Pneumatic Tire Inner Liner Polyamide Film Rubber Composite

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic tires face challenges in durability and fatigue resistance due to repeated strains and high temperature heat, leading to structural deformation and deterioration of mechanical properties, while also requiring a lightweight design to improve fuel efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic tire design featuring a polymer film with a polyamide-based component on the tread and a rubber component sheet on the shoulders and sidewalls, providing enhanced air barrier properties and durability without structural reinforcement, while maintaining a lightweight structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tire uses conventional rubber materials (butyl rubber or halo butyl rubber) for the inner liner to achieve low air permeability, then air barrier property is improved, but heat resistance is insufficient leading to air pocket generation and physical property changes during automobile running

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair barrier propertyVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material consisting of polyamide resin and polyether copolymer in specific proportions (polyamide resin: 70-95 wt%, polyether copolymer: 5-30 wt%). This composite combines the excellent air barrier properties of polyamide with the heat resistance and flexibility of polyether, resolving the contradiction between air permeability and heat resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the polymer composition (polyamide resin content: 70-95 wt%, polyether copolymer content: 5-30 wt%) and film thickness (0.5-2.0 mm) to optimize both air barrier property and heat resistance. By controlling these parameters, the inner liner maintains low air permeability while withstanding high temperatures during tire operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If reinforcement layers are installed in the sidewall or shoulder structure is modified to improve durability against repeated strains and high temperature, then fatigue resistance is improved, but tire thickness and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability and fatigue resistanceVSAvoidtire weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a thin film inner liner (0.5-2.0 mm thickness) made of polyamide-based composite material that provides both durability and air barrier properties without requiring additional reinforcement layers. The high-strength polyamide resin and flexible polyether copolymer combination enables the thin film to withstand repeated strains and high temperatures, eliminating the need for weight-increasing reinforcement structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Weight of moving object

If the inner liner is made thinner to reduce tire weight and improve fuel efficiency, then weight is reduced, but air barrier property and durability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire weightVSAvoidair barrier property and durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system where polyamide resin provides strength and air barrier properties, while polyether copolymer provides flexibility and heat resistance. This composite enables the inner liner to achieve both thin profile (0.5-2.0 mm) and high reliability, as the synergistic combination of materials compensates for the reduced thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the thickness parameter (0.5-2.0 mm) and composition parameters (polyamide resin: 70-95 wt%, polyether copolymer: 5-30 wt%) to achieve the desired balance between weight reduction and performance maintenance. The specific parameter ranges ensure that even at thin profiles, the inner liner maintains sufficient air barrier property and durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 tire achieves high durability and fatigue resistance, improved air barrier properties, and reduced rolling resistance, resulting in enhanced fuel efficiency and prolonged internal pressure retention.

Implementation Method 1

a polymer film including a polyamide-based component positioned at the part of the body ply corresponding to the tread

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir barrier property: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

a sheet including a rubber component positioned at the part of the body ply corresponding to the shoulders and the sidewalls

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

securing higher air barrier property, thus improving fuel efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure retention: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3480033B1Pneumatic tire
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 KOLON INDUSTRIES INC
  • EP3480033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3480033B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3480033B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire comprising: a tread; one pair of shoulders respectively continued to both sides of the tread with the tread part as a center; one pair of sidewalls respectively continued to the shoulders; one pair of beads respectively continued to the sidewalls; a body ply formed on the inner sides of the tread, shoulders, sidewalls and beads; a belt and a cap ply part sequentially stacked between the inner side of the tread and the body ply; and an inner liner bonded to the inner side of the body ply, wherein in the inner liner, a sheet including a rubber component is positioned at the part of the body ply corresponding to the shoulders and the sidewalls, and a polymer film including a polyamide-based component is positioned at the part of the body ply corresponding to the tread.