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Rational Design of High-Performance Nanomaterials for Electric Vehicle Tires

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2023-07-27
JournalHighlights in Science Engineering and Technology
AuthorsZichen Liu
InstitutionsWuhan Institute of Technology
Citations2
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Technical Documentation & Analysis: High-Performance Nanomaterials for EV Tires

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: High-Performance Nanomaterials for EV Tires”

Source Paper: Liu, Z. (2023). Rational Design of High-Performance Nanomaterials for Electric Vehicle Tires. Highlights in Science, Engineering and Technology, Volume 62 (MAME 2023).


This document analyzes the application of nano-diamond (ND) and modified Silica (SiO2) as high-performance fillers in electric vehicle (EV) tire compounds to address critical limitations in wear resistance and rolling resistance.

  • Core Problem: EV tires suffer from poor wear resistance and excessive rolling resistance, primarily caused by elastic hysteresis loss (converting mechanical energy into heat).
  • Material Solution: Incorporating nano-diamond (ND) and modified nano-Silica into styrene butadiene rubber/butadiene rubber (SBR/BR) compounds.
  • Key Mechanism (Thermal): ND possesses exceptional thermal conductivity (~ 3000 W/m/K), enabling effective heat transfer and dissipation, thereby avoiding excessive local temperature rise and reducing elastic hysteresis loss.
  • Key Mechanism (Mechanical): Uniformly dispersed, carboxylated ND improves the cross-linking density of the rubber matrix, impeding polymer chain movement and significantly enhancing wear resistance.
  • Performance Improvement: The use of specific modified Silica (e.g., Silica-Si-69-0.6) combined with ND results in a low Payne effect and minimal compression heat generation, directly correlating to reduced rolling resistance.
  • 6CCVD Relevance: This research validates the critical role of high-purity diamond material in advanced thermal management and tribological applications, aligning directly with 6CCVD’s SCD and PCD material capabilities.

The following hard data points were extracted from the research regarding material properties and processing parameters:

ParameterValueUnitContext
Nano-Diamond (ND) Thermal Conductivity~ 3000W/m/KExcellent heat transfer capability in rubber composites.
Elastic Hysteresis Loss Contribution90%-95%%Percentage of total tire rolling resistance attributed to heat loss.
SBR/BR Weight Ratio75/25N/AStandard mixture used for the tire tread compound.
Silanization Reaction Temperature68°CRequired temperature for COOH-ND silanization process.
Silanization Reaction Duration24hrRequired time for COOH-ND silanization process.
Carbon Black N330 Particle Size0.03”m (30 nm)Small particle size filler with strong reinforcement effect.
Silica-Si-69-0.6 Particle Size600nmModified large-sized Silica exhibiting low Payne effect.
Lowest Compression Heat Generation16.38°CTemperature rise for the optimized Silica-Si-69-0.6 system (Stroke: 4.45 mm).

The core strategy involves the functionalization and incorporation of nano-diamond and modified Silica into the rubber matrix to optimize mechanical and thermal properties.

  1. ND Functionalization: Exposed carboxylation of nano-diamond (COOH-ND) was achieved using hot air treatment.
  2. Silanization: The COOH-ND surface was modified using propyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) via hydrolysis and subsequent silanization reaction at 68 °C for 24 hours to create Silanized-ND (S-ND).
  3. Composite Formulation: The S-ND and half Silica, silane, half aromatic oil, and half process resin were mixed into the SBR/BR (75/25 weight ratio) compound.
  4. Mixing Process: A two-roll grinder was utilized to promote sufficient silanization and ensure uniform dispersion of the nanofillers within the rubber matrix.
  5. Performance Testing: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) were used for material characterization. Mechanical performance was evaluated via stress-strain curves and compression heat generation tests (Payne effect analysis).

The research highlights the necessity of ultra-high-performance materials, specifically diamond, to solve fundamental engineering challenges in high-stress, high-thermal environments (EV tires). 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the foundational diamond materials and specialized substrates required for replicating, testing, and advancing this research.

Research Requirement6CCVD SolutionMaterial Specification & Rationale
High Thermal DissipationSCD Heat SpreadersSingle Crystal Diamond (SCD): Required for fundamental testing of thermal management systems. SCD offers thermal conductivity up to 2200 W/m/K, ideal for benchmarking the thermal performance of ND fillers. Available in thicknesses from 0.1 ”m to 500 ”m.
Wear/Friction TestingPCD Tribological SubstratesPolycrystalline Diamond (PCD): Used as a highly wear-resistant counter-surface for tribology studies. 6CCVD can supply inch-size PCD plates (up to 125mm) with ultra-low roughness (Ra < 5 nm) for precise friction coefficient measurements against rubber composites.
Custom Sensor IntegrationBoron-Doped Diamond (BDD)BDD Wafers/Plates: For integrating electrochemical or temperature sensors directly into the tire material testing environment. BDD offers robust, conductive, and chemically inert platforms.
Nanofiller PrecursorHigh-Purity SCD/PCD6CCVD provides the highest purity MPCVD diamond, which can be processed into high-quality nano-diamond powder precursors, ensuring consistency and minimizing impurities for functionalization studies.

The complexity of nanofiller surface modification and dispersion requires highly controlled testing environments. 6CCVD offers specialized services to meet these demands:

  • Custom Dimensions and Thickness: We supply diamond plates and wafers up to 125mm (PCD) and substrates up to 10mm thick, allowing researchers to design large-scale or highly specific testing platforms.
  • Precision Polishing: Achieving Ra < 1 nm (SCD) and Ra < 5 nm (PCD) ensures that surface roughness variables are eliminated during critical tribological and adhesion testing of the rubber nanocomposites.
  • Advanced Metalization: The development of embedded sensors or heating elements for dynamic testing requires precise contacts. 6CCVD offers in-house metalization services including Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, and Cu, enabling the creation of custom electrodes or thermal interfaces on diamond substrates.

The successful implementation of diamond nanomaterials relies on deep understanding of material mechanics and surface chemistry. 6CCVD’s in-house PhD team specializes in MPCVD growth, surface functionalization, and thermal management applications. We are available to assist researchers with:

  • Material selection and specification for projects focused on reducing elastic hysteresis loss and improving thermal conductivity in polymer composites.
  • Designing custom diamond substrates for in situ monitoring of wear, friction, and temperature rise (Payne effect) in novel rubber formulations.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.

View Original Abstract

In today’s society, the market limitations of electric vehicle tires are relatively poor wear resistance and rolling resistance. These two problems restrict the further development of electric vehicles, accelerate energy consumption and environmental pollution, and bring hidden dangers to users. In this paper, the principle of tire wear resistance and the cause of excessive rolling resistance related to tire deformation are analyzed from the perspective of materials. At present, these two problems can be improved by adding nanomaterials to automobile tire materials (natural rubber and synthetic rubber). The tire’s thermal conductivity and wear resistance can be improved by inserting Silica and a small amount of nano-diamond. This paper will also discuss the unique advantages of carbon black with different particle sizes as filler by analyzing the effects of modified Silica and carbon black on the molecular rubber chain. On this basis, this paper will also explain the drawbacks of nanofiller materials.