Tread Rubber Composition Silane Coupling Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber compositions for tire treads face challenges in achieving a balance between processability, rolling resistance, wet skid performance, abrasion resistance, and handling stability, with silica-based compositions suffering from low reinforcing properties and processability issues due to the use of silane coupling agents.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition incorporating a specific aromatic vinyl polymer and a mercapto group-containing silane coupling agent, along with silica, to improve handling stability, wet skid performance, and abrasion resistance while maintaining processability and reducing rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the amount of reinforcing filler is reduced to improve rolling resistance, then rolling resistance is improved, but hardness is reduced which deteriorates handling stability and wet skid performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing a specific aromatic vinyl polymer (α-methylstyrene and/or styrene polymer) with controlled softening point (100°C or lower) and specific amount (3-25 parts by mass per 100 parts rubber component). This parameter change allows maintaining hardness and handling stability while reducing rolling resistance through the synergistic effect with silica and mercapto group-containing silane coupling agent.
2Strength
If silica is used as reinforcing filler to maintain hardness, then handling stability is improved, but abrasion resistance is insufficient due to lower reinforcing properties compared to carbon black
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material system combining silica (40-120 parts by mass per 100 parts rubber component), aromatic vinyl polymer (3-25 parts by mass), and mercapto group-containing silane coupling agent. This composite approach leverages the low rolling resistance of silica while the aromatic vinyl polymer and silane coupling agent enhance the reinforcing properties to achieve sufficient abrasion resistance, overcoming the limitation of silica alone.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional silane coupling agents are used with silica, then processability is improved, but scorch time is reduced and viscosity increases upon processing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies precise parameter ranges for the aromatic vinyl polymer (3-25 parts by mass per 100 parts rubber component, softening point 100°C or lower) and mercapto group-containing silane coupling agent to optimize the balance between processability and scorch time. The aromatic vinyl polymer acts as a processing aid that improves kneadability and extrusion properties while the controlled amount prevents excessive scorch time reduction.
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 rubber composition achieves a good balance between processability, rolling resistance, wet skid performance, and abrasion resistance, overcoming the limitations of conventional silica-based compositions by using a predetermined amount of aromatic vinyl polymer and mercapto group-containing silane coupling agent.
Implementation Method 1
silica is usually used in combination with silane coupling agents such as sulfide silanes and mercapto silanes
Implementation Method 2
Since silica has low affinity for a rubber component, silica is usually used in combination with silane coupling agents
Implementation Method 3
the aromatic vinyl polymer is a resin obtained by polymerization of α-methylstyrene and/or styrene
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide: a rubber composition for a tread, which improves processability, rolling resistance, wet skid performance, abrasion resistance, and handling stability in good balance; and a pneumatic tire having a tread produced from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tread, including: a rubber component; an aromatic vinyl polymer; silica; and a mercapto group-containing silane coupling agent, wherein the aromatic vinyl polymer is a resin obtained by polymerization of α-methylstyrene and/or styrene, and the amount of the aromatic vinyl polymer is 3 to 25 parts by mass, and the amount of the silica is 15 to 150 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.