Influence of physical and chemical polymer-filler bonds on wet skid resistance and related properties of passenger car tire treads

摘要

Knowledge about the influence of rubber – filler interactions on the wet skid behavior oftire treads is insufficient, in order to quickly develop new compounds with improved wetskid performance. The rubber compound used for a tire tread is in fact a compositematerial of which the dynamic properties can be adjusted over a relatively broad rangeby modification of the polymer – filler interaction. In case of silica reinforced rubber, dueto silanol-groups present on its surface, it posesses unique opportunities to control thechemistry of the polymer-filler interface. Control over the polymer-filler interface isrealized by chemical modification of the silica surface. In order to achieve thismodification, different silane coupling agents must be applied. By changing the type ofcoupling agent, different molecular structures can be obtained which lead to changes inmacroscopic material properties including wet skid resistance. A better understanding ofone of the influencing factors, the polymer-filler interaction and it’s influence on wet skidresistance helps to answer the central question: Which type of polymer-filler bondsgovern wet skid phenomena?In this paper, the effect of physical and chemical polymer-filler bonds on themacroscopic dynamic properties of a silica reinforced tire tread compound, including wetskid resistance are discussed. In order to obtain different bond types, various silanes areused. The influence of the different silane types on the other properties of the materialwill also be discussed.