# US 11,305,582 B2 · Pneumatic tire comprising a tread comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and a cross-linking system based on at least one peroxide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,582 B2 - Document ID: US11305582B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/462,005 - Filed: 2017-11-15 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-17 - Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin - Applicants: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin - Inventors: José-Carlos Araujo Da Silva; Benjamin Gornard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305582B2 ## CPC - B60C 1/0016: {Compositions of the tread} - C08L 53/025: {modified} - B60C 11/0008: {characterised by the tread rubber} - C08F 297/04: polymerising vinyl aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes - C08F 297/046: {polymerising vinyl aromatic monomers and isoprene, optionally with other conjugated dienes} - C08F 297/086: {the block polymer contains at least three blocks} - C08L 53/02: of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes - B60C 2011/0016: {Physical properties or dimensions} - C08F 2810/20: leading to a crosslinking, either explicitly or inherently - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS ## Abstract A tire (1) comprises a tread (3), a crown with a crown reinforcement (2), two sidewalls (5), two beads (4), a carcass reinforcement (6) anchored to the two beads (4) and extending from one sidewall (5) to the other, the tread comprising (a) an elastomeric matrix which comprises predominantly one or more thermoplastic elastomers comprising at least one elastomer block and at least one thermoplastic block, and (b) a crosslinking system based on one or more peroxides. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the tire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire comprising a tread, a crown with a crown reinforcement, two sidewalls, two beads, a carcass reinforcement anchored to the two beads and extending from one sidewall to the other, wherein the tread comprises: (a) an elastomeric matrix comprising at least 50% by weight of at least one thermoplastic elastomer comprising at least one elastomer block and at least one thermoplastic block, relative to all of the elastomers present in the elastomeric matrix of the tread, wherein the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is a triblock copolymer comprising thermoplastic block/elastomer block/thermoplastic block; and (b) a crosslinking system based on at least one peroxide, wherein the peroxide content ranges from 0.1 to 10 phr. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic elastomer has a glass transition temperature below or equal to 25° C. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein the at least one thermoplastic elastomer has a glass transition temperature below or equal to 10° C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the number-average molecular weight of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is between 30,000 and 500,000 g/mol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tire according to claim 4, wherein the number-average molecular weight of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is between 40,000 and 400,000 g/mol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tire according to claim 5, wherein the number-average molecular weight of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is between 50,000 and 300,000 g/mol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastomer block of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylenic elastomers, polyethers, partially hydrogenated diene elastomers, completely hydrogenated diene elastomers, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tire according to claim 7, wherein the at least one elastomer block of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyisoprenes, polybutadienes, butadiene-isoprene copolymers, polyethers, ethylene-butylene copolymers, partially hydrogenated styrene-butadiene copolymers, completely hydrogenated styrene-butadiene copolymers, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic block of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyesters, polyacetals, polyethers, polyphenylene sulfides, polyfluorinated compounds, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polysulfones, polymethyl methacrylate, polyetherimide, thermoplastic copolymers, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic block of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrenes, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tire according to claim 10, wherein the at least one thermoplastic block of the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrenes, polyesters, polyamides, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene (SEBS), polyether/polyester (COPE), polyether/polyamide (PEBA), styrene/butadiene/styrene (SBS), styrene/isoprene/styrene (SIS), styrene/butadiene/isoprene/styrene (SBIS), styrene/optionally hydrogenated butadiene-styrene copolymer/styrene (SOE), styrene/partially hydrogenated butadiene/styrene (SBBS) block copolymers, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer content of the elastomeric matrix of the tread varies from 65 to 100 phr. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tire according to claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer content of the elastomeric matrix of the tread varies from 70 to 100 phr. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tire according to claim 14, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer content of the elastomeric matrix of the tread varies from 75 to 100 phr. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tire according to claim 15, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer content of the elastomeric matrix of the tread varies from 95 to 100 phr. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic elastomer is the only elastomer in the elastomeric matrix of the tread. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one peroxide is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl peroxides, diacyl peroxides, acetal peroxides, ester peroxides, hydroperoxides and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tire according to claim 18, wherein the at least one peroxide is selected from the group consisting of dicumyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(tert-butylperoxy)hexane, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the peroxide content of the tread ranges from 0.2 to 6 phr. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the peroxide content of the tread ranges from 0.5 to 5 phr. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the tread additionally comprises at least one plasticizing agent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The tire according to claim 22, wherein the at least one plasticizing agent is selected from the group consisting of plasticizing resins and plasticizing oils. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The tire according to claim 22, wherein the at least one plasticizing agent is a liquid paraffin. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the tread contains less than 0.3 phr of molecular sulfur or a sulfur donor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The tire according to claim 25, wherein the tread contains less than 0.1 phr of molecular sulfur or a sulfur donor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the tread does not contain molecular sulfur or a sulfur donor. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the tread does not contain a vulcanization accelerator. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the tread does not contain an antioxidant agent. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A process for preparing the tire according to claim 1 comprising the following steps: extruding the tread; then placing the extruded tread on the tire; and then curing the tire.