constitutes 30 mass% or more of the total plasticizer component. This composite structure allows the material to exhibit both enhanced wear resistance and wet grip properties simultaneously.
2Reliability
If the average glass transition temperature of diene rubber is set high to enhance wet grip properties, then wet grip properties are improved, but rubber strength decreases and wear resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by optimizing the parameter difference (Tg2-Tg1) between the thermoplastic resin and diene rubber to be 110-150°C, while controlling the thermoplastic resin content to be 30 mass% or more of the total plasticizer. This parameter optimization allows the diene rubber to have appropriate glass transition temperature for both wet grip and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by forming a specific blend of diene rubber and thermoplastic resin where the thermoplastic resin content is controlled at 30 mass% or more of the total plasticizer component. This composite formulation enables the rubber composition to achieve high wet grip properties while maintaining adequate rubber strength and wear resistance.
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 composition effectively improves both wet grip properties and wear resistance beyond conventional levels by optimizing the glass transition temperatures and filler content, ensuring a compatible and enhanced performance.
Implementation Method 1
a difference (Tga-Tgm) between a theoretical value (Tga) of a glass transition temperature of the mixture calculated based on an average glass transition temperature (Tg1) of the diene rubber and a glass transition temperature (Tg2) of the thermoplastic resin, and a measurement value (Tgm) of a glass transition temperature of the mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition contains 10-50 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin in 100 parts by mass of a diene rubber containing 60 mass % or more of a styrene-butadiene rubber having a styrene content of 5-30 mass % and a vinyl content of 10-35 mass %. In a mixture containing the diene rubber and the thermoplastic resin in a mass ratio of 1:1, a difference (Tga-Tgm) between a theoretical value (Tga) of a glass transition temperature of the mixture calculated based on an average glass transition temperature (Tg1) of the diene rubber and a glass transition temperature (Tg2) of the thermoplastic resin, and a measurement value (Tgm) of a glass transition temperature of the mixture, is 5-50° C., and a difference (Tg2-Tg1) is 110-150° C. An amount of the thermoplastic resin is 30 mass % or more in 100 mass % total of a plasticizer component contained in the rubber composition.