Advanced Silica Networks in Rubber Composites for Optimizing Energy Efficiency and Performance in Electric Vehicle Tires

Electric vehicles (EVs) require advanced tire characteristics, particularly low rolling resistance and high wear resistance, due to their limited driving range, increased weight, and higher torque. To address these requirements, we incorporated commercially accessible monofunctional silane and silane-terminated telechelic polybutadiene (STPB) into silica-filled rubber composites to construct open-structured silica networks. These networks are formed through the self-condensation of STPB, which creates extended bridges between silica aggregates. This process enhances silica dispersion, reduces flocculation by minimizing aggregate size, and increases interaggregate distance. Additionally, the strong chemical bonds formed by these bridges reinforce the network, significantly restricting the mobility of the interpenetrating rubber chains. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the open-structured silica network enhanced the interaction between the silica and rubber chains, thereby increasing the mechanical strength and reducing energy dissipation. The resulting rubber composites with unique silica networks exhibited a significant reduction in tan δ values of approximately 30% at 60 °C, along with improvements in abrasion resistance. This advanced tire technology can potentially lead to increased energy efficiency and longer driving ranges for EVs.