Tire Tread Using Saturated Thermoplastic Elastomer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire treads face a compromise between wear resistance, rolling resistance, grip, and handling performance, with stiffening the tread to improve handling often adversely affecting hysteresis and rolling resistance.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread composition comprising 10-60 phr of polybutadiene and 10-60 phr of saturated thermoplastic styrene copolymer, combined with a reinforcing filler, which enhances stiffness and handling performance without increasing hysteresis or rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tread stiffness is increased by increasing reinforcing filler content or incorporating reinforcing resins, then handling performance is improved, but hysteresis and rolling resistance are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber matrix by incorporating a specific saturated thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with defined molecular weight and composition ratios. This modifies the material properties to achieve higher stiffness without the energy losses associated with traditional filler-based stiffening methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite rubber composition by combining polybutadiene or styrene-butadiene copolymer with a saturated thermoplastic elastomer in specific ratios. This composite material achieves enhanced mechanical properties and stiffness while maintaining low hysteresis characteristics, resolving the contradiction between strength and energy loss.
2Loss of energy
If conventional rubber compositions are used to achieve low rolling resistance, then energy efficiency is improved, but handling performance and tread stiffness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the rubber composition parameters by introducing a saturated thermoplastic elastomer with specific molecular weight (50,000-500,000 g/mol) and composition (30-70% hard segment, 30-70% soft segment). This parameter change enables the material to simultaneously achieve low rolling resistance and adequate tread stiffness, breaking the traditional compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the traditional approach of using high filler content for stiffness enhancement, which causes energy losses. Instead, it recovers performance by utilizing the intrinsic properties of the saturated TPE elastomer to provide both stiffness and low hysteresis, eliminating the need for compromising filler levels.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tire, the tread of which comprises an elastomer composition comprising: from 10 to 60 phr of a polybutadiene (BR) elastomer; from 10 to 60 phr of a saturated thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer; a reinforcing filler.The combined use of BR and saturated TPS elastomers makes it possible to increase the stiffness and thus to improve the handling performance of the tires, without adversely affecting the hysteresis and therefore the rolling resistance of these tires.