Tire Tread Resin Blend for Broad Temperature Traction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High performance pneumatic tires face challenges in maintaining traction and tread wear resistance over a broad range of operating temperatures, as existing resin compositions either soften excessively at lower temperatures or become ineffective at higher temperatures, leading to reduced traction and increased heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire tread composition featuring a combination of solution polymerization-derived styrene/butadiene elastomers with spaced apart glass transition temperatures, including a functionalized SBR, and a blend of resins with diverse softening points, reinforced with specialized carbon black and precipitated silica, which promotes hysteretic properties and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resin with a lower softening point (e.g., 30°C) is used to promote traction at lower tread temperatures, then traction is improved at temperatures around 30-50°C, but the resin becomes excessively softened or liquid at higher temperatures (e.g., 100°C), limiting its effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The resin system is segmented into multiple resins with different softening points (first resin: 30-70°C, second resin: 80-150°C, third resin: 100-200°C). Each resin segment activates at different temperature ranges, ensuring continuous traction promotion across the full operating temperature spectrum. The lower softening point resin handles cold conditions while higher softening point resins take over at elevated temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of resin softening point by using a combination of resins with progressively higher softening points. This allows the tread composition to adapt its hysteresis and traction characteristics dynamically based on operating temperature, with each resin contributing optimally within its specific temperature window.
2Reliability
If resins are added to promote tread traction, then hysteresis and traction are improved, but internal heat generation increases, leading to higher tread temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the phase transition (melting/softening) of multiple resins at different temperatures to modulate hysteresis and traction. As the tread temperature rises, resins sequentially transition from solid to softened state, providing continuous traction enhancement while distributing the heat generation effect across multiple phase transition events rather than a single abrupt transition.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single resin type is used in the tread composition, then the formulation is simple, but the traction performance is limited to a narrow temperature range
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite resin system combining three different resin types with complementary softening point ranges. This composite approach maintains relative formulation simplicity while achieving broad temperature range adaptability, as each resin component contributes specific temperature-dependent properties that collectively cover the full operating spectrum.
4Reliability
If the tread rubber composition becomes more hysteretic to improve traction, then internal heat generation increases, but excessive heat can degrade the rubber and reduce tread wear resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adaptability to the tread composition through temperature-dependent resin softening. The hysteresis and heat generation characteristics of the tread are not fixed but dynamically adjust based on operating temperature, with the resin blend providing optimal traction enhancement at each temperature level while preventing excessive heat accumulation that would degrade the rubber matrix.
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 tread composition achieves enhanced traction and handling capabilities over a broad temperature range while maintaining resistance to tread wear, with improved wet and dry handling and reduced rolling resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a functionalized solution polymerization derived styrene/butadiene elastomer (S-SBR-F) having a styrene content in a range of from 35 to 45 percent and a vinyl content in a range of from 20 to 40 percent based upon the polybutadiene portion of the elastomer, and a Tg in a range of from -28°C to -40°C; wherein said Tg of said S-SBR and said S-SBR-F are spaced apart by at least 10°C; wherein said functionalized SBR-F contains functional group(s) comprising at least one of: (a) amine functional group reactive preferably with hydroxyl groups contained on a precipitated silica filler
Implementation Method 2
the melting point (or softening point) of the resin is normally considered important because, as the resin melts and therefore softens, it undergoes a phase transition and its mechanical properties change
Implementation Method 3
as the resin melts and therefore softens, it undergoes a phase transition and its mechanical properties change
Implementation Method 4
containing two SBR's with spaced apart glass transition temperatures (Tg's), one of which is a functionalized SBR
Implementation Method 5
The softening of the resin in the tread rubber composition is seen as promoting a degree of softening of the tread rubber composition and tends to increase the hysteresis of the tread rubber composition, and thereby promote traction
Implementation Method 6
the cured tread rubber composition containing the softened resin becomes more hysteretic as a result of the softened resin, and therefore predicatively more prone to internal heat generation within the rubber composition
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a pneumatic tire with an outer, running surface containing, circumferential tread comprised of a styrene/butadiene (SBR) rich rubber composition containing two SBR's with spaced apart glass transition temperatures (Tg's), one of which is a functionalized SBR with a functional group together with a combination of at least three resins with spaced apart softening points. The filler reinforcement is a combination of silica and rubber reinforcing carbon black.