Tyre Tread Compound with Dual Tg Elastomers for Snow Grip and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current all-season tires face challenges in achieving balanced performance on various road surfaces and weather conditions without compromising wear resistance, as lowering the glass transition temperature of tread compounds to improve snow grip negatively affects wet grip and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
A specific elastomeric composition comprising isoprene rubber and two styrene-butadiene rubbers with distinct glass transition temperatures, along with specific amounts of resin, plasticizing oil, reinforcing filler, and vulcanizing agents, creates a unique hysteresis pattern that enhances both snow and wet grip while maintaining wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the glass transition temperature of the tread compound is lowered to improve snow grip, then grip on snow is improved, but wear resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass transition temperatures of individual elastomeric polymers and their proportions in the compound. By selecting polymers with specific Tg ranges and adjusting their ratios, the invention achieves a compound Tg that optimizes both snow grip and wear resistance, resolving the contradiction between these two performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by formulating a tread compound consisting of multiple immiscible elastomeric polymers with different glass transition temperatures. This multi-component composite approach allows the compound to exhibit combined properties: low-temperature flexibility from lower-Tg polymers for snow grip, and high-temperature stability from higher-Tg polymers for wear resistance.
2Temperature
If plasticisers are added in high amounts to reduce the Tg of the tread compound, then the Tg is reduced, but wear and tear resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass transition temperatures of individual elastomeric polymers and their proportions in the compound. By selecting polymers with specific Tg ranges and adjusting their ratios, the invention achieves a compound Tg that optimizes both snow grip and wear resistance, resolving the contradiction between these two performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by formulating a tread compound consisting of multiple immiscible elastomeric polymers with different glass transition temperatures. This multi-component composite approach allows the compound to exhibit combined properties: low-temperature flexibility from lower-Tg polymers for snow grip, and high-temperature stability from higher-Tg polymers for wear resistance.
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 grip on snow and wet surfaces while maintaining wear resistance, with a double hysteresis peak pattern optimizing tire performance across different conditions.
Implementation Method 1
creates a unique hysteresis pattern that enhances both snow and wet grip while maintaining wear resistance
Implementation Method 2
The compound according to the invention is characterised by a particular hysteresis pattern: in fact, in addition to having a first hysteresis peak at low temperatures, which is advantageous for winter performance and for limiting wear, they show a second increase at higher temperatures, with improved effects in terms of road grip in the wet.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to elastomeric compositions and compounds for tyres, in particular for tyre treads, comprising elastomeric polymers in specific ratios and having particular Tg values, tyre components and tyres for vehicle wheels which comprise them. These compounds find particular application in all-season tyres as they give them good manoeuvrability on snow, grip in the wet and advantageously limited wear of the tread.