Tire Tread Composition Balancing Wear Resistance and Rolling Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tyre designers face a challenge in improving rolling resistance without compromising the stiffness of the tread, as increasing stiffness to enhance wear resistance often leads to increased hysteretic losses and decreased rolling resistance.
Innovation Solution
A tyre composition featuring a random copolymer with ethylene units and conjugated diene units, combined with a specific acrylate derivative and peroxide, which maintains stiffness while reducing hysteresis and improving rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the content of reinforcing filler or reinforcing resins is increased to improve wear resistance and tread stiffness, then wear resistance is improved, but rolling resistance increases and hysteretic losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber matrix by introducing a specific acrylate derivative with particular molecular structure (formula I with specific R1-R4 groups) and controlling the ethylene unit content (50-95 mol%). This chemical parameter change modifies the viscoelastic properties of the rubber, reducing hysteresis while maintaining the necessary stiffness and wear resistance, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and energy loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite rubber composition by combining the random copolymer of ethylene and conjugated diene with a specific acrylate derivative and peroxide crosslinking system. This composite material approach allows the synergistic interaction between different components to achieve both high wear resistance and low hysteretic losses, resolving the contradiction by distributing functions across multiple materials
2Strength
If the stiffness of the tread is increased to improve wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but rolling resistance properties decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the viscoelastic parameters of the tread material by incorporating the acrylate derivative with specific molecular structure and controlling the ethylene unit content. This changes the stress-strain relationship and hysteresis loop area, enabling the material to maintain stiffness for wear resistance while reducing the energy dissipation that causes rolling resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different functional properties to different aspects of the rubber material: the random copolymer provides the base elasticity and flexibility, while the acrylate derivative and peroxide system provide reinforcement and crosslinking. This local differentiation of material functions allows the tread to exhibit both high stiffness where needed for wear resistance and low hysteresis where needed for rolling 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 solution effectively enhances rolling resistance and reinforcement without penalizing stiffness, resulting in improved mechanical properties and reduced hysteresis in the tyre composition.
Implementation Method 1
a peroxide, and at least one acrylate derivative of formula (I)
Data Source
AI summary
A tire comprises a rubber composition based on at least one elastomeric matrix mainly comprising a random copolymer comprising ethylene units and conjugated diene units, the mole fraction of the ethylene units in the copolymer being within a range extending from 50% to 95%; a peroxide; and a specific acrylate derivative.