Tire Rubber Composition for Silica Affinity and Low Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber compositions for tires face challenges in achieving excellent abrasion resistance and viscoelasticity while maintaining low rolling resistance, particularly due to the limited compatibility and affinity between rubber components and fillers like silica, which affects the tire's performance in terms of wet skid resistance and fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition comprising a first synthetic rubber with a 1,2-vinyl bond content of 50 wt % or more, bonded to a functional group, and a second synthetic rubber with less than 50 wt % 1,2-vinyl bonds, where the interaction parameter between them is set at 2.0×10−3 or more, enhancing compatibility and affinity with fillers, thereby improving abrasion resistance and viscoelasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If silica is used as reinforcing filler to reduce rolling resistance and improve wet skid resistance, then fuel efficiency and wet grip are improved, but silica agglomeration increases and affinity with rubber component decreases due to hydrophilic surface
Solution Approach 1:
A silane coupling agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the hydrophilic silica surface and the hydrophobic rubber component. The silane coupling agent contains both hydrophilic groups that bond with silica and hydrophobic groups that are compatible with rubber, thereby improving dispersibility and preventing agglomeration of silica in the rubber composition.
2Loss of energy
If solution-polymerized SBR is used to control glass transition temperature and reduce rolling resistance, then fuel consumption is reduced, but compatibility with silica filler remains insufficient without additional coupling agents
Solution Approach 1:
The silane coupling agent serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the solution-polymerized SBR and silica filler. By incorporating the silane coupling agent, the patent achieves both low rolling resistance (through controlled glass transition temperature of SBR) and good filler affinity (through the coupling agent's dual compatibility with rubber and silica).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining solution-polymerized SBR, silica filler, and silane coupling agent. This composite material approach allows the components to work synergistically, where the SBR provides the base matrix with controlled viscoelastic properties, silica provides reinforcement and wet grip, and the silane coupling agent ensures proper interfacial bonding between them.
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition having excellent abrasion resistance and improved viscoelasticity properties, and a tire manufactured using the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a rubber composition includes a first synthetic rubber and a second synthetic rubber, and has an interaction parameter (χblend) defined by Mathematical Formula 1 at room temperature is 2.0×10−3 or more. The first synthetic rubber is a solution-polymerized modified conjugated diene-based rubber which has a 1,2-vinyl bond content of 50 wt % or more and includes a functional group bonded to at least one terminal, and the second synthetic rubber is a conjugated diene-based rubber which has a 1,2-vinyl bond content of less than 50 wt %.