Tyre Tread Rubber Composition Balancing Rolling Resistance and Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tyre manufacturers seek to improve rolling resistance without adversely affecting grip, particularly wet grip, in tyres using highly saturated diene elastomers.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition combining a highly saturated diene elastomer with a high-Tg resin, along with a reinforcing filler and vulcanization system, to achieve improved rolling resistance and a shifted compromise of rolling resistance/wet grip properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If highly saturated diene elastomer is used in tyre tread, then rolling resistance properties are improved, but wet grip properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the elastomer by using highly saturated diene elastomers with specific saturation levels (≥80% according to 1H-NMR), ethylene content (50-95 mol%), and glass transition temperature ranges (-50°C to -100°C). These parameter changes enable simultaneous improvement in rolling resistance and wet grip compared to conventional SBR elastomers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite rubber composition by combining highly saturated diene elastomer with specific plasticizing systems (including high-Tg resins with Tg ≥ 50°C and aliphatic hydrocarbon oils), reinforcing fillers (silica, carbon black), and vulcanization systems. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both low rolling resistance and high wet grip properties that neither component alone could achieve
2Reliability
If SBR elastomer is used in tyre tread, then wet grip properties are maintained, but rolling resistance properties worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention fundamentally changes the elastomer base from SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) to highly saturated diene elastomers with ≥80% saturation. This parameter change in chemical structure (reducing unsaturation from SBR's typical 20-30% to ≤20% in the new elastomer) enables simultaneous achievement of low rolling resistance and good wet grip, reversing the traditional performance trade-off
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition is based on at least an elastomer matrix predominantly comprising a highly saturated diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a vulcanization system, and a plasticizing system comprising a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg of between 50° C. and 120° C., an aliphatic proton content of greater than or equal to 95% and a number-average molar mass (Mn) of less than or equal to 800 g/mol; the highly saturated diene elastomer is a copolymer of ethylene and of a 1,3-diene in which the ethylene units represent at least 50 mol % of the monomer units of the copolymer.