Hybrid factors influencing wet grip and rolling resistance properties of solution styrene‐butadiene rubber composites

Abstract Influencing factors on wet grip and rolling resistance properties of solution styrene − butadiene rubber (SBR) composites were investigated in terms of main hybrid components of the microstructure and crosslink density. Influence of the molecular weight and oil extension on the wet grip and rolling resistance properties was also examined. The styrene and 1,2‐unit contents of SBR affected the wet grip and rolling resistance properties. The influence of hybrid factors on the wet grip and rolling resistance properties was examined using 3D plots of the microstructure and crosslink density. The wet grip property was influenced by the hybrid microstructure of the styrene and 1,2‐unit as well as the crosslink density. The rolling resistance property was found to be mainly affected by not only the styrene content but also the crosslink density. It was found that SBR with appropriate styrene content (15 − 18 mol%), relatively high 1,2‐unit content (45 − 50 mol%) and relatively high crosslink density (over 1.5 × 10 −4 mol cm −3 ) might be good for improvement of both the wet grip and rolling resistance properties. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry