Tread Rubber Composition With Composite Fillers for Low Rolling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optimizing tread rubber compounds for improved rolling resistance often compromises mechanical properties, leading to trade-offs in performance, particularly in severe weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cross-linkable rubber composition comprising a mixture of natural or isoprene rubber, a combination of white fillers (highly dispersible silica and kaolin clay) and carbon black fillers, which balances rolling resistance and mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the amount of filler in the rubber compound is reduced to improve hysteresis property (rolling resistance), then rolling resistance is improved, but mechanical property or durability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite filler system combining highly dispersible silica (first white filler with BET surface area 170-180 m2/g) and kaolin clay (second white filler with BET surface area 5-10 m2/g) along with carbon black. This multi-component composite approach allows the fillers to work synergistically: the highly dispersible silica provides low rolling resistance through its surface properties, while kaolin clay contributes to mechanical strength and durability, and carbon black enhances overall reinforcement. The combination enables simultaneous optimization of rolling resistance and mechanical properties that cannot be achieved with single fillers alone.
2Loss of energy
If the amount of filler in the rubber compound is reduced to improve hysteresis property (rolling resistance), then rolling resistance is improved, but durability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite filler system combining highly dispersible silica (first white filler with BET surface area 170-180 m2/g) and kaolin clay (second white filler with BET surface area 5-10 m2/g) along with carbon black. This multi-component composite approach allows the fillers to work synergistically: the highly dispersible silica provides low rolling resistance through its surface properties, while kaolin clay contributes to mechanical strength and durability, and carbon black enhances overall reinforcement. The combination enables simultaneous optimization of rolling resistance and mechanical properties that cannot be achieved with single fillers alone.
3Reliability
If different kinds of polymers or fillers are used to optimize tread compound performance, then one performance is improved, but another performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different filler components based on their specific properties. The highly dispersible silica (BET surface area 170-180 m2/g) is selected for its low rolling resistance contribution, kaolin clay (BET surface area 5-10 m2/g) is used for its durability and structural reinforcement properties, and carbon black is incorporated for overall strength and wear resistance. Each filler type is optimized for its specific function, allowing the compound to achieve balanced performance across multiple requirements simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, per hundred parts by weight of rubber (phr): 100 phr of a rubber component comprising a natural rubber or an isoprene rubber or a combination thereof, a white filler, and a black filler. The white filler is a mixture of a first white filler and a second white filler, wherein the first white filler has a BET surface area of 170 m2/g to 180 m2/g measured according to ASTM D6738 and/or the second white filler has a BET surface area of 5 m2/g to 10 m2/g measured according to ASTM D5604.