Technical report No. Application of dithiophosphates to improve dynamic properties in silica compounds Hans-Martin Issel, Martin Säwe, Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Mannheim, Germany [Contact: hans-martin.issel@rheinchemie.com martin.saewe@rheinchemie.com] Key words: Silica compounds, Rhenocure SDT/S, Rhenocure ZBOP/S, Rhenofit GE 1914, dithiophosphates, DPG replacement, dynamic properties, rolling resistance, wet skid, ice traction, viscosity, shelf life, processing. Abstract Dithiophosphates show numerous improvements when used in silica filled compounds, e.g. for tire treads (Technical Report No. 68). Some of the challenges when using these co-accelerators in silica compounds are fast cure and viscosity increase over shelf life. New synergistic combinations with a tailor-made new processing stabilizer Rhenofit GE 1914* help to overcome difficult mixing. Rhenocure SDT/S and Rhenocure ZBOP/S can substitute DPG in tire tread compounds. Very positive effects have been found with regard to heat stability, dynamic heat buildup as well as dynamic modulus and tan δ of the compound. A solution SBR/BR compound composed with a high load of silica, coupled with a disulfane type silane was mixed in three steps to achieve sufficient coupling. The formulation for testing is given in table 1. Mixing took place in a two-step internal mixing process and a final pass on the open mill. *) Rhenofit GE 1914 is the silica-bound form of GE187. The active ingredient is 7%.
Technical report No. Page Tab. 1: Test formulation, 3-pass mixing Component S-SBR BR Oil Silica Rhenofit TMQ Vulkanox 400 (6PPD) Wax Rhenogran DPG-80 96. 30 1 Rhenocure ZBOP/S 96. 30 1 Rhenocure SDT/S 96. 30 1 Rhenocure ZBOP/S + Rhenofit GE 1914 96. 30 1 Rhenogran ZnO-80 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 Stearic acid Si 7.... Rhenofit GE 1914* 4 Rhenogran S-80.1.1.1.1 Rhenogran CBS-80 Rhenogran DPG-80 Rhenocure ZBOP/S Rhenocure SDT/S.... *) Rhenofit GE 1914 is a new development product and a process stabilizer of Rhein Chemie. 1. Higher cross-linking density and faster curing The rheometer chart shows that the exchange of DPG by either dithiophosphate leads to an increase in cross-linking density, evident by a higher torque. The further addition of the silica-specific processing promoter, Rhenofit GE 1914, leads to a reduction of initial torque due to a lower viscosity and a higher curing rate (shorter t0, t90). The final torque however, remains high. Fig. 1: Rheometer curve @ 160 C 0 ZBOP SDT ZBOP/GE 1914 torque [N m] 1 10 0 0 10 3 40 0 60 cure time [ C] Higher cross-link density with either single component dithiophosphates or in combination with the new processing stabilizer Rhenofit GE 1914.
Technical report No. Page 3. Excellent storage stability and shelf life Measuring Mooney viscosity initially after mixing results in similar viscosity values for the system and the dithiophosphate accelerated systems. After 7 days and 1 days of shelf life, however, dithiophosphate systems tend to increase Fig. : Mooney viscosity before and after storage by 10-0 Mooney units. To maintain excellent processability and low viscosities over three weeks below the level of the initial value of the compound the addition of Rhenofit GE 1914 at the recommended level of -3 phr is highly effective. Mooney viscositiy [MU] 140 130 10 110 100 90 80 ZBOP ZBOP/GE 1914 ZBOP 1d ZBOP/GE 1914 1d 60 0 1 3 4 time [min] Mooney viscosity shows no significant increase over shelf life when used in combination with Rhenofit GE 1914. 3. Stable modulus and hardness at high temperatures Hardness turns out -3 ShA units higher than the system if DPG is replaced by dithiophosphates at a phr-equivalent level. When measuring ShA hardness at higher temperatures (100 C), dithiophosphate-cured compounds show almost no change in hardness while DPG cured compounds tend to soften, indicated by a reduction in hardness of about 1 ShA units. This means, hardness remains very stable between 3-100 C with advantages for the temperature independence of a compound under dynamic load (heat build-up). After aging 7 days at 100 C the compounds were hardening about the same degree as the system. This behavior correlates with modulus 100 and 00 data.
Technical report No. Page 4 ShA Fig. 3: Hardness before and after aging 80 7 6 60 0 3 C 100 C after aging 7d/100 C 4 40 ZBOP SDT ZBOP/GE 1914 Stable Shore A hardness over a wide temperature range (3-100 C) when dithiophosphates are used. The new process stabilizer Rhenofit GE 1914 further improves aging properties of the compound. 4. High tensile strength and improved heat stability The tensile strength and modulus 100 of dithiophosphate-accelerated systems is slightly higher than those of the system. As a result, elongation at break is slightly reduced. After aging 7 days at 100 C particularly SDT-cured compounds show widely unchanged tensile strength due to the sulfur donor capacity of SDT. The process stabilizer Rhenofit GE 1914 further improves aging properties of the compound. Fig. 4: Tensile strength and elongation Tensile strength [MPa] 18 16 14 1 10 8 6 4 TB TB 7d/100 C 0 ZBOP SDT ZBOP/GE 1914 Tensile strength is particularly stable when using Rhenocure SDT/S or applying the process stabilizer Rhenofit GE 1914.
Technical report No. Page. Dynamic heat build-up Compared to the compound, dithiophosphate-cured samples showed considerably less heat build-up, reduced Fig. : Dynamic heat build-up in the Goodrich flexometer ( C, 1 MPa) 16.0 14.0 dynamic creep and a lower permanent set than the system cured with DPG. 1.0 HBU [ C] 10.0 118.0 116.0 114.0 11.0 ZBOP SDT Heat build-up significantly reduced: dithiophosphates can improve dynamic properties of silica compounds. 6. Dynamic mechanical testing A look at the dynamic mechanical data (tan δ) shows a crossover of the tan δ curves of DPG systems with dithiophosphate systems in the temperature range around 0 C. Below this temperature the dithiophosphate systems provide better dampening of the compound thereby supporting wet grip and driving on snow or ice. Above that temperature dithiophosphate systems show a lower tan δ, hence contributing to a potentially improved rolling resistance. Fig. 6: Loss tangent (tan δ) at lower temperatures (10 Hz, % strain) 0. 0. ZBOP/S SDT/S 0.4 tan δ 0.4 0.3 0.3 0. -3-30 - -0-1 -10-0 temperature [ C] Dithiophosphates support improved wet skid, better traction and breaking on snow or ice.
Technical report No. Page 6 tan δ Fig. 7: tan δ at higher temperatures (10 Hz, % strain) 0.19 0.17 0.1 0.13 0.11 0.9 ZBOP SDT 0.7 0. 10 0 30 40 0 60 80 90 100 temperature [ C] Dithiophosphates reduce tan δ at higher temperatures and support the reduction of rolling resistance of a silica tread compound. Specifically interesting is the crossover of the system with the dithiophosphate systems in the temperature range of 0 C. With this specific property, dithiophosphates can offer advantages in the high temperature regime as well as in the low temperature regime of the dynamic modulus. 7. Conclusions Dithiophosphates can be utilized as potential alternatives to classic co-accelerators in silica compound cross-linking. They provide high cross-linking density. Their shelf life and viscosity is easily led by the use of specific process stabilizers like Rhenofit GE 1914. They show superior aging resistance and excellent high temperature stability of the vulcanizates. Moreover, they offer lower heat build-up and show advantages in dynamic behavior. Potential advantages for the use of Rhenocure SDT/S, Rhenocure ZBOP/S also in combination with Rhenofit GE 1914 in tire compounds are: Improved processing Shelf life stability Fast curing High temperature performance Improved aging resistance Reduced rolling resistance Improvements in wet skid and on ice
Technical report No. Page 7 Literature Hans-Martin Issel, Lothar Steger, Rhein Chemie Technical Report No. 68, Application of dithiophosphates in silicareinforced elastomer compounds R. N. Datta S. K. Mandal, Effect of different alkyl moities in thiophosphoryl disulfides on vulcanisation properties of unfilled silica filled rubber, RFP, 1/006 Volume 1, pp. 49- Liste der atemwegsirritativen Arbeitsstoffe (R37), No. 87 H.-J. Graf, H.-M. Issel, Rhein Chemie Technical Report No. 1, Re-evaluation of dithiophosphates as accelerators which do not form N-nitrosamines H.-J. Graf, A. Johansson, Rhein Chemie Technical Report No. 9, Discussion on the resistance to reversion of natural rubber with the help of thiophosphate cure systems Th. Früh, A. Johansson, Rhein Chemie Technical Report No. 61, Improved reversion resistance by using dithioate vulcanization systems in thick-section molded parts based on NR European Patent EP 110 81 European Patent EP 083 90 J. Kiesekamp, H.R. Schmidt, R.H. Schuster, M.L. Hallensleben, "Efficiency of sulfenamides and dithiophosphates in cross-linking polydiene Rubbers, Poster at the IRC 98, Paris A. R. Payne Journal of Applied Polymer Science 9, 34, (196)
Our technical advice - whether verbal, in writing or by way of trials - is given in good faith but without warranty, and this also applies where proprietary rights of third parties are involved. It does not release you from the obligation to test the products supplied by us as to their suitability for the intended processes and uses. The application, use and processing of the products are beyond our and, therefore, entirely your own responsibility. Should, in spite of this, liability be established for any damage, it will be limited to the value of the goods delivered by us and used by you. We will, of course, provide products of consistent quality within the scope of our General Conditions of Sale and Delivery. Rhenocure, Rhenofit and Rhenogran are registered trademarks of Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Germany. Si 7 is a trademark of Degussa AG, Germany. Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH Duesseldorfer Strasse 3-7 6819 Mannheim, Germany Phone: +49 (0)61-8907-0 Fax: +49 (0)61-8907-94 rubber.rcr@rheinchemie.com Rhein Chemie Japan Ltd. Marunouchi Kitaguchi, Bldg. 3 F 1-6- Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-000, Japan Phone: +81 (0)93-8041 Fax: +81 (0)93-8041 rubber.rcj@rheinchemie.com www.rheinchemie.com Rhein Chemie Corporation 14 Parker Court Chardon, OH 4404, USA Phone: +1-440-79 Fax: +1-440-8 rubber.rcc@rheinchemie.com Rhein Chemie (Qingdao) Ltd. 43 Siliubei Road Li Chang District Qingdao 66043, PR China Phone: +86-3-48-16 Fax: +86-3-48-961 rc.asia@rheinchemie.com G31/pdf/KR/07