Tyre Tread Phenolic Plasticizer Wear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire treads face challenges in balancing low rolling resistance and high wear resistance while maintaining grip on various road conditions, with existing rubber compositions often compromising on these properties.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread composition featuring a diene elastomer, 50-150 phr of reinforcing filler, a crosslinking system, and a plasticizing system with a non-polymeric phenolic compound as a plasticizer, which improves rolling resistance and wear resistance without compromising grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rubber compositions are used to improve wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but rolling resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber compound by incorporating specific silicone oil compounds (polydimethylsiloxane with molecular weight 1000-5000) and phenolic plasticizers, while optimizing the ratio of silica to carbon black reinforcing fillers. This parameter optimization allows achieving both low rolling resistance (tan δ at 40°C ≤ 0.25) and high wear resistance (wear index ≥ 105), resolving the traditional trade-off between these two properties.
2Strength
If reinforcing filler content is increased to improve wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but cohesion properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses specific intermediary substances to mediate between the reinforcing fillers and the rubber matrix. Silicone oil compounds (polydimethylsiloxane) and phenolic plasticizers act as intermediaries that improve the interfacial adhesion between high levels of reinforcing fillers (120-180 parts per hundred rubber) and the rubber matrix, maintaining cohesion properties (elongation at break ≥ 60%, tensile strength ≥ 18 MPa) even with high filler content that provides wear resistance.
3Loss of energy
If rubber composition is optimized for low rolling resistance, then rolling resistance is improved, but wear resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material system combining multiple components: diene rubber base polymer, silicone oil compounds (polydimethylsiloxane), phenolic plasticizers, and a specific blend of reinforcing fillers (silica and carbon black). This composite formulation achieves the synergistic effect of low rolling resistance (through silicone oil's low hysteresis) and high wear resistance (through carbon black's reinforcing effect and silica's abrasion resistance), with the plasticizer maintaining matrix flexibility and cohesion.
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 cohesion properties, enhanced breaking elongation and energy, and maintained rolling resistance, demonstrating improved wear resistance and grip performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plasticizing system comprising at least more than 15 to 80 phr of a non-polymeric phenolic compound whose melting temperature is less than 170°C
Implementation Method 2
a crosslinking system
Implementation Method 3
50 to 150 phr of a reinforcing filler
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tyre, the tread of which includes a rubber composition including at least: a diene elastomer, 50 to 150 parts per hundred elastomer of a reinforcing filler, a cross-linking system, a plasticising system including greater than 15 and at most 80 parts per hundred elastomer of a non-polymeric phenolic compound, the melting temperature of which is less than 170°C. The use of phenolic plasticisers of which the melting temperature is less than 170°C makes it possible to obtain rubber compositions for tyre treads that have improved cohesion properties, and even significantly improved tyre wear properties, while maintaining low, or even negligible, rolling resistance and a good plasticising capacity.