WO2013092341A1

WO2013092341A1 - Tire having a tread that comprises a thermo expansible rubber composition reducing rolling noises

Info

Publication number: WO2013092341A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/075221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nanae Shimanaka; Olivia Cuscito; Salvatore Pagano
Original assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin; Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
Priority date: 2011-12-22
Filing date: 2012-12-12
Publication date: 2013-06-27
Also published as: FR2984903A1; FR2984903B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle tire having a tread that comprises, in the unvulcanized state, a thermo-expansible rubber composition comprising at least: 50 to 100 percent of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene, the transition temperature of which is higher than -40°C; optionally, 0 to 50 percent of another dienic elastomer, such as a polybutadiene or natural rubber; more than 50 percent of a reinforcing filler, such a silica and/or carbon black; and, as expansion agent, between 2 and 20 percent of a sulfonyl-hydrazide compound, such as 4,4'-oxybis(benzenesulfonyl)hydrazide. The use of such a composition, in the vulcanized state, makes it possibly to reduce in particular noises emitted by the tire when the vehicle is rolling.

Description

TIRE HAVING TREAD BAND COMPRISING THERMO-EXPANDABLE RUBBER COMPOSITION REDUCING ROLL NOISE 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to motor vehicle tires as well as rubber compositions usable for the manufacture of such tires. It is more particularly related to tires whose tread comprises a vulcanized foam rubber composition, intended to reduce the noise emitted by these tires during the running of the vehicles.

2. STATE OF THE ART

It is known (see, for example, patent application WO 2010/069510) that the noise emitted by a rolling tire originates, inter alia, from the vibrations of its structure consecutive to the contact of the tire with the irregularities of the roadway, also causing a generation various acoustic waves. The whole thing finally comes in the form of noise, both inside and outside the vehicle. The amplitude of these different manifestations is dependent on the own vibration modes of the tire but also the nature of the coating on which the vehicle moves. The frequency range corresponding to the noise generated by the tires typically ranges from about 20 to about 4000 Hz.

As regards the noise perceived inside the vehicle, two modes of sound propagation coexist: the vibrations are transmitted by the wheel center, the suspension system, the transmission to finally generate noise in the passenger compartment; this is called solid-state transmission, which is generally dominant at low frequencies of the spectrum (up to about 400 Hz);

the acoustic waves emitted by the tire are directly propagated by air inside the vehicle, the latter acting as a filter; this is referred to as airborne transmission, which generally dominates in high frequencies

(about 600 Hz and beyond).

The so-called "noise noise" refers rather to the perceived overall level in the vehicle and in a frequency range up to 2000 Hz. The noise called "cavity" refers to the annoyance due to the resonance of the cavity of inflation of the tire casing. Concerning the noise emitted outside the vehicle, are relevant the various interactions between the tire and the road surface, the tire and the air, which will cause an inconvenience to the residents of the vehicle when it rolls on a road. floor. There are also in this case several sources of noise such as the so-called "indentation" noise due to the impact of roughness of the road in the contact area, the noise called "friction" essentially generated in the output of the 'contact area, the noise' says of sculpture 'due to the arrangement of the elements of sculpture and to the resonance in the various furrows. The frequency range concerned here typically corresponds to a range of about 300 to 3000 Hz.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The Applicants have discovered during their research a specific rubber composition which, incorporated into the tread of the tires, has improved sound barrier properties in a frequency range between 300.degree. and 3000 Hz, and is therefore likely to help reduce the noise emitted both inside and outside vehicles when rolling their tires.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a tire whose tread comprises, in the unvulcanized state, a heat-expandable rubber composition comprising at least:

50 to 100 phr of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene whose glass transition temperature (Tg, measured by DSC according to ASTM D3418-1999) is greater than -40 ° C .;

optionally, 0 to 50 phr of another diene elastomer;

- more than 50 phr of a reinforcing filler;

between 2 and 20 phr of a sulfonyl hydrazide compound as blowing agent.

The invention also relates to a tire in the vulcanized state obtained after baking (vulcanization) of the green tire according to the invention as described above.

The tires of the invention are particularly intended to equip tourism-type motor vehicles, including 4x4 vehicles (four-wheel drive) and SUV vehicles ("Sport Utility Vehicles"), two-wheel vehicles (including motorcycles), industrial vehicles chosen in particular from vans and "heavy goods vehicles" (ie, metro, buses, road transport vehicles such as trucks, tractors). The invention as well as its advantages will be readily understood in the light of the description and the following exemplary embodiments.

4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the present description, unless expressly indicated otherwise, all the percentages (%) indicated are percentages by mass. By "diene" elastomer (or indistinctly rubber) is meant an elastomer derived at least in part (that is to say a homopolymer or a copolymer) from monomer (s) diene (s) (ie, carrier (s) two carbon-carbon double bonds, conjugated or not). By "isoprene elastomer" is meant a homopolymer or copolymer of isoprene, in other words a diene elastomer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber (NR), synthetic polyisoprenes (IR), the various copolymers of isoprene, isoprene and mixtures of these elastomers.

The abbreviation "pce" means parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer (of the total elastomers if several elastomers are present).

On the other hand, any range of values designated by the expression "between a and b" represents the range of values greater than "a" and 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 of values from "a" to "b" (i.e. including the strict limits a and b).

The tire of the invention therefore has the essential characteristic that its tread in the uncured state, at least for its portion (radially outermost part) intended to come into direct contact with the road surface, comprises a heat-expandable rubber composition comprising at least:

50 to 100 phr of a (at least one, ie one or more) copolymer based on styrene and butadiene, whose Tg is greater than -40 ° C;

optionally, 0 to 50 phr of a (at least one, that is to say one or more) other diene elastomer;

more than 50 phr of one (at least one, that is to say one or more) reinforcing filler; between 2 and 20 phr of a (at least one, i.e. one or more) sulfonylhydrazide compound as an expanding agent.

The various components above are described in detail below. 4.1. Styrene and butadiene copolymer

The first essential characteristic of the heat-expandable rubber composition is that it comprises 50 to 100 phr of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene, that is to say on a copolymer of at least one styrene monomer and at least one butadiene monomer; in other words, said copolymer based on styrene and butadiene has by definition at least units derived from styrene and units derived from butadiene.

Preferably, the content of said copolymer in the heat-expandable rubber composition is in a range of 50 to 90 phr, more preferably in a range of 60 to 85 phr.

As butadiene monomers 1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, 2,3-di (C 1 -C ₅ alkyl) -1,3-butadienes, such as for example 2, are particularly suitable. 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, an aryl-1,3-butadiene. As styrene monomers are especially suitable styrene, methylstyrenes, para-tert-butylstyrene, methoxystyrenes, chloro styrenes. Said copolymer based on styrene and butadiene 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 amounts of modifying and / or randomizing agent used. It can be for example block, statistical, sequenced, microsequenced, and be prepared in dispersion or in solution; it may be coupled and / or starred or functionalized with a coupling agent and / or starring or functionalization.

Preferably, the styrene-butadiene-based copolymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymers (abbreviated to SBR), styrene-butadiene-isoprene copolymers (abbreviated to SBIR) and mixtures of such copolymers.

Among the SBIR copolymers, mention may in particular be made of those having a styrene content of between 5% and 50% by weight and more particularly of between 10% and 40%, an isoprene content of between 15% and 60% by weight, and more particularly between 20% and 50%), a butadiene content of between 5% and 50% by weight and more particularly between 20% and 40%, a content (mol%) in -1,2 units of the butadiene part of between 4% and 85%, a content (mol%) in trans-1,4 units of the butadiene part of between 6%> and 80%>, a content (mol%) in -1,2 units plus -3.4 of the isoprene part of between 5% and 70%> and a content (mol%) in trans units -1.4 of the isoprene part of between 10%> and 50%>. More preferably, an SBR copolymer is used. Among the SBR copolymers, there may be mentioned especially those having a styrene content of between 5% and 60% by weight and more particularly between 20% and 50%, a content (mol%) in -1,2 bonds of the butadiene part. between 4%> and 75%, a content (%> molar) in trans-1,4 bonds between 10%> and 80%>.

The Tg of this copolymer based on styrene and butadiene is greater than -40 ° C, preferably greater than -35 ° C, more preferably between -30 ° C and + 30 ° C (particularly within a range of 25 ° C to + 25 ° C).

The Tg of the elastomers described here is measured in a conventional manner, well known to those skilled in the art, on an elastomer in the dry state (ie, without extension oil) and by DSC (for example according to ASTM D3418-1999). . Those skilled in the art know how to modify the micro structure of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene, in particular on an SBR, to increase and adjust its Tg, in particular by modifying the styrene contents in bonds -1 , 2 or trans-1,4 bonds of the butadiene part. It is more preferable to use an SBR (solution or emulsion) having a styrene content (%> molar) which is greater than 35%>, more preferably between 35% o and 60%), in particular in a range of 38%> at 50%>. High Tg SBRs are well known to those skilled in the art, they have been used primarily in tire treads to improve some of their wear properties.

To the copolymer based on styrene and butadiene above, may be associated with at least one other (also called second) diene elastomer, different from said copolymer (that is to say not having units derived from styrene and butadiene ), said second diene elastomer being present at a weight ratio which is therefore at most equal to 50 phr.

This second optional diene elastomer is preferably selected from the group consisting of natural rubbers (NR), synthetic polyisoprenes (IR), polybutadienes (BR), isoprene copolymers and mixtures of these elastomers. Such copolymers are more preferably selected from the group consisting of isoprene-butadiene copolymers (BIR) and isoprene-styrene copolymers (SIR). Among these, polybutadiene homopolymers (BR) and in particular those having a content (mol%) in units of 1,2,2 between 4% and 80% or those having a content (%> molar) in cis-1 are especially suitable. , 4 greater than 80%>; polyisoprene homopolymers (IR); butadiene-isoprene copolymers (BIR) and especially those having an isoprene content of between 5% and 90% by weight and a Tg of -40 ° C to -80 ° C .; the isoprene-styrene copolymers (SIR) and in particular those having a styrene content of between 5% and 50% by weight and a Tg of between -25 ° C and -50 ° C.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second diene elastomer is an isoprene elastomer, more preferably natural rubber or a synthetic polyisoprene of cis-1,4 type; of these synthetic polyisoprenes, polyisoprenes having a content (mol%) of cis-1,4 bonds greater than 90%, more preferably still greater than 98%, are preferably used. According to another preferred embodiment, the second diene elastomer is a polybutadiene, preferably a polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 bond ratio greater than 90%.

According to another preferred embodiment, the second diene elastomer is a mixture of polybutadiene with an isoprene elastomer (natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene).

More preferably, the level of second diene elastomer, in particular polybutadiene and / or isoprene elastomer (in particular natural rubber), is in a range of 10 to 50 phr, more preferably in a range of 15 to 40 phr.

The diene elastomers previously described could also be associated, in a minor amount, with synthetic elastomers other than diene, or even polymers other than elastomers, for example thermoplastic polymers.

4.2. Charge

Any known filler for its ability to reinforce a rubber composition is usable, for example an organic filler such as carbon black, or an inorganic filler such as silica to which is associated in a known manner a coupling agent.

Such a charge preferably consists of nanoparticles whose average size (in mass) is less than one micrometer, generally less than 500 nm, most often between 20 and 200 nm, in particular and more preferably between 20 and 150 nm.

Preferably, the content of total reinforcing filler (in particular silica or carbon black or a mixture of silica and carbon black) is between 50 and 150 phr. A content greater than 50 phr is favorable for good mechanical strength; beyond of 150 phr, there is a risk of excessive rigidity of the rubber composition. For these reasons, the total reinforcing filler content is more preferably within a range of 70 to 120 phr. Suitable carbon blacks are, for example, all carbon blacks which are conventionally used in tires (so-called tire-grade blacks) such as blacks of the series 100, 200, 300 (ASTM grades), for example blacks NI 15, N134, N234, N326, N330, N339, N347, N375. The carbon blacks could for example already be incorporated into the diene elastomer, in particular isoprenic elastomer, in the form of a masterbatch (see, for example, applications WO 97/36724 or WO 99/16600).

As examples of organic fillers other than carbon blacks, mention may be made of functionalized polyvinyl organic fillers as described in applications WO-A-2006/069792 and WO-A-2006/069793, WO-A-2008/003434. and WO-A-2008/003435.

"Reinforcing inorganic filler" means any inorganic or mineral filler, irrespective of its color and origin (natural or synthetic), also called "white" filler, "clear" filler or even "non-black filler" as opposed to carbon black, capable of reinforcing on its own, without any other means than an intermediate coupling agent, a rubber composition intended for the manufacture of tires, in other words able to replace, in its function of reinforcement, a conventional carbon black tire grade; such a filler is generally characterized, in known manner, by the presence of hydroxyl groups (-OH) on its surface. Suitable reinforcing inorganic fillers are mineral fillers of the siliceous type, in particular silica (SiO ₂ ). The silica used may be any reinforcing silica known to those skilled in the art, in particular any precipitated silica or pyro-interfered silica having a BET surface and a CTAB specific surface area both less than 450 m ² / g, preferably from 30 to 400 m ² / g, especially between 60 and 300 m ² / g. As highly dispersible precipitated silicas (called "HDS"), mention may be made, for example, of the "Ultrasil" 7000 and "Ultrasil" silicones 7005 from the Evonik company, the "Zeosil" 1165MP, 1135MP and 1115MP silicas from the Rhodia company. silica "Hi-Sil" EZ150G from the company PPG, the silicas "Zeopol" 8715, 8745 and 8755 of the Huber Company. According to another particularly preferred embodiment, the majority filler used is a reinforcing inorganic filler, in particular silica, at a level within a range of 70 to 120 phr, reinforcing inorganic filler to which advantageously black of carbon at a minority rate at most equal to 15 phr, in particular in a range of 1 to 10 phr. In order to couple the reinforcing inorganic filler to the diene elastomer, an at least bifunctional coupling agent (or bonding agent) is used in a well-known manner 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.

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).

In particular, polysulphide silanes having the following general formula (I) are not suitable for the following definition:

(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 , especially C ₁ -C ₄ , alkylene, in particular 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 Ci-C18 alkyl, C ₅ -C ₈ cycloalkyl or C ₆ -C ₁₈ aryl group (preferably C ₁ -C ₈ alkyl groups); C ₆ , cyclohexyl or phenyl, especially C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl groups, more particularly methyl and / or ethyl).

- the radicals R ^2, substituted or unsubstituted, identical or different, represent an alkoxy group or Ci-Ci ₈ cycloalkoxy, C ₅ -C ₈ (preferably a group selected from alkoxyls Cg and C cycloalkoxyls ₅ -C ₈ , 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, in particular 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 (especially disulfide, trisulphide or tetrasulfide) polysulphides. )), such as polysulfides of bis (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) or bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl). Among these compounds, bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, abbreviated TESPT, of formula [(C ₂ H ₅ O) 3 Si (CH ₂ ) ₃ S ₂ ] ₂ or bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) disulphide is especially used. ), abbreviated 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 disulfides, 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 WO 2007/061550, or else silanes or POS bearing functional azo-dicarbonyl groups, 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.

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.

When they are reinforced with an inorganic filler such as silica, the rubber compositions preferably comprise between 2 and 15 phr, more preferably between 3 and 12 phr of coupling agent.

Those skilled in the art will understand that, as the equivalent filler of the reinforcing inorganic filler described in this paragraph, it would be possible to use a reinforcing filler of another nature, in particular an organic filler, since this reinforcing filler would be covered with a filler. inorganic layer such as silica, or have on its surface functional sites, in particular hydroxyls, requiring the use of a coupling agent to establish the bond between the filler and the elastomer.

4.3. Expansion Agent

In a known manner, a blowing agent is a thermally decomposable compound, intended to release a large amount lead to the formation of bubbles. The release of gas in the rubber composition therefore comes from this thermal decomposition of the blowing agent; in most cases, the gas formed is nitrogen. There are physical or chemical expansion agents, of the endothermic or exothermic type; chemical expansion agents, of the exothermic type, are most often used. In the context of the present invention, the blowing agent used is a compound of the sulfonyl hydrazide type.

Among the sulphonyl hydrazide compounds, mention may be made preferably of those selected from the group consisting of benzene sulphonyl hydrazide, toluene sulphonyl hydrazide, 4,4'-oxybis (benzene sulphonyl) hydrazide, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the blowing agent used is 4,4'-oxy-bis- (benzene sulfonyl) hydrazide (abbreviated as "OBSH").

The amount of this blowing agent is between 2 and 20 phr. If it is less than

2 phr, the expansion appears to be insufficient whereas if it is greater than 20 phr, the expansion proved too important to obtain mechanical properties (in particular modules and compressibility) compatible with the requirements of a use in band rolling. For all these reasons, the amount of blowing agent is preferably between

3 and 15 pce. 4.4. Various additives

The heat-expandable rubber composition may also comprise all or part of the usual additives usually used in tire tread rubber compositions, such as, for example, protective agents such as anti-ozone waxes, chemical anti-ozonants, oxidizing agents, plasticizing agents, a crosslinking system based on either sulfur, or sulfur and / or peroxide donors and / or bismaleimides, vulcanization accelerators, vulcanization activators.

According to a preferred embodiment, the heat-expandable rubber composition also comprises a liquid plasticizing agent (at 20 ° C.) whose function is to soften the matrix by diluting the diene elastomer and the reinforcing filler; its Tg (glass transition temperature) is by definition less than -20 ° C, preferably less than -40 ° C.

More preferentially, for optimum performance of the tread of the tire of the invention, this liquid plasticizer is used at a relatively low level, such that the weight ratio reinforcing filler on liquid plasticizer is greater than 2.0, more preferably greater than 2.5, especially greater than 3.0.

Any extender oil, whether aromatic or non-aromatic, any liquid plasticizer known for its plasticizing properties vis-à-vis diene elastomers, is usable. At ambient temperature (20 ° C.), these plasticizers or these oils, more or less viscous, are liquids (that is to say, as a reminder, substances having the capacity to eventually take on the shape of their container) , in contrast to, in particular, hydrocarbon plasticizing resins which are by nature solid at ambient temperature.

Particularly suitable liquid plasticizers selected from the group consisting of naphthenic oils (low or high viscosity, including hydrogenated or not), paraffinic oils, oils MES (Medium Extracted Solvates), oils DAE (Distillate Aromatic Extracts), Treated Distillate Aromatic Extracts (TDAE) oils, Residual Aromatic Extracts (RAE) oils, Treated Residual Aromatic Extracts (TREE) oils, Safety Residual Aromatic Extracts (SRAE) oils, mineral oils, vegetable oils, ethers plasticizers, ester plasticizers, phosphate plasticizers, sulphonate plasticizers and mixtures of these compounds. According to a more preferred embodiment, the liquid plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of MES oils, TDAE oils, naphthenic oils, vegetable oils and mixtures of these oils.

As phosphate plasticizers, for example, mention may be made of those containing from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, for example trioctyl phosphate. As examples of ester plasticizers, mention may be made in particular of compounds selected from the group consisting of trimellitates, pyromellitates, phthalates, 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylates, adipates, azelates, sebacates, glycerol and mixtures of these compounds. Among triesters above, there may be mentioned include glycerol triesters, preferably consisting predominantly (for more than 50%, more preferably more than 80% by weight) of an unsaturated fatty acid Ci ₈ is that is to say selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and mixtures of these acids. More preferably, whether of synthetic or natural origin (for example vegetable oils of sunflower or rapeseed), the fatty acid used is more than 50% by weight, more preferably still more than 80% by weight. % by weight of oleic acid. Such triesters (trioleates) with a high oleic acid content are well known, they have been described for example in WO 02/088238, as plasticizers in tire treads.

In the case where it is desired to increase the rigidity of the tread once expanded, without reducing the content of liquid plasticizer above, it will be advantageous to incorporate reinforcing resins (eg acceptors and donors of methylene) such as described for example in WO 02/10269 or US 7,199,175.

The heat-expandable rubber composition may also contain coupling enhancers when a coupling agent is used, inorganic filler recovery agents when an inorganic filler is used, or more generally, bleaching agents. implementation (processability) likely in a known manner, through an improvement of the dispersion of the load in the rubber matrix and a lowering of the viscosity of the compositions, to improve their processability in the green state; these agents are for example hydroxysilanes or hydrolysable silanes such as alkyl-alkoxysilanes, polyols, polyethers, amines, hydroxylated or hydrolysable polyorganosiloxanes.

4.5. Manufacture of the Compositions The rubber compositions are manufactured in appropriate mixers, for example using two successive preparation phases according to a general procedure known to those skilled in the art: a first thermomechanical working or mixing phase (sometimes referred to as a "no" phase). -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 phase of mechanical work (sometimes called phase" Producer ") at low temperature, typically below 120 ° C, for example between 60 ° C and 100 ° C, finishing phase during which is incorporated the sulfonyl hydrazide compound and the crosslinking system or vulcanization. A process which can be used for the manufacture of such rubber compositions comprises, for example, and preferably the following steps: incorporating into a mixer, to the elastomer or to the elastomer mixture, at least the filler by thermomechanically kneading the whole, in one or several times, until reaching a maximum temperature of between 130 ° C and 200 ° C; cool the assembly to a temperature below 100 ° C;

and then incorporating the sulfonyl-hydrazide compound into the mixture thus obtained and cooled, kneading thermomechanically all until a maximum temperature of less than 100 C;

- Then incorporate a crosslinking system; mix everything up to a maximum temperature below 120 ° C;

extruding or calendering the resulting rubber composition.

By way of example, during the first non-productive phase, all the necessary constituents, any additional coating or processing agents and other various additives, are introduced into a suitable mixer such as a conventional internal mixer. with the exception of the blowing agent and the crosslinking system. After thermomechanical work, fall and cooling of the mixture thus obtained, then incorporating the blowing agent and the low temperature crosslinking system, usually in an external mixer such as a roll mill; the whole is then mixed (productive phase) for a few minutes, for example between 5 and 15 min.

The actual crosslinking system is preferably based on sulfur and a primary vulcanization accelerator, in particular a sulfenamide type accelerator. To this vulcanization system are added, incorporated during the first non-productive phase and / or during the productive phase, various known secondary accelerators or vulcanization activators such as zinc oxide, stearic acid, guanidine derivatives (especially diphenylguanidine), etc. The sulfur content is preferably between 0.5 and 5 phr, that of the primary accelerator is preferably between 0.5 and 8 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-benzothiazylsulfenamide ("DCBS"), N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazylsulfenamide ("TBBS"), N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazylsulfenamide ("TBSI"), zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate (" ZBEC ") and mixtures of these compounds.

The sulphonyl hydrazide compound having the possible effect of reducing the induction time (that is to say the time required for the beginning of the vulcanization reaction) during the baking of the composition, a retarder can advantageously be used. vulcanization to counteract this phenomenon, and thus to provide the rubber composition the time necessary for full expansion before vulcanization.

The level of this vulcanization retarder is preferably between 0.5 and 10 phr, more preferably between 0.5 and 5 phr. Vulcanization retarders are well known to those skilled in the art. Mention may be made, for example, of N-cyclohexylthiophthalimide sold under the name "Vulkalent G" by the company Lanxess, N- (trichloromethylthio) benzenesulfonamide sold under the name "Vulkalent E / C" by Lanxess, or else marketed phthalic anhydride. under the name "Vulkalent B / C" by Lanxess. Preferably, N-cyclohexylthiophthalimide (abbreviated "CTP") is used.

The final composition thus obtained is then calendered, for example in the form of a sheet or a plate, in particular for a characterization in the laboratory, or else calendered or extruded in the form of a heat-expandable tread.

In the green state (ie, uncured) and therefore unexpanded, the density or density denoted Di of the heat-expandable rubber composition is preferably between 1, 100 and 1, 400 g / cm ³ , more preferably in a range from 1.50 to 1. 350 g / cm ³ .

The vulcanization (or cooking) is conducted in a known manner at a temperature generally between 130 ° C and 200 ° C, for a sufficient time which may vary for example between 5 and 90 min depending in particular on the cooking temperature, the system of vulcanization adopted and the kinetics of vulcanization of the composition under consideration.

It is during this vulcanization step that the blowing agent will release a significant amount of gas, lead to bubble formation in the foam rubber composition and eventually expand. In the fired (ie vulcanized) state, the density denoted D ₂ of the rubber composition once expanded (ie, in the foam rubber state) is preferably between 0.500 and 1 000 g / cm ³ , more preferably in a range from 0.600 to 0.850 g / cm ³ .

Its volume expansion rate noted T _E (expressed in%) is preferably between 30% and 150%, more preferably in a range of 50 to 120%, this expansion ratio T _E being calculated in a known manner from densities Di and D ₂ above, as follows:

T _E = [(D ₁ / D ₂ ) - 1] x 100. Preferably, its Shore A hardness (measured according to ASTM D 2240-86) is in a range from 50 to 70. _Λ

- 15 -

5. EXAMPLES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The heat-expandable rubber composition described above is advantageously usable in the treads, at least for their portion which is intended to come into direct contact with the road surface, of tires for any type of vehicle, particularly in passenger car tires, as demonstrated in the following tests.

For the purposes of these tests, two rubber compositions (denoted C-0 and C-1) were prepared whose formulation is given in Table 1 (rate of the various products expressed in phr). The composition C-0 is the control composition. The composition C-1 is that according to the invention, further comprising the blowing agent (OBSH) and a vulcanization retarder (CTP); its level of plasticizer (liquid plasticizer and plasticizing resin) was decreased with the aim of maintaining rigidity after firing in a range as close as possible to that of the control composition C-0 (Shore A hardness of between 55 and 65).

For the manufacture of these compositions, the following procedure was carried out: the reinforcing filler, the diene elastomer (SBR cutting and blending) were successively introduced into an internal mixer, the initial batch temperature of which was approximately 60 ° C. BR) and the various other ingredients with the exception of the vulcanization system and the blowing agent; the mixer was thus filled to about 70% (% by volume). Thermomechanical work (non-productive phase) was then carried out in a step of about 2 to 4 minutes, until a maximum "falling" temperature of about 150 ° C. was reached. The mixture thus obtained was recovered, cooled to about 50 ° C. and then a sulfenamide accelerator, sulfur, as well as the blowing agent (OBSH) and retarder (CTP) for the composition were incorporated. C1 according to the invention, on an external mixer (homo-finisher) at 30 ° C, mixing the whole (productive phase) for a few minutes. The compositions C-0 and Cl thus prepared were then vulcanized in press, and their properties measured before and after curing (see table 2 appended): the rubber composition according to the present invention after baking, once in the form of foam rubber (ie, foamed), a significantly reduced density corresponding to a particularly high volume expansion rate of about 70%.

The compositions C-0 and Cl thus prepared were then used as treads for passenger tires with radial carcass, respectively denoted P-0 (control tires) and P1 (tires in accordance with the invention), of dimensions 155/65 R14. , conventionally manufactured and identical in all respects, except the rubber compositions constitutive of their treads. Table 2 indicates the properties measured before and after firing: the tread of the tire according to the invention has, after cooking, once in the state of foam rubber (ie, expanded), a markedly reduced density corresponding to a particularly high volume expansion, about 70%.

To then characterize the noise emission properties of the respective treads, a tire rolling test was conducted in which the noise level emitted towards the outside of the vehicle ("coast-by" test) was evaluated. measuring the sound pressure level, when driving the vehicle at a given speed, using microphones arranged at the edge of the track.

These tests were carried out in accordance with JASO standards C606-86 and ISO 10844, relating on the one hand to the running conditions of the vehicle and noise measurement, on the other hand to the state of the roadway. In particular, during the test, the wind speed must be less than 5 m / s, the vehicle is launched to reach a speed of 80km / h; at the entrance of the measuring area, the gear lever is placed in the neutral position; during the crossing of the measuring area, the sound level is recorded thanks to two microphones arranged on both sides of the area at a height of about 70 cm.

The results in Table 3 express the sound levels recorded on the tire P-1 according to the invention and on the control tire noted P-0. These levels are expressed in acoustic energy (dB (A)) which corresponds to the integration of sound pressure as a function of frequency over the frequency domain under consideration (between 300 and 3000 Hz), a lower value indicating a reduction in noise compared to the reference.

By reading Table 3, it can be seen that a noise reduction of 2 dB, quite significant for those skilled in the art, is obtained on the tire according to the invention, thanks to the specific foam rubber composition constituting its tread.

Table 1

(1) SBR with 26% styrene and 74% butadiene units (21% -1.4 trans, 21% -1.4 cis and 58% -1.2); Tg = -25 ° C;

(2) BR with 0.3% of 1-2; 2.7% trans; 97% cis 1-4 (Tg = -104 ° C);

(3) "Ultrasil 7000" silica from Evonik, type "HDS"

(BET and CTAB: approximately 160 m ² / g);

(4) TESPT coupling agent ("Si69" from Evonik);

(5) ASTM grade N234 (Cabot Company);

(6) OBSH ("Cellmic S" from Sankyo Kasei Company);

(7) MES oil ("Catenex SNR" Shell company);

(8) C5 / C9 resin ("Escorez ECR-373" from Exxon);

(9) diphenylguanidine ("Perkacit DPG" from Flexsys);

(10) N-1,3-Dimethylbutyl-N-phenylparaphenylenediamine

("Santoflex 6-PPD" from Flexsys);

(11) N-dicyclohexyl-2-benzothiazol sulfenamide

("Santocure CBS" from the company Flexsys);

(12) CTP ("Vulkalent G" from Lanxess).

Table 2

Tested Composition: C-0 C-1

Density before baking the tire 1.18 1.21

Density after baking the tire 1.18 0.71

Volume expansion rate (%) 0 70

Table 3

Tire tested: P-0 P-1

Outside noise ("coast by") in dB (A) 71 69

Claims

1. A tire whose tread comprises, in the uncured state, a heat-expandable rubber composition comprising at least:

50 to 100 phr of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene whose glass transition temperature, measured by DSC according to ASTM D3418-1999, is greater than -40 ° C .;

optionally, 0 to 50 phr of another diene elastomer;

- more than 50 phr of a reinforcing filler;

between 2 and 20 phr of a sulfonyl hydrazide compound as blowing agent.

The tire of claim 1, wherein the styrene-butadiene copolymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-butadiene-isoprene copolymers and mixtures of such copolymers.

Tire according to claim 2, wherein the styrene-butadiene-based copolymer is a styrene-butadiene copolymer.

A tire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the styrene-butadiene-based copolymer has a glass transition temperature in the range of -30 ° C to + 30 ° C.

Tire according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the other diene elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprenes, polybutadienes, butadiene copolymers, isoprene copolymers. and mixtures of these elastomers.

Tire according to claim 5, wherein the other diene elastomer is a polybutadiene, preferably having a cis-1,4 bond ratio greater than 90%.

The tire of claim 5, wherein the other diene elastomer is natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene.

The tire of claim 5, wherein the other diene elastomer is a polybutadiene used in a blend with natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene.

Tire according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises an inorganic filler, carbon black or a mixture of inorganic filler and carbon black.

10. Tire according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reinforcing filler content is between 50 and 150 phr, preferably within a range of 70 to 120 phr.

A tire according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the rubber composition further comprises a liquid plasticizer at 20 ° C, at a rate such that the weight ratio of reinforcing filler to liquid plasticizer is greater than 2. , 0, preferably greater than 2.5.

12. Tire according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the content of sulfonyl hydrazide compound is between 3 and 15 phr.

13. Tire according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sulfonyl hydrazide compound is 4,4'-oxy-bis (benzenesulfonyl hydrazide).

Tire according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the density of the heat-expandable rubber composition is between 1,100 and 1,400 g / cm ³ , preferably in the range of 1,150 to 1,350 g / cm ^3. .

Tire vulcanized, obtained after baking a tire according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

The tire of claim 15, wherein the density of the expanded rubber composition is between 0.500 and 1.000 g / cm ³ , preferably in a range of 0.600 to 0.850 g / cm ³ .

A tire according to claims 15 or 16, wherein the volume expansion ratio of the expanded rubber composition is between 30 and 150%, preferably in the range of 50 to 120%.