Tread Rubber Composition Using Silane Coupling Agent for Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire rubber compositions face challenges in achieving simultaneous improvements in wet grip performance, abrasion resistance, and fuel economy, with silica dispersion issues and the limitations of existing silane coupling agents hindering optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for treads comprising styrene butadiene rubber, fine particle silica with an average particle size of 18 nm or less, a silane coupling agent with an alkoxysilyl group and sulfur atom linked by six or more carbon atoms, and a solid resin, optimized with specific mass ratios and content levels to enhance silica dispersion and polymer deformation, thereby improving wet grip and abrasion resistance while maintaining fuel economy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silica is added to improve wet grip performance, then wet grip is improved, but silica particles aggregate by hydrogen bonding and disperse insufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
A silane coupling agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between silica particles and the rubber matrix. The silane coupling agent contains both silane groups that bond with silica and rubber-reactive groups that bond with the polymer, creating a bridging effect that prevents silica aggregation and ensures uniform dispersion throughout the rubber composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system where silica, silane coupling agent, and rubber form a multi-component composite. The silane coupling agent acts as a compatibilizer that interfaces the inorganic silica filler with the organic rubber matrix, enabling synergistic properties that neither component could achieve alone.
2Stability of the object's composition
If existing silane coupling agents are used to improve silica dispersion, then dispersion is improved, but wet grip performance and abrasion resistance cannot be significantly improved simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the silane coupling agent, specifically using a silane coupling agent with a longer alkyl chain length (6 or more carbon atoms) between the silane group and the sulfur atom. This structural parameter change enhances the coupling efficiency and allows for optimized performance in wet grip, abrasion resistance, and silica dispersion simultaneously.
3Reliability
If more silica is added to enhance wet grip, then wet grip performance improves, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the particle size parameter of silica to ultra-fine particles with an average particle size of 18 nm or less. This parameter change increases the surface area to volume ratio, improving wet grip performance at lower silica loadings, thereby maintaining fuel economy while achieving enhanced wet grip.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates an optimized composite formulation where ultra-fine silica, silane coupling agent, and rubber work synergistically. This composite approach allows achieving high wet grip performance with reduced silica content compared to conventional formulations, thus improving fuel economy.
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 composition significantly enhances wet grip performance, balances wet grip and abrasion resistance, and improves fuel economy by synergistically optimizing the polymer's deformation and interaction with silica, addressing the limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a silane coupling agent containing an alkoxysilyl group and a sulfur atom wherein a number of carbon atoms linking the alkoxysilyl group to the sulfur atom is six or more
Implementation Method 2
a fine particle silica having an average particle size of 18 nm or less
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a tire rubber composition which provides significantly improved wet grip performance, and a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for treads containing: a rubber component including a styrene butadiene rubber; a fine particle silica having a particle size of 18 nm or less; and a silane coupling agent containing an alkoxysilyl group and a sulfur atom wherein the number of carbon atoms linking the alkoxysilyl group to the sulfur atom is six or more, the rubber composition satisfying A × B ≤ 3000 wherein A and B represent the total masses of silica and styrene, respectively, expressed in parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.