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

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