EP3233997A1

EP3233997A1 - Reinforced rubber composition for a tyre

Info

Publication number: EP3233997A1
Application number: EP15808609.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vincent Abad; Romain LIBERT
Original assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland; Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA; Michelin Recherche et Technique SA France
Current assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA
Priority date: 2014-12-15
Filing date: 2015-12-14
Publication date: 2017-10-25
Also published as: FR3029929B1; WO2016096689A1; US20180355153A1; CN107001718A; FR3029929A1; JP2018500451A

Abstract

The invention relates to a tyre comprising at least one rubber composition made from at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a plasticizing system and a cross-linking system, characterized in that the composition comprises hexagonal boron nitride having a BET specific surface area greater than or equal to 10 m²/g as the reinforcing filler with a content from 30 to 350 parts per hundred of elastomer, phr, and a coupling agent capable of binding the boron nitride to the diene elastomer.

Description

REINFORCED RUBBER COMPOSITION FOR PNEUMATIC

The present invention relates to reinforced diene rubber compositions for the manufacture of tires or semi-finished products for tires, in particular to the treads of these tires.

In order to obtain the optimum reinforcing properties conferred by a load in a tire tread and thus a high wear resistance, it is known that it is generally appropriate for this filler to be present in the elastomeric matrix under final form that is both finely divided possible and distributed in the most homogeneous way possible. However, such conditions can be achieved only to the extent that this charge has a very good ability, on the one hand to incorporate into the matrix during mixing with the elastomer and to deagglomerate, on the other hand to to disperse homogeneously in this matrix.

Since fuel savings and the need to protect the environment have become a priority, it has been necessary to produce tires with reduced rolling resistance without penalizing their wear resistance. This has been made possible in particular by the discovery of rubber compositions reinforced with specific inorganic fillers described as "reinforcing", in particular so-called "highly dispersible" silicas, capable of competing from the reinforcing point of view with a conventional grade carbon black. pneumatic, while offering these compositions a lower hysteresis, synonymous with a lower rolling resistance for the tires comprising them. However, the interest remains constant to discover new reinforcing fillers that can be an alternative to highly dispersible silicas.

In addition, it is important in the tires to reduce the very significant internal heating of the reinforcing belt which can lead to a change in its normal operation or degradation of the tire. It is therefore necessary to be able to accompany these solutions by a strong improvement of the heat dissipation through the tread, thus to improve the thermal conductivity properties. Some solutions have been proposed, consisting of using reinforcing fillers whose thermal conductivity properties are recognized such as carbon blacks derived from acetylene. Thus, for example, the publication EP 1 767 570 proposes various "more conventional" carbon blacks, carbon blacks derived from acetylene and silica in treads associated with high levels of plasticizers (of the order 100 parts per hundred parts by weight of elastomer, phr). However, the use of such amount of plasticizers leads to a degradation of the mechanical and hysteretic properties of the treads thus obtained.

Another solution proposed by the publication US 2010/0000650, consists in a tire rubber composition to be added to the reinforcing filler, in particular to carbon black, or to partially replace this filler with boron nitride to improve the thermal conductivity.

However no complete replacement of the reinforcing filler is envisaged, the skilled person knowing that such a solution would lead to a degradation of the mechanical properties of the composition concerned. Indeed, the method for obtaining rubber compositions containing boron nitride as described in this invention would lead to a reduction in mechanical properties and a degradation of the wear resistance of the compositions thus obtained. The Applicant has surprisingly discovered that boron nitrides may constitute, by themselves, contrary to the prior art of the person skilled in the art, new reinforcing fillers for tire rubber compositions capable of competing with silicas, and allowing to obtain at the same time improved properties of conductivity without degrading the other properties of the composition. In particular surprisingly these compositions have a hysteresis much lower than that of a composition comprising, as reinforcing filler, silica.

The subject of the invention is at least one rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a plasticizer system and a crosslinking system, characterized in that the composition comprises hexagonal boron nitride having a surface specific BET greater than or equal to 10 m ² / g as a reinforcing filler with a content ranging from 30 to 350 parts per hundred parts of elastomer, pce, and a coupling agent capable of binding boron nitride to the elastomer diene. Preferably, the boron nitride has a specific surface area greater than or equal to 15 m ² / g, more preferably greater than or equal to 20 m ² / g.

Advantageously, the diene elastomer is chosen from the group consisting of polybutadienes, synthetic polyisoprenes, natural rubber, butadiene copolymers, isoprene copolymers and mixtures of these elastomers.

In particular, the diene elastomer represents at least 50% by weight of all the elastomers present in the composition.

The invention also relates to a tire comprising a composition as described above, which at least partially constitutes the tread. I. MEASUREMENTS AND TESTS USED

BET specific surface area

The specific surface area ("mass area") BET of the boron nitride particles is determined by gas adsorption using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method described in "The Journal of the American Chemical Society" Vol. 60, page 309, February 1938), more precisely according to the French standard NF ISO 9277 of December 1996 (multipoint volumetric method (5 points) - gas: nitrogen - degassing: time at 160 ° C - relative pressure range p / po: 0.05 to 0.17].

Thermal diffusivity

The scatimetry experiment consists of measuring the diffusivity of our material. Diffusion corresponds to the surface velocity of penetration and attenuation of a thermal wave in a medium.

D = to / (pC) (in m ² / s)

Or

λ is the thermal conductivity of the material, in [W-rn ¹ -K ^"1 ]

p is the density of the material, in [kg.m ³ ]

C is the specific thermal capacity of the material, in [J.kg '.K ¹ ]:

The measurement is performed on a NETZSCH LFA447 instrument. The principle of measurement is based on a rubber sample that is subjected to a preset flash of a Xenon lamp. The capacitor enables the lamp to be supplied with a voltage of between 190 V and 304 V. The Xenon lamp emits a flash which causes a rise in temperature at the sample level. An infrared sensor detects the rise in temperature and delivers a voltage. This voltage can be amplified if its amplitude is not sufficient. The output thermogram allows the determination of diffusivity from the analysis software. The software is based on the Cape-Lehman model considering the total integration of the energy emitted.

Sample preparation:

Cutting samples:

From baked mix plates approximately 2 mm thick, a 12 mm diameter disc should be punched out.

Homogenization of samples Once the samples have been cut, 3 layers of graphite must be applied in order to obtain homogeneous and conductive measurement surfaces.

The application of graphite varnish is done by means of a rapid spray at about thirty centimeters of the sample.

Thickness of the samples:

The thickness of the samples is important for determining the diffusivity.

The measurement of the thickness of the sample is carried out using a Mitutoyo micrometer, accurate to a micron.

Traction tests

These tensile tests make it possible to determine the modulus of elasticity and the properties at break and are based on the French standard NF T 46-002 of September 1988.

Traction data processing also allows the modulus curve to be plotted as a function of elongation. The module used here is the nominal secant modulus (or apparent) measured in first elongation, calculated by reducing to the initial section of the specimen. The nominal secant moduli (or apparent stresses, in MPa) at 10%, 100% and 300% elongation noted MSA10, MSA100 and MSA300 are measured at first elongation at 23 ° C. ± 2 ° C.

Dynamic Properties

The dynamic properties tan (δ) _max is measured on a viscoanalyzer (Metravib VA4000) according to ASTM D 5992-96. The response of a sample of vulcanized composition (cylindrical specimen 4 mm in thickness and 400 mm ² in section), subjected to a sinusoidal stress in alternating simple shear, at the frequency of 10 Hz, is recorded under normal conditions. temperature (23 ° C.) according to ASTM D 1349-99, or, as the case may be, at a different temperature, in the examples the measurements are carried out at 23 ° C. A strain amplitude sweep of 0.1%) is carried out at 45% o (forward cycle) and then from 45% to 0.1% (return cycle). The result exploited is the loss factor tan (ô). For the return cycle, the maximum value of tan (δ) observed, denoted tan (δ) _max ,

II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tire comprising at least one rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a plasticizer and a crosslinking system, characterized in that the composition comprises hexagonal boron nitride "of nanometric size "as a charge reinforcing agent with a content ranging from 30 to 250 parts per hundred parts of elastomer, phr, and a coupling agent capable of binding boron nitride to the diene elastomer.

In the present description, unless expressly indicated otherwise, all the percentages (%) indicated are% by weight. On the other hand, any range of values designated by the expression "between a and b" represents the range of values from more than a to less than b (i.e. terminals a and b excluded) while any range of values designated by the term "from a to b" means the range from a to b (i.e., including the strict limits a and b).

Diene elastomer

By elastomer or "diene" rubber, it is to be understood in a known manner that one or more elastomers derived from at least a part (ie, a homopolymer or a copolymer) of monomers dienes (monomers bearing two carbon-carbon double bonds , conjugated or not).

These diene elastomers can be classified into two categories: "essentially unsaturated" or "essentially saturated". The term "essentially unsaturated" is generally understood to mean a diene elastomer derived at least in part from conjugated diene monomers, having a level of units or units of diene origin (conjugated dienes) which is greater than 15% (mol%); Thus, diene elastomers such as butyl rubbers or copolymers of dienes and alpha-olefins of the EPDM type do not fall within the above definition and may in particular be described as "substantially saturated" diene elastomers ( low or very low diene origin, always less than 15%). In the category of "essentially unsaturated" diene elastomers, the term "highly unsaturated" diene elastomer is particularly understood to mean a diene elastomer having a content of units of diene origin (conjugated dienes) which is greater than 50%.

Given these definitions, the term "diene elastomer" can be understood more particularly to be used in the compositions according to the invention:

(a) - any homopolymer obtained by polymerization of a conjugated diene monomer having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms;

(b) - any copolymer obtained by copolymerization of one or more conjugated dienes with each other or with one or more vinyl aromatic compounds having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms;

(c) - a ternary copolymer obtained by copolymerization of ethylene, an α-olefin having 3 to 6 carbon atoms with a non-conjugated diene monomer having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, for example elastomers obtained from ethylene, propylene with a non-conjugated diene monomer of the aforementioned type such as in particular 1,4-hexadiene, ethylidene norbornene, dicyclopentadiene; (d) - a copolymer of isobutene and isoprene (butyl rubber), as well as the halogenated versions, in particular chlorinated or brominated, of this type of copolymer.

Although it applies to any type of diene elastomer, the person skilled in the tire art will understand that the present invention is preferably implemented with essentially unsaturated diene elastomers, in particular of the type (a) or (b). ) above.

By way of conjugated dienes 1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, 2,3-di (C 1 -C 5) alkyl-1,3-butadienes, such as for example 2 3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2,3-diethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-3-ethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-3-isopropyl-1, 3-butadiene, aryl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2,4-hexadiene. Suitable vinyl aromatic compounds are, for example, styrene, ortho-, meta-, para-methylstyrene, the "vinyl-toluene" commercial mixture, paratertiobutylstyrene, methoxystyrenes, chlorostyrenes, vinylmesitylene, divinylbenzene and vinylnaphthalene.

The copolymers may contain between 99% and 20% by weight of diene units and between 80% and 80% by weight of vinylaromatic units.

The abovementioned elastomers may have any microstructure which is a function of the polymerization conditions used, in particular the presence or absence of a modifying and / or randomizing agent and the amounts of modifying and / or randomizing agent used. The elastomers can be for example block, statistical, sequenced, microsequenced, and be prepared in dispersion or in solution; they may be coupled and / or starred or functionalized with a coupling agent and / or starring or functionalization. For coupling with carbon black, there may be mentioned, for example, functional groups comprising a C-Sn bond or amine functional groups such as aminobenzophenone for example; for coupling to a reinforcing inorganic filler such as silica, mention may be made, for example, of silanol or polysiloxane functional groups having a silanol end (as described for example in FR 2 740 778 or US Pat. No. 6,013,718 and WO 2008/141702) , alkoxysilane groups (as described for example in FR 2,765,882 or US 5,977,238), carboxylic groups (as described for example in WO 01/92402 or US 6,815,473, WO 2004/096865 or US 2006 / 0089445) or polyether groups (as described for example in EP 1 127 909 or US 6,503,973, WO 2009/000750 and WO 2009/000752).

Functional elastomers that may be mentioned are those prepared by the use of a functional initiator, especially those carrying an amine or tin function (see, for example, WO 2010072761).

As other examples of functionalized elastomers, mention may also be made of elastomers (such as SBR, BR, NR or IR) of the epoxidized type. The diene elastomer of the composition in accordance with the invention is preferably chosen from the group of highly unsaturated diene elastomers consisting of polybutadienes (abbreviated as "BR"), synthetic polyisoprenes (IR) and natural rubber (NR). butadiene copolymers, isoprene copolymers and mixtures of these elastomers. Such copolymers are more preferably selected from the group consisting of butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBR), isoprene-butadiene copolymers (BIR), isoprene-styrene copolymers (SIR) and isoprene-copolymers. butadiene-styrene (SBIR). According to one particular embodiment, the diene elastomer is predominantly (ie, for more than 50 phr) an SBR, whether it is an emulsion-prepared SBR ("ESBR") or an SBR prepared in solution ("SSBR"), or a blend (mixture) SBR / BR, SBR / NR (or SBR / IR), BR / NR (or BR / IR), or SBR / BR / NR (or SBR / BR / IR). In the case of an SBR elastomer (ESBR or SSBR), an SBR having an average styrene content, for example between 10% and 35% by weight, or a high styrene content, for example 35 to 35% by weight, is used in particular. 55%>, a vinyl content of the butadiene part of between 15%> and 70%>, a content (%> molar) in trans-1,4 bonds of between 15%> and 75%> and a Tg included between -10 ° C and -65 ° C, preferably greater than or equal to -50 ° C.

Preferably, the diene elastomer of the composition represents at least 50% by weight of all the elastomers present in the composition.

The elastomeric matrix of the composition according to the invention more preferably comprises at least one SBR with a content ranging from 60 to 100 phr, more preferably from 80 to 100 phr.

In particular the SBR can be used in a blend with natural rubber or a synthetic polyisoprene present at a level ranging from 1 to 40 phr, and preferably ranging from 5 to 25 phr.

The composition according to the invention may contain one or more synthetic elastomers other than diene, or even with polymers other than elastomers, for example thermoplastic polymers. Reinforcing charge

The composition in accordance with the invention comprises, at least as a reinforcing filler, hexagonal boron nitride of average nanometric size, typically from 1 to 500 nm, preferably from 5 to 350 nm and even more preferably from 10 to 250 nm. .

Boron nitrides whose BET surface area is greater than or equal to 10 m ² / g, preferably greater than or equal to 15 m ² / g and even more preferably greater than or equal to 20 m ² / g, are suitable for the invention.

As boron nitride that is suitable for the invention, mention may be made of boron nitrides sold by MK Impex Corp. under the trade name "MK-hBN-N70" having a BET surface area of 25m ² / g and an object size of 70nm and "MK-hBN-050" having a BET surface area of 20m ² / g and a size 500nm object, by ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co under the trade name "Boronid SCPI".

Advantageously, boron nitride represents the majority reinforcing filler, and preferably boron nitride is the only reinforcing filler.

Boron nitride has a mean nanometric size, that is to say strictly less than 1 micrometer. More particularly, boron nitride is chosen with an average size of less than or equal to 500 nanometers. However, boron nitride can be used in blending with other fillers, in particular with an organic filler and / or an inorganic filler.

As organic filler, especially carbon blacks, especially reinforcing carbon blacks of the series 100, 200 or 300 (ASTM grades), such as blacks NI 15, N134, N234, N326, N330, N339, N347 , N375, or, depending on the intended applications, blacks of higher series (for example N400, N660, N683, N772).

By "reinforcing inorganic filler" must be understood here, in known manner, any inorganic or mineral filler, regardless of its color and origin (natural or synthetic), also called "white" charge, "clear" charge or "black non-black" charge as opposed to carbon black, this inorganic filler being capable of reinforcing on its own, without any other means than an intermediate coupling agent, a rubber composition intended for the manufacture of a tread of tires, in other words apt to replace, in its function of reinforcement, a conventional carbon black tire grade for tread. Such a filler is generally characterized by the presence of functional groups, in particular hydroxyl (-OH), at its surface, thereby requiring the use of an agent or coupling system intended to ensure a stable chemical bond between the isoprene elastomer and said charge.

Preferably, the reinforcing inorganic filler is a filler of the silica or alumina, silica-alumina or titanium oxide type or a mixture of these types of fillers. The silica (SiO ₂ ) used may be any reinforcing silica known to those skilled in the art, in particular any precipitated or fumed silica having a BET surface and a CTAB specific surface area both less than 450 m ² / g, preferably 30 to 400 m ² / g. Preferably, the total reinforcing filler content ranges from 30 to 350 phr, preferably from 50 to 300 phr, more preferably from 60 to 250 phr.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the boron nitride is the majority reinforcing filler of the composition, preferably the boron nitride is the only reinforcing filler of the composition.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the boron nitride is used in a blend with another reinforcing filler, this other reinforcing filler being present in the composition with a content of less than or equal to 30 phr.

To the reinforcing filler described above, may also be added, depending on the intended application, inert fillers (ie non-reinforcing) such as clay particles, bentonite, talc, chalk, kaolin with a rate of less than or equal to 10 pce and preferably less than or equal to 5 phr.

Coupling agent

In order to couple the reinforcing inorganic fillers to the diene elastomer, an at least bifunctional coupling agent (or bonding agent) is used in a well known manner intended to ensure a sufficient chemical and / or physical connection between the inorganic filler. (surface of its particles) and the diene elastomer. In particular, organosilanes or at least bifunctional polyorganosiloxanes are used.

Surprisingly, the Applicant has found that the presence of coupling agents conventionally used with inorganic fillers such as silica, allowed in combination with boron nitride to improve the hysteresis and erosion resistance properties of the corresponding rubber composition.

In particular, polysulfide silanes, called "symmetrical" or "asymmetrical" silanes according to their particular structure, are used, as described for example in the applications WO03 / 002648 (or US 2005/016651) and WO03 / 002649 (or US 2005/016650).

Particularly suitable, but not limited to, polysulfide silanes having the following general formula (I): (I) Z - A - S _x - A - Z, wherein:

x is an integer of 2 to 8 (preferably 2 to 5);

the symbols A, which are identical or different, represent a divalent hydrocarbon radical (preferably a C ₁ -C 18 alkylene group or a C ₆ -C ₁₂ arylene group, more particularly a C ₁ -C ₁₀ alkylene, especially C ₁ -C ₁₀ alkylene,

C ₄ , especially propylene);

the symbols Z, identical or different, correspond to one of the three formulas below:

R1 R1 R2

-Si-R1; - Si- R2; - Si- R2,

R2 R2 in which:

the radicals R ¹ , which may be substituted or unsubstituted, which are identical to or different from one another, represent a C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 5 -C 18 cycloalkyl or C ₆ -C ₁₈ aryl group (preferably C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl groups), cyclohexyl or phenyl, in particular alkyl, C1-C _4, more particularly methyl and / or ethyl).

the radicals R ² , substituted or unsubstituted, which are identical to or different from each other, represent a C ₁ -C 18 alkoxyl or C ₅ -C 18 cycloalkoxyl group (preferably a group chosen from C ₁ -C ₈ alkoxyls and C ₅ -C ₈ cycloalkoxyls); more preferably still a group selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkoxyls, in particular methoxyl and ethoxyl).

In the case of a mixture of polysulfurized alkoxysilanes corresponding to the formula (I) above, especially common commercially available mixtures, the average value of the "x" is a fractional number preferably between 2 and 5, more preferably close to 4. But the invention can also be advantageously implemented for example with disulfide alkoxysilanes (x = 2). By way of examples of polysulphide silanes, mention may be made more particularly of bis (C 1 -C 4 alkoxy-C 1 -C 4 alkylsilyl-C 1 -C 4 alkyl) polysulfides (especially disulfides, trisulphides or tetrasulfides), as for example polysulfides of bis (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) or bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl). Among these compounds, bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, abbreviated to TESPT, of formula [(C ₂ H ₅ O) ₃ Si (CH ₂ ) 3 S 2] 2 or bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, in abbreviated form, is especially used. TESPD, of formula [(C ₂ H ₅ O) 3 Si (CH 2) 3 S] 2. Mention may also be made, by way of preferred examples, of polysulfides (in particular disulphides, trisulphides or tetrasulfides) of bis- (monoalkoxyl (Ci-C ₄ ) -dialkyl (Ci-C ₄ ) silylpropyl), more particularly bis-monoethoxydimethylsilylpropyl tetrasulfide. as described in the aforementioned patent application WO 02/083782 (or US Pat. No. 7,217,751).

By way of example of coupling agents other than a polysulphurized alkoxysilane, particular mention may be made of bifunctional POS (polyorganosiloxanes) or hydroxysilane polysulfides (R ² = OH in formula I above) as described by US Pat. for example in patent applications WO 02/30939 (or US Pat. No. 6,774,255), WO 02/31041 (or US 2004/051210), and WO2007 / 061550, or else silanes or POS bearing functional azo-dicarbonyl groups, such as as described for example in patent applications WO 2006/125532, WO 2006/125533, WO 2006/125534.

As examples of other sulphurized silanes, mention may be made, for example, of silanes carrying at least one thiol function (-SH) (called mercaptosilanes) and / or of at least one blocked thiol function, as described for example in patents or patent applications US 6,849,754, WO 99/09036, WO 2006/023815, WO 2007/098080, WO 2010/072685 and WO 2008/055986.

Of course, it would also be possible to use mixtures of the coupling agents described above, as described in particular in the aforementioned application WO 2006/125534.

The level of coupling agent is advantageously less than 20 phr, it being understood that it is generally desirable to use as little as possible. Typically, the level of coupling agent represents from 0.05% to 10% by mass relative to the amount of boron nitride, preferably from 0.1 to 7% by weight and even more preferably from 0.2 to 5% by mass. .

This level is easily adjusted by those skilled in the art according to the filler rate used in the composition. Plasticizing system

The rubber compositions of the invention use a plasticizer system which may consist in particular of a plasticizing oil and / or a plasticizing resin.

Thus, these compositions comprise an extension oil (or plasticizing oil) whose usual function is to facilitate the implementation by a lowering of the Mooney plasticity. At room temperature (23 ° C), these oils, more or less viscous, are liquids (that is to say, as a reminder, substances having the ability to eventually take the shape of their container), as opposed in particular to resins or rubbers which are inherently solid. Preferably, the extender oil is chosen from the group consisting of polyolefinic oils (that is to say from the polymerization of olefins, monoolefms or diolefms), paraffinic oils, naphthenic oils (low or high viscosity), aromatic oils, mineral oils, and mixtures of these oils. The number-average molecular mass (Mn) of the extender oil is preferably between 200 and 25,000 g / mol, more preferably between 300 and 10,000 g / mol. For masses Mn too low, there is a risk of migration of the oil outside the composition, while too high masses can lead to excessive stiffening of this composition. A mass Mn of between 350 and 4000 g / mol, in particular between 400 and 3000 g / mol, has proved to be an excellent compromise for the intended applications, in particular for use in a tire.

The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the extender oil is determined by SEC, the sample being solubilized beforehand in tetrahydrofuran at a concentration of about 1 g / l; then the solution is filtered on 0.45 μιη porosity filter before injection. The equipment is the "WATERS alliance" chromatographic chain. The elution solvent is tetrahydrofuran, the flow rate of 1 ml / min, the temperature of the system of 35 ° C and the analysis time of 30 min. We use a set of two columns "WATERS" of denomination "STYRAGEL HT6E". The injected volume of the solution of the polymer sample is 100 μΐ. The detector is a "WATERS 2410" differential refractometer and its associated software for the exploitation of chromatographic data is the "WATERS MILLENIUM" system. The calculated average molar masses relate to a calibration curve made with polystyrene standards. The rubber compositions of the invention may also use a plasticizing hydrocarbon resin whose Tg, glass transition temperature, is greater than 20 ° C and whose softening point is less than 170 ° C. as explained in detail below.

In a manner known to those skilled in the art, the term "plasticizing resin" is reserved in this application, by definition, to a compound which is solid on the one hand at room temperature (23 ° C.) (as opposed to a compound liquid plasticizer such as an oil), on the other hand compatible (that is to say miscible with the rate used, typically greater than 5 phr) with the rubber composition for which it is intended, so as to act as a true diluent.

Hydrocarbon resins are polymers well known to those skilled in the art, which are therefore miscible in nature in elastomer compositions when they are further qualified as "plasticizers".

They have been extensively described in the patents or patent applications cited in the introduction to this memo, as well as, for example, in R. Mildenberg's Hydrocarbon Resins, M. Zander and G. Collin (New York, VCH, 1997, ISBN 3-527-28617-9) of which chapter 5 is devoted to their applications, in particular in pneumatic rubber (5.5 "Rubber Tires and Mechanical Goods").

They may be aliphatic, naphthenic, aromatic or else of the aliphatic / naphthenic / aromatic type, that is to say based on aliphatic and / or naphthenic and / or aromatic monomers. They may be natural or synthetic, whether or not based on petroleum (if so, also known as petroleum resins). They are preferably exclusively hydrocarbon-based, that is to say they contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Preferably, the plasticizing hydrocarbon resin has at least one, more preferably all, of the following characteristics:

a number-average molecular mass (Mn) of between 400 and 2000 g / mol;

a polymolecularity index (Ip) of less than 3 (booster: Ip = Mw / Mn with Mw weight average molecular weight).

More preferably, this plasticizing hydrocarbon resin has at least one, still more preferably all, of the following characteristics: a Tg greater than 20 ° C;

a mass Mn of between 500 and 1500 g / mol;

an index Ip less than 2.

The glass transition temperature Tg is measured in a known manner by DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), according to the ASTM D3418 (1999) standard, and the softening point ("softening point") is measured according to the ASTM E-28 standard.

The macrostructure (Mw, Mn and Ip) of the hydrocarbon resin is determined by steric exclusion chromatography (SEC): solvent tetrahydrofuran; temperature 35 ° C; concentration 1 g / 1; flow rate 1 ml / min; filtered solution on 0.45 μιη porosity filter before injection; Moore calibration with polystyrene standards; set of 3 "WATERS" columns in series ("STYRAGEL" HR4E, HR1 and HR0.5); differential refractometer detection ("WATERS 2410") and its associated operating software ("WATERS EMPOWER").

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the plasticizing hydrocarbon resin is chosen from the group consisting of homopolymer or copolymer resins of cyclopentadiene (abbreviated as CPD) or dicyclopentadiene (abbreviated as DCPD), terpene homopolymer or copolymer resins, C5 homopolymer or copolymer resins, and mixtures of these resins. Among the above copolymer resins are preferably used those selected from the group consisting of copolymer resins (D) CPD / vinylaromatic, copolymer resins (D) CPD / terpene, copolymer resins (D) CPD / cut C5, terpene / vinylaromatic copolymer resins, C5 / vinylaromatic cut copolymer resins, and mixtures of these resins.

The term "terpene" includes, in a known manner, the alpha-pinene, beta- pinene and limonene monomers; preferably, a limonene monomer is used which is in a known manner in the form of three possible isomers: L-limonene (laevorotatory enantiomer), D-limonene (dextrorotatory enantiomer), or dipentene, racemic of the dextrorotatory enantiomers and levorotatory.

Examples of suitable vinyl aromatic monomers are styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, ortho-, meta-, para-methylstyrene, vinyl-toluene, para-tertiarybutylstyrene, methoxystyrenes, chlorostyrenes, vinylmesitylene and divinylbenzene. , vinyl naphthalene, any vinylaromatic monomer from a C9 cut (or more generally a C8 to C10 cut). Preferably, the vinyl aromatic compound is styrene or a vinylaromatic monomer from a C9 cut (or more generally from a C8 to C10 cut). Preferably, the vinylaromatic compound is the minor monomer, expressed as a mole fraction, in the copolymer under consideration.

According to a more particularly preferred embodiment, the plasticizing hydrocarbon resin is chosen from the group consisting of homopolymer resins (D) CPD, copolymer resins (D) CPD / styrene, polylimonene resins, copolymer resins limonene / styrene, limonene / D (CPD) copolymer resins, C5 / styrene cut copolymer resins, C5 / C9 cut copolymer resins, and mixtures of these resins.

The preferred resins above are well known to those skilled in the art and commercially available, for example sold with regard to:

polylimonene resins: by the company DRT under the name "Dercolyte L120" (Mn = 625 g / mol, Mw = 1010 g / mol, Ip = 1.6, Tg = 72 ° C.) or by ARIZONA under the name " Sylvagum TR7125C (Mn = 630 g / mol, Mw = 950 g / mol, Ip = 1.5, Tg = 70 ° C.);

C5 / vinylaromatic cut copolymer resins, in particular C5 / styrene cut or C5 cut / C9 cut: by Neville Chemical Company under the names "Super Nevtac 78", "Super Nevtac 85" or "Super Nevtac 99", by Goodyear Chemicals under denomination "Wingtack Extra", by Kolon under the names "Hikorez T1095" and "Hikorez Tl 100", by Exxon under the names "Escorez 2101" and "ECR 373";

Limonene / styrene copolymer resins: by DRT under the name "Dercolyte TS 105" from the company DRT, by ARIZONA Chemical Company under the names "ZT115LT" and "ZT5100".

The plasticizer system content ranges from 5 to 150 phr, preferably from 10 to 130 phr, and even more preferably between 20 to 100 phr. Below the minimum indicated, the technical effect may be insufficient, while beyond the maximum stickiness of the compositions in the green state, on the mixing tools, may in some cases become prohibitive point industrial view.

According to one embodiment, the plasticizer system mainly comprises a plasticizing resin.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the plasticizer system comprises only a plasticizing resin. Crosslinking system

The crosslinking system is preferably a vulcanization system, that is to say a system based on sulfur (or a sulfur-donor agent) and a primary vulcanization accelerator. To this basic vulcanization system are added, incorporated during the first non-productive phase and / or during the production phase as described later, various known secondary accelerators or vulcanization activators such as zinc oxide. stearic acid or equivalent compounds, guanidine derivatives (in particular diphenylguanidine).

Sulfur is used at a preferential rate of between 0.5 and 12 phr, in particular between 1 and 10 phr. The primary vulcanization accelerator is used at a preferred level of between 0.5 and 10 phr, more preferably between 0.5 and 5.0 phr. As accelerator (primary or secondary) can be used any compound capable of acting as an accelerator of vulcanization of diene elastomers in the presence of sulfur, in particular thiazole-type accelerators and their derivatives, accelerators of thiuram type, zinc dithiocarbamates. These accelerators are for example selected from the group consisting of 2-mercaptobenzothiazyl disulfide (abbreviated "MBTS"), tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide ("TBZTD"), N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazyl sulfenamide ("CBS"), N, N dicyclohexyl-2-benzothiazyl sulphenamide ("DCBS"), N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazyl sulphenamide ("TBBS"), N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazyl sulphenimide ("TBSI"), zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate (" ZBEC ") and mixtures of these compounds.

Various additives

The rubber compositions in accordance with the invention may also comprise all or part of the usual additives normally used in elastomer compositions intended for the manufacture of tires, in particular treads, such as, for example, protective agents such as waxes. anti-ozone, anti-chemical ozonants, anti-oxidants, anti-fatigue agents, tackifying resins, processing agents as described for example in the application WO 02/10269. Manufacture of rubber compositions

The rubber compositions of the invention are manufactured in appropriate mixers, using two successive preparation phases according to a general procedure well known to those skilled in the art: a first phase of work or thermomechanical mixing (sometimes called phase "non-productive") at high temperature, up to a maximum temperature of between 130 ° C and 200 ° C, preferably between 145 ° C and 185 ° C, followed by a second mechanical working phase (sometimes referred to as a "productive" phase) at a lower temperature, typically below 120 ° C, for example between 23 ° C and 100 ° C, finishing phase during which is incorporated the crosslinking system or vulcanization.

III-EXAMPLES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following examples illustrate the invention, the latter can not however be limited to these examples only.

Preparation of rubber compositions

The following tests are carried out in the following manner: the diene elastomer and then the filler (silica and / or silica) are introduced into an internal mixer, filled to 70% and having an initial tank temperature of approximately 90.degree. boron nitride), the load as a function of the size of the volume it represents can be introduced in several times. After one to two minutes of mixing, the various other ingredients with the exception of the vulcanization system. Thermomechanical work (non-productive phase) is then carried out in one step (total mixing time equal to about 5 minutes), until a maximum "falling" temperature of about 150 ° C. is reached. The mixture thus obtained is recovered, cooled and the vulcanization system (sulfur and sulfenamide accelerator) is added to an external mixer (homo-thinning) at 30 ° C., mixing the whole (productive phase) for about 5 to 6 hours. min.

The compositions thus obtained are then calendered either in the form of plates (thickness of 2 to 3 mm) or thin sheets of rubber for the measurement of their physical or mechanical properties. The vulcanization (or baking) is carried out at 150 ° C for 70 minutes.

Test 1 This test is intended to show the improvement of the thermal conductivity and hysteresis properties of a composition according to the invention with respect to two control compositions. The three compositions were prepared in accordance with the method detailed in the preceding paragraph and have the same basic formulation, they are differentiated by the nature and / or the rate of reinforcing filler and the level of coupling agent.

More specifically, the compositions Al, A2 and Cl are defined as follows:

the control composition A1 is a "conventional" tire tread composition comprising silica as a reinforcing filler,

the control composition A2 is such that the volume fraction (22%) of the composition A1 has been replaced by boron nitride, the composition having no coupling agent,

the composition C1 according to the invention is identical to the composition A2 with the exception of the addition of coupling agent.

The formulations of these three compositions are presented in Table 1 below, in which the amounts are expressed in phr, parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer:

Table 1

(1) Copolymer comprising 27% styrene and in the polybutadiene part 24% -1,2 units (vinyl), 30%> -1,4 cis units and 46%> -1,4 trans units (Tg - 52 ° C)

(2) "Zeosil 1165MP" silica of Solvay company

(3) HBN Boron Nitride "MK-hBN-N70" from MK Impex Corp.

(4) "SI266" coupling agent from Evonik

(5) Diphenylguanidine ("Perkacit DPG" from Flexsys)

(6) High Tg Resin "Escorez 2173" from Exxon Company (7) 6PPD N, 3-dimethylbutyl-N-phenyl-para-phenylenediamine ("Santoflex 6- PPD" from Solutia)

(8) N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazyl sulfenamide ("Santocure CBS" from the company Solutia).

The properties obtained after curing (approximately 70 min at 150 ° C.) from these compositions are presented in Table 2 which follows:

Table 2

As was expected by those skilled in the art that the compositions A2 and C1 comprising boron nitrides, have a thermal diffusivity much higher than the conventional control composition Al.

However, it is also surprising to note that the compositions A2 and Cl show a very significant decrease in hysteresis compared to the control composition Al based on silica (where the silica-based compositions, such as the composition Al, are known to exhibit low hysteresis). Even more markedly, it is found that the composition C1 according to the invention comprising both boron nitride as a reinforcing filler and a coupling agent has a very improved hysteresis both vis-à-vis the composition A1 and the composition A2.

It is found that the reinforcement of the composition C1 according to the invention remains significantly lower than that of the composition A1 but, surprisingly, it is very much better than the reinforcement of the composition A2. Indeed we could hope for a slight improvement in the strengthening of the composition Cl with respect to A2 given the presence of coupling agent but not such a significant improvement. In addition, it is totally unexpected to note that the combination between the boron nitride and the coupling agent of the composition Cl makes it possible to obtain a hysteresis which is further lowered relative to the composition A2. Trial 2

This test is intended to show the improvement of the thermal, mechanical and hysteresis properties of several compositions according to the invention having different levels of coupling agent compared to a control composition including the same amount of nitride. boron but without the presence of coupling agent.

The different compositions of this test have a base formulation close to that of Test 1 except for the volume fraction of boron nitride which is 30%.

These compositions A3 and C2 to C6 are defined as follows:

the control composition A3 is a tire tread composition comprising boron nitride as a reinforcing filler but without coupling agent,

the composition C2 according to the invention differs from the composition A3 by the presence of coupling agent (rate of 0.5 phr),

the composition C3 according to the invention is distinguished from the composition C2 by the content of coupling agent (0.9 phr),

the composition C4 according to the invention differs from the composition C2 by the level of coupling agent (1.3 phr),

the composition C5 according to the invention is distinguished from the composition C2 by the content of coupling agent (2 phr).

the composition C6 according to the invention differs from the composition C2 by the content of coupling agent (3 phr).

The differences in formulation, in phr, between these compositions are thus presented in Table 3 which follows:

Table 3

Properties obtained after cooking (about 70 min at 150 ° C); from these compositions were measured.

These compositions all have, in a coherent manner, an equivalent thermal diffusivity which is very good. The other properties obtained are presented in Table 4 which follows:

Table 4

As in the previous example, it can be seen that the presence of coupling agent associated with that of boron nitride (compositions C2 to C6) makes it possible to significantly improve the reinforcement (MSA300 / MSA100) of the compositions and to reduce their hysteresis by comparison of the composition A3 not including a coupling agent.

It is further noted that the increase in the amount of coupling agent significantly improves the stiffness and hysteresis properties and more particularly for the C4 and C5 compositions. Moreover, the presence of the coupling agent in a large amount (1.4 and 2% by weight) only slightly affects the thermal conductivity of the compositions C5 and C6 according to the invention compared to that measured in the composition. A3.

Claims

1) A tire comprising at least one rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a plasticizer system and a crosslinking system, characterized in that the composition comprises hexagonal boron nitride having a BET specific surface area greater than or equal to 10 m ² / g as a reinforcing filler with a content ranging from 30 to 350 parts per hundred parts of elastomer, phr, and a coupling agent capable of binding the boron nitride to the diene elastomer.

2) The tire of claim 1, wherein the boron nitride has a specific surface area greater than or equal to 15 m ² / g.

3) A tire according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the boron nitride has a specific surface area greater than or equal to 20 m ² / g.

Pneumatic tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diene elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polybutadienes, synthetic polyisoprenes, natural rubber, butadiene copolymers, isoprene copolymers and these elastomers.

5) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diene elastomer is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene.

6) A tire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the diene elastomer is at least 50% by weight of all the elastomers present in the composition.

7) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the level of boron nitride ranges from 60 to 250 phr.

8) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the boron nitride is the majority reinforcing filler of the composition.

9) The tire of claim 8, wherein the boron nitride is the sole reinforcing filler of the composition.

10) A tire according to claim 8, wherein the boron nitride is used in a blend with another reinforcing filler, this other reinforcing filler being present in the composition with a content of less than or equal to 30 phr. 11) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the level of coupling agent is from 0.1 to 7% by weight relative to the amount of boron nitride, preferably from 0.2 to 5% by weight. .

12) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rate of plasticizer system ranges from 5 to 150 phr.

13) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plasticizer system level is from 10 to 130 phr, preferably from 20 to 100 phr.

14) A tire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plasticizer system comprises predominantly a plasticizer resin of Tg greater than 20 ° C.

The tire of claim 14, wherein the plasticizer system comprises only a plasticizing resin.

16. A tire according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the composition at least partially constitutes the tread.