Tire Rubber Composition with Thermoplastic Elastomer and Recycled Crumb
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire manufacturers face challenges in reducing the cost of rubber compositions without compromising tire performance and in incorporating recycled end-of-life tires into new tires to minimize environmental impact, as existing methods using high quantities of rubber crumbs often result in inferior properties.
Innovation Solution
A tire composition comprising at least 50% rubber crumb by mass, with a specific ratio of chloroform to acetone extracts and incorporating a thermoplastic elastomer, which enhances hysteresis properties and rolling resistance, while allowing for high powder content and potential recycling of materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high quantities of rubber crumbs are used in tire compositions, then cost reduction and recycling are improved, but tire performance and composition properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A thermoplastic elastomer is introduced as an intermediary component to mediate between the rubber crumb particles. This elastomer acts as a binding matrix that holds the high quantity of rubber crumbs together, enabling the composition to maintain structural integrity and performance properties even with 50% or more rubber crumb content. The thermoplastic elastomer facilitates interaction between crumb particles and provides the necessary mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining rubber crumbs with thermoplastic elastomer. This composite approach allows the heterogeneous mixture of recycled rubber particles and elastomer matrix to achieve unified performance characteristics. The composite structure enables high rubber crumb content while maintaining cohesive material properties suitable for tire applications.
2Loss of substance
If rubber crumbs with high acetone extract content are used, then recycling efficiency is improved, but hysteresis properties and rolling resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber crumb by selecting crumbs with specifically controlled acetone extract content (less than 30% by weight) and chloroform/acetone extract ratio (less than 2). This parameter optimization ensures that the recycled rubber crumbs have sufficient molecular integrity and crosslinking potential to maintain low hysteresis and rolling resistance while still representing effective recycling of end-of-life tires.
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 improved hysteresis properties and reduced rolling resistance, enabling cost-effective and environmentally friendly tire production with enhanced performance.
Implementation Method 1
the Applicant has found a way to obtain excellent hysteresis properties and therefore rolling resistance in compositions comprising a thermoplastic elastomer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tyre having a rubber composition based on at least one rubber crumb and a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the rubber crumb is 50% by mass or more of the composition, and having a ratio of the chloroformic extract to the acetone extract of less than 2; the chloroformic and acetone extracts being expressed as percentages by weight.