Tyre Rubber Composition with Thermoplastic Elastomer and Silane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire tread compounds face a trade-off between wet grip and rolling resistance, with improvements in one property often compromising the other, making it challenging to achieve high performance in severe weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cross-linkable rubber composition comprising styrene-butadiene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, or natural rubber with a thermoplastic elastomer having a high glass transition temperature, an aliphatic resin, and a blocked or unblocked mercaptosilane, which enhances wet grip without increasing rolling resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high Tg polymers like SBR are used to optimize wet grip, then wet grip is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the glass transition temperature parameter of the polymer blend by combining high Tg SBR (20-40°C) with low Tg polybutadiene (-90 to -110°C) in specific ratios, achieving an optimized intermediate Tg that simultaneously improves wet grip and reduces rolling resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite rubber composition by blending SBR and polybutadiene in specific ratios (30-70 phr SBR with 70-30 phr polybutadiene), combining the advantageous properties of both materials to achieve both good wet grip and low rolling resistance
2Loss of energy
If low Tg polymers like BR are used to reduce rolling resistance, then rolling resistance is reduced, but wet grip deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the glass transition temperature parameter by controlling the ratio of low Tg polybutadiene to high Tg SBR, ensuring the blend maintains adequate Tg for wet grip while benefiting from the low rolling resistance of polybutadiene
Solution Approach 2:
The patent forms a composite material system where polybutadiene provides low rolling resistance and SBR provides wet grip, with the synergistic blend achieving both performance targets simultaneously
3Reliability
If resins are introduced to increase wet grip properties, then wet grip is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes or eliminates the resin component from the tread compound formulation, relying instead on the optimized SBR-polybutadiene blend to achieve both wet grip and low rolling resistance without the harmful side effects of resins
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 achieves improved wet grip and reduced rolling resistance simultaneously, maintaining performance across a wide range of conditions without compromising other properties, as evidenced by its tan delta curve and rebound values.
Implementation Method 1
a cross-linkable rubber composition comprising... a blocked mercaptosilane and/or an unblocked mercaptosilane
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cross-linkable rubber composition, a cross-linked rubber composition obtained by cross-linking such a rubber composition, a method of preparing a tyre and a tyre. In a cross-linkable rubber composition the cross-linkable rubber composition comprises, per hundred parts by weight of rubber (phr): ≥ 1 phr to ≤ 100 phr of a rubber component selected from the group of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), natural rubber (NR) or a mixture thereof; ≥ 1 phr to ≤ 50 phr of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) with a glass transition temperature of ≥ -30 °C (measured by DSC, according to ISO 22768), the composition further comprises an at least partially aliphatic resin component and the composition further comprises a blocked mercaptosilane and/or an unblocked mercaptosilane.