The Effect of Silica/Carbon Black Filler Systems on the Fatigue Properties of the Tread Compound in Passenger Tires

Abstract

This research work is devoted to the investigation on the use of silica on the fatigue-to-failure property of a tire tread compound. A reference compound was frst designed in which 60 phr carbon black was used as the reinforcing fller. While keeping the total of fller content to be constant as 60 phr, three additional compounds with 5, 10 and 20 phr silica were then manufactured. The classical static and dynamic tests were carried out on appropriate samples made from these compounds to determine tensile strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, fatigue-to-failure, dynamical-mechanical properties and temperature rise due to heat build-up. The results showed that by replacing part of carbon black with equivalent amount of silica, a major increase in fatigue resistance is obtained to the point that 20 phr silica has the most signifcant effect when subsituting 5 and 10 phr silica. The DMTA analyses revealed that the best compromise between fatigue properties, rolling resistance and wet/ice traction can be achieved at 5 to 10 phr silica substitution.

Keywords

• tire tread
• fatigue resistance
• silica
• carbon black
• sbr