When additives become functional, new possibilities emerge!
Advancements in tire technology are motivated by continually evolving market expectations. The need to contribute to vehicle efficiency, either by reduced fuel consumption in combustion engine vehicles or the switch to e-vehicle technologies with associated changes in tire performance criteria are often cited as key challenges facing tire developers.Polymer producers have responded to the changing tire industry expectations, their innovations take into account a more reactive functionality within polymer architecture, and this is closely matched by increasingly greater degrees of filler surface chemistry. As a result, tire compound properties may now be tailored to meet quite specific tire performance targets.
Tire processing methods also underwent progressive stages of modernisation in recent years, for example, more sophisticated reactive mixing technology together with high-speed extrusion systems allowing for direct extrusion onto the building drum become established as cost effective production routes for many of the major producers.
These advancements however bring about their own conflicts, processing pathways involving multiple stages, often with the ability to rework compound or adjust rheological properties by additional time or energy input during the process are no longer viable options for most tire producers. It has thus become necessary to achieve processability through an increasingly narrow operating window.
The use of process additive chemicals in an attempt to overcome the processing limitations observed gives rise to further conflicts; Lubricant additives might improve compound surface appearance, however, green strength will probably further reduce due to the unwanted softening effect. The same is true for release additives where lower tack unfortunately remains at a higher value than the also lowered tensile strength of the compound.
The development team at Schill + Seilacher has recognised the need to decouple conflicting performance characteristics found within conventional process additive chemistries. As a result, innovation within our Struktol® range offers tire compounders opportunities to achieve processability without compromise.
An example of significant improvement in extrusion performance when using Struktol® HT 300 in a silica filled tread compound. This innovative Struktol additive acts to decouple the conflicting influences of green strength and viscosity. As a result, high performance compounds gain significant benefit.
