Two-Layer Winter Tire Tread with Fixed Plasticizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Winter tires experience stiffening of the tread over time due to plasticizer diffusion, leading to reduced low-temperature flexibility and compromised traction and braking performance on icy and snowy roads.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle tire with a two-layer tread structure where the cap area contains a plasticizer that can be fixed by vulcanization, such as liquid rubber, and the base area uses a standard mineral oil-based plasticizer, preventing stiffening and maintaining softness throughout the tire's service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a winter tire uses a cap area with high plasticizer content to maintain softness and grip, then low-temperature flexibility and traction are improved, but the tread stiffens over time due to plasticizer diffusion into the base area
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is divided into two distinct layers: a cap area with high plasticizer content (5-15 phr) for softness and grip, and a base area with low plasticizer content for structural stability. This segmentation prevents plasticizer diffusion from affecting the entire tread, as the base layer acts as a barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
Different plasticizer concentrations are applied to different regions of the tread. The cap area receives high plasticizer content to ensure flexibility and traction on winter roads, while the base area maintains low plasticizer content to prevent excessive softening and maintain structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the cap rubber compound is made softer to improve grip on icy and snowy roads, then traction behavior is improved, but the tread stiffens over time reducing braking properties on wet roads
Solution Approach 1:
The tread is segmented into cap and base areas with distinct plasticizer concentrations. The cap area (5-15 phr plasticizer) provides softness for icy/snowy traction, while the base area (<5 phr plasticizer) maintains structural stability for reliable wet road braking performance over the tire's service life.
3Strength
If continuous cross-linking occurs in the rubber mixture under usage conditions, then the rubber structure is strengthened, but the tread stiffness increases particularly affecting low-temperature flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different plasticizer concentrations to different regions: the cap area (5-15 phr) maintains low-temperature flexibility despite cross-linking, while the base area (<5 phr) provides structural strength. This local differentiation allows both strength and flexibility to coexist in their respective regions.
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 solution effectively maintains low-temperature flexibility and improves traction and braking performance on winter roads by reducing the Shore A hardness of the cap area, ensuring consistent winter tire properties over the tire's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the cap and base mixtures are selected in such a way that the Shore A hardness of the cap rubber mixture is the same as the mileage of the tire increases
Implementation Method 2
The stiffening occurs because plasticizers are transferred from the tread and, if present, specifically from a cap area with a higher plasticizer concentration into components with a lower plasticizer concentration
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle tire, particularly winter tire is made of vulcanized tire rubber with two-layered tread in cap and base area, where different rubber mixtures are selected for cap and base areas. The shore hardness of the cap rubber mixture is increased with run achievement of the tire, when the tire is reduced. An independent claim is also included for a tread for a vehicle tire, which contains rubber compound of the cap area having a softener, which is fixed in the rubber compound by vulcanization and the cap area does not contain glyceride and factice.