Materials for Replicating Pneumatic Tire Performance
15 patents in this list
Updated:
In the quest for sustainable alternatives, replicating the performance of pneumatic tires with eco-friendly materials is a pressing challenge. Traditional tire manufacturing relies heavily on fossil fuel-based components, raising environmental concerns and sustainability issues. The industry is now exploring materials that maintain performance while reducing environmental impact, focusing on recycled and bio-based components.
The primary challenge lies in balancing durability, elasticity, and resilience with new, greener materials. Professionals face the task of integrating bio-derived resins and fillers without compromising tire safety and longevity. The complexities of tire composition demand innovative approaches to match the performance of conventional materials.
This page details a range of strategies from recent research, showcasing tire structures with recycled rubber, bio-based resins, and renewable fibers. These solutions aim to replicate the performance of traditional tires while enhancing environmental sustainability. By adopting these materials, manufacturers can improve tire performance and reliability while reducing reliance on non-renewable resources.
1. Tire Construction Incorporating Recycled and Bio-Based Rubber with Silica and Carbon Black Fillers
GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER, THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2024
Sustainable tire design with reduced environmental impact by using recycled and bio-based materials in the rubber components. The tire has a tread with recycled or bio-based styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), natural rubber, polyisoprene, silica, and carbon black. The carcass plies have recycled or bio-based rubber coating with fillers like silica and carbon black. The tire also has recycled steel beads and vegetable oil plasticizers. The goal is to use more sustainable materials throughout the tire to reduce environmental footprint.
2. Rubber Tire Compound with Bio-Derived Resins, Fillers, and Processing Aids
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2023
Rubber tire compound with a majority of renewable content for sustainable tires. The compound contains bio-derived materials like resins, fillers, and processing aids instead of conventional fossil fuel-based ones. The bio-derived components are partially or fully substituted to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The compound has similar tire performance to conventional rubber compounds. The bio-derived materials can be sourced from renewable resources like vegetable oil, rice husks, and CO2 feedstocks.
3. Rubber Composition Incorporating Bio-Derived Resins and Fillers for Tire Components
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, 2023
Rubber composition for tire components with high renewable content. The composition replaces fossil-derived materials like resins and carbon black with biobased alternatives. It contains a majority of renewable materials like bio-derived resins, vegetable oil, and bio-based fillers like silica and carbon black. This allows creating sustainable tire components with reduced environmental impact.
4. Two-Wheeler Tire with Renewable Source-Derived Rubber Mixture and Dual Carcass Plies
CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2023
A two-wheeler tire, such as a bicycle tire, that has improved rolling resistance, wet grip, and wear resistance compared to conventional tires. The tire contains at least one component made from a rubber mixture with a substance derived from renewable sources like rice husk ash silica or tree resin. This allows reducing the use of conventional carbon black and other synthetic additives in the tire compound. The renewable materials provide comparable performance to traditional additives while addressing conflicting goals like rolling resistance vs grip. The tire can be a pneumatic design with a protective layer around the beads and dual carcass plies wrapping from the tread to the beads. The method involves making the renewable-containing rubber mixture and shaping it into a tire component, which is then assembled into the final tire.
5. Radial Tire Cap Ply with Eco-Friendly Cellulosic-Polyester Hybrid Cords
HANKOOK TIRE & TECH CO LTD, HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2022
Eco-friendly radial tires that improve noise, high-speed durability, and steering stability while reducing rolling resistance. The tires use hybrid cords made of cellulosic artificial fibers and polyester fibers instead of traditional aramid-polyamide hybrid cords in the cap ply. The new eco-friendly hybrid cords have a cellulose to polyester ratio of 1:5 to 5:1. They replace the aramid and polyamide 66 in the cap ply with biodegradable and recyclable materials. This allows using sustainable materials in the tires without sacrificing performance.
6. Composite Rubber Material Incorporating Ground Tire Particles via Ambient Grinding Process
COE WILLIAM B, 2021
A novel composite rubber material technology called PRISM Thermoplastic Rubber (PTR) that uses ground tires as a primary feedstock. The process involves grinding whole tires into small rubber particles using ambient conditions rather than cryogenic or wet methods. The ground tire rubber (GTR) particles are then compounded into a new rubber material with similar properties to virgin rubber. The PRISM PTR can be readily integrated into tire manufacturing using conventional methods and chemistry, providing a sustainable and cost-beneficial alternative to traditional tire production.
7. Biomass-Derived Rubber Composition with High Modern Carbon Content for Tire Manufacturing
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., 2020
Rubber composition for tires that uses biomass-derived rubber with high biomass content to reduce fossil fuel usage. The rubber composition contains a biomass-derived rubber made by polymerizing aromatic vinyl and dienes like butadiene and styrene. The biomass-derived rubber has a percent modern carbon (pMC) of 1% or more. This allows making tires with equivalent fuel efficiency and wet grip performance to conventional tires while meeting recycling society needs. The biomass-derived rubber can be obtained by microbes, plants, enzymes, etc. converting biomass compounds like ethanol, butanol, aldehydes, etc. into butadiene and styrene.
8. Tire with Recycled Rubber Outer Surface Layer for Enhanced Wear Resistance
Hangzhou Zhongqi New Material Technology Co., Ltd., 2019
Environmentally friendly wear-resistant tire made using recycled tire material. The tire has an outer surface layer made from recycled tire rubber. This layer provides wear resistance and reduces the need for new tire material. The inner layers are conventional tire rubber. The recycled tire layer improves wear performance while utilizing waste material.
9. Solid Tire Comprising Recycled Rubber and Polyurethane with Radiating Grooves and Steel Mesh
KONG YUNRONG, YUNRONG KONG, 2009
Environment-friendly solid tire for vehicles made from recycled rubber and polyurethane elastomer. The tire has a tread, hub, and outer sleeve. The hub is connected to the vehicle axle. The tread is made from recycled rubber and has a polyurethane outer layer. The tire is molded without air and encapsulated in the hub. It has features like radiating grooves, steel mesh, and calcium carbonate additive to reduce rolling resistance, wear, and heat generation. The solid tire eliminates the need for inner tubes and prevents toxic fill like sand. The design allows recycling waste rubber, improving environmental friendliness.
10. Rubber Composition with Diene Rubber and Biodegradable Plastic for Tire Treads
SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER IND LTD, 2007
Rubber composition for tire treads that improves dry grip performance while reducing reliance on petroleum resources. The composition contains a diene rubber like natural rubber and a biodegradable plastic. The biodegradable plastic, in an amount of 0.5-15 parts by weight per 100 parts of diene rubber, enhances the dry grip compared to a tread rubber composition mostly made of petroleum-derived materials. This provides an environmentally friendly alternative for tires as it reduces petroleum usage and prepares for future oil scarcity. The biodegradable plastic can be derived from renewable sources instead of fossil fuels.
11. Tire with Foam Rubber Layer Comprising Recycled Rubber for Enhanced Surface Roughness and Hardness
BRIDGESTONE CORP, 2007
Tire with improved ice performance, dry road grip, and wear resistance compared to conventional studless tires. The tire has a foam rubber layer containing recycled rubber on the road contact surface. The recycled rubber is foam rubber made from blending 1-30 parts recycled rubber with 100 parts new rubber containing a system polymer like natural rubber and polybutadiene. This foam rubber layer improves ice traction due to its rough surface. By using recycled rubber in the foam, the tire maintains roughness for ice grip while also improving hardness compared to pure foam for better dry road performance and wear resistance.
12. Tire Composed of Non-Petroleum Derived Materials with Plant and Mineral-Based Components
SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER IND LTD, 2007
Eco-tire made with 75% or more of non-petroleum resources to reduce reliance on petroleum-based materials. The tire replaces synthetic rubber, carbon black, petroleum oils, and synthetic fibers with materials derived from plants, minerals, shells, etc. This reduces the amount of petroleum resources used in tire production. The tire also uses a cord made of non-petroleum materials like rayon instead of synthetic fibers. The goal is to make a more environmentally friendly tire by substituting a significant portion of the petroleum-based components with resources from non-fossil sources.
13. Tire Composition Incorporating Non-Petroleum-Based Materials
SUMITOMO RUBBER IND, SUMITOMO RUBBER IND LTD, 2004
Eco-tire made with 75% or more of non-petroleum resources to reduce reliance on petroleum-based raw materials. The tire replaces petroleum-derived components like synthetic rubber, carbon black, petroleum oil, and synthetic fiber with materials from sources like natural rubber, inorganic fillers, vegetable oils, and natural fibers. This allows making tires with a lower carbon footprint and less dependence on finite petroleum resources.
14. Waste Plastic and Ground Rubber Tire Composite with Adhesive Resin Integration
HAN CHOON, 2003
Waste plastic/ground rubber tire composite and molded products using this composite. The composite is made by mixing 10-50% waste tire powder with waste polyethylene, then adding a specific adhesive resin made from polypropylene, polyolefin resin, and maleic anhydride. The composite is melted and mixed at 130-180°C. This composite has improved properties compared to just mixing waste plastic and tire powder. The composite can be molded into shapes like plates or tubes using injection or extrusion processes. The composite and molded products provide a recycling option for waste tires and plastics that is more practical and has better properties than existing methods.
15. Tire Composition Utilizing Predominantly Non-Petroleum-Based Materials
SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD, 2003
Eco-tire made using a high percentage of non-petroleum resources instead of traditional petroleum-based materials. The tire aims to replace 75% or more of the petroleum-based raw materials like synthetic rubber, carbon black, petroleum oils, and synthetic fibers with materials derived from non-petroleum sources like plant materials, minerals, and natural resources. This reduces reliance on finite petroleum resources and addresses environmental concerns.
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