Effect of functionality and loading procedure of liquid butadiene rubber on properties of silica-filled tire tread compounds

This study explores the utilization of liquid butadiene rubber (LqBR) as a processing aid in tire tread compounds, as a replacement for treated distillate aromatic extract (TDAE) oil, which is known to contribute to the extraction of organic materials during tire aging. Additionally, the influence of the silane-terminated functional group in LqBR and the procedure of LqBR addition are investigated. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in organic extraction when employing silane-terminated LqBR as a processing aid. Moreover, the performance of tire tread compounds is comparable or even superior to those incorporating TDAE oil, particularly when 80 % silane-terminated LqBR is added after the mixing of silica and coupling agent. The enhanced performance is attributed to homogeneous silica dispersion and robust filler-rubber interaction. These findings offer valuable insights into the optimization procedure for developing tire tread compounds utilizing functionalized LqBR as a processing aid, with the aim of improving tire tread applications.