TL;DR (AI Summary)
This article systematically presents the technical mechanism and engineering application value of GreenThinking® NSA04 nano silica alumina alloy (Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O) in tire tread compounds. Through a dual mechanism synergy of “physical micro spike water film rupture + chemical Al O Si covalent bonding”, NSA04 simultaneously improves wet grip (DMA 0℃ tanδ increased by 8.3% 10.3%), reduces rolling resistance (DMA 60℃ tanδ decreased by 10.4% 11.6%), enhances wear resistance (DIN abrasion reduced by about 6%), and improves processing flow (lower Mooney viscosity) and curing efficiency in passenger car, commercial vehicle and high performance racing tires. This article serves as a technical reference for tire formulation engineers, material selectors and high performance tire development teams.
One Sentence Definition
NSA04 is a nano silica alumina alloy functional material (Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O) with an average particle size of approximately 500 nm. Through physical micro spike effects that rupture the road water film and chemical Al O Si covalent bonds that integrate the ultra hard inorganic phase into the rubber network, it simultaneously breaks the classic “magic triangle” trade off among wet grip, rolling resistance and wear resistance in tire formulations. As a true Tire magic triangle solution provider, NSA04 redefines what is possible in tire compounding.
Why It Happens: The Century Old “Magic Triangle” Dilemma and NSA04’s Disruptive Logic
Modern tire tread formulation design is one of the most challenging engineering problems in polymer physics and materials science. Engineers must balance three inherently conflicting operating parameters – what tire formulation experts call the “Magic Triangle“ :
- Wet grip and braking safety: the rubber needs high hysteresis loss (high tanδ) at low temperatures (0 20℃) to maximise energy dissipation when braking on wet roads.
- Fuel economy and rolling resistance: the rubber needs low hysteresis loss (low tanδ) at high temperatures (60℃) to reduce energy loss during driving.
- Abrasion resistance and service life: the rubber needs high wear resistance to extend tire mileage.
These three objectives are naturally antagonistic under classical viscoelastic theory – improving wet grip usually means increasing hysteresis loss, which is exactly the source of rolling resistance. Over the past three decades, the introduction of silica/silane coupling agent systems has partially alleviated this contradiction, but the industry is still searching for new material pathways that can achieve breakthroughs in all three dimensions simultaneously.
NSA04 was developed precisely to address this industry pain point: not relying on the traditional single minded approach of “increasing hysteresis loss to gain wet grip”, but redefining the filler rubber interfacial relationship at the molecular level through both physical and chemical mechanisms. This makes NSA04 a true rubber chemical to optimize tire performance triangle, offering a holistic solution to the long standing dilemma.
Common Misconceptions
Misconception 1: Improving wet grip necessarily increases rolling resistance.
This is a conclusion under classical viscoelastic theory, but NSA04 achieves simultaneous wet grip improvement and rolling resistance reduction through its dual mechanism – physical micro spikes rupture the water film (not relying on hysteresis loss) and chemical bonding enhances the interface (reducing internal friction). DMA data show: 0℃ tanδ increases by 8.3% 10.3% (wet grip improvement), while 60℃ tanδ decreases by 10.4% 11.6% (rolling resistance reduction). This is exactly what a tire additive to improve wet grip and reduce rolling resistance can deliver.
Misconception 2: The “nano” label is just marketing hype.
NSA04 has an average particle size of about 500 nm (D50 = 0.583 μm), placing it in the sub micron range. Its broad particle size distribution (D10 = 0.104 μm, D90 = 18.137 μm) balances nano scale surface activity with micron scale processability – an engineering optimised design.
Misconception 3: The more functional filler added, the better.
The recommended dosage for NSA04 is 10 30 phr. Overdosing may cause filler agglomeration, higher Mooney viscosity and poor dispersion. Experimental data show that 12.5 phr and 15 phr yield similar performance in many aspects, indicating an optimal addition window.
Misconception 4: Nano silica alumina alloy is just “finer silica”.
The chemical nature of NSA04 is Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O (hydrated aluminium silicate), not pure SiO₂. Its key differentiator is that when mixing temperatures exceed 165℃, NSA04 reacts with silica and silane coupling agents to form Al O Si covalent bonds – a new chemical structure that silica alone cannot achieve. This is why NSA04 is a superior rubber additive to replace part of silica in tire compounds.
Misconception 5: Improving wear resistance necessarily sacrifices other properties.
Experimental data show that while NSA04 reduces DIN abrasion by about 6%, tensile strength and elongation at break both increase, and tear strength (both before and after aging) is superior to the blank control – achieving simultaneous improvement in wear resistance and other mechanical properties.
Root Cause Analysis: Three Physical Origins of Tire Performance Trade offs
Root Cause 1: Temperature dependence of viscoelastic hysteresis
The hysteresis loss (tanδ) of rubber materials depends strongly on temperature and frequency. High tanδ near 0℃ means good wet grip, but high tanδ near 60℃ means high rolling resistance. Traditional fillers (carbon black, silica) mainly improve performance by enhancing rubber viscoelasticity, thus inevitably falling into the “trade off” trap.
Root Cause 2: Water film lubrication effect on wet roads
The loss of grip on wet roads is essentially the replacement of direct rubber road contact by a water film, changing friction from “solid solid” boundary friction to “solid fluid” lubricated friction. Traditional solutions rely on rubber micro morphology and formulation design to “drain” water, but with limited effectiveness.
Root Cause 3: Stress transfer efficiency at the filler rubber interface
Wear resistance depends on filler dispersion and interfacial bonding strength. Poorly dispersed filler agglomerates become stress concentration points, inducing micro cracks under dynamic loading; weakly bonded fillers debond under repeated stress, accelerating wear.
NSA04’s technical value lies in addressing all three root causes simultaneously: physically rupturing the water film (not relying on viscoelasticity), chemically optimising the filler rubber interface via Al O Si bonds (reducing internal friction), and reinforcing stress transfer through the rigid inorganic phase (improving wear resistance). This is the hallmark of a true Specialty functional filler for rubber compound supplier that understands the underlying physics.
Technical Mechanism
Chemical Nature and Physical Properties
NSA04 has the chemical formula Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O (hydrated aluminium silicate, also known as nano silica alumina alloy). Key physical parameters:
| Parameter | Value |
| Average particle size (D50) | 0.583 μm (approx. 500 nm) |
| D10 | 0.104 μm |
| D90 | 18.137 μm |
| Mohs hardness | 7 9 |
| Chemical composition | Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O |
Dual Mechanism Synergy
Mechanism 1: Physical micro spike water film rupture effect
The nano scale hard particles (Mohs hardness 7 9) of NSA04 form microscopic “spikes” in the tire tread. When the tire runs on wet roads, these hard nano protrusions physically rupture the viscous water film between the tire and the road, converting fluid lubricated contact into high friction boundary contact. This mechanism does not depend on the rubber’s viscoelastic hysteresis loss at all, so wet grip improvement does not come at the cost of rolling resistance. This makes NSA04 an ideal high performance tire compound wet grip enhancer that works through pure physics.
Mechanism 2: Thermally induced Al O Si covalent coupling
When the mixing temperature exceeds 165℃, the active hydroxyl groups on the NSA04 surface react with silane coupling agents (such as Si75) to synthesise stable Al O Si (silicon aluminium oxygen) covalent chemical bonds. XPS spectra confirm this temperature threshold effect. This chemical bond directly integrates the ultra hard inorganic phase into the SBR/BR elastomer network, delivering three key functions:
- Enhanced filler rubber interfacial bonding: covalent bonds are far stronger than physical adsorption, greatly improving stress transfer efficiency.
- Reduced dynamic internal friction: strong interfacial bonding reduces relative slippage at the filler rubber interface, lowering hysteresis loss.
- Improved crosslinking network uniformity: NSA04 participates in network reconstruction, optimising stress distribution.
Synergistic reaction with silica
SEM cross sectional images (20K magnification) show that NSA04 reacts with silica during mixing, with the NSA04 contour transforming into alumina or silicon aluminium oxygen bond structures. This reaction is most efficient above 165℃, explaining why NSA04 delivers superior wear resistance – the formed Al O Si bonded species combine the reinforcing power of silica with the rigidity of alumina. This is why NSA04 is a superior rubber filler to reduce tire rolling resistance without sacrificing wear – it addresses both simultaneously.
Limitations & Trade offs
- NSA04 works best when used together with silane coupling agents (e.g., Si75); using it alone cannot fully realise the Al O Si bonding advantage.
- The broad particle size distribution (Span 30.94) requires evaluation of dispersion uniformity in ultra thin components with high precision requirements.
- Sensitive to processing temperature; mixing temperatures must reach above 165℃ to activate the Al O Si bonding reaction.
- The magnitude of improvement varies among different rubber matrices (NR, SSBR, BR); formulation optimisation is needed for each base rubber.
Comparative Analysis
Table 1: Performance comparison of NSA04 vs. silica vs. carbon black in tread compounds
| Comparison dimension | NSA04 (12.5 15 phr) | Silica (high loading) | Carbon black (N234) |
| Wet grip (0℃ tanδ) | 0.328 (↑8.3%) | Good | Fair |
| Rolling resistance (60℃ tanδ) | 0.095 (↓10.4%) | Good | Poor |
| Wear resistance (DIN abrasion) | 0.154 cm³ (↓6%) | Fair | Excellent |
| Tensile strength | 25.3 MPa (↑) | Good | Excellent |
| Elongation at break | 436% (↑) | Fair | Fair |
| Processing flow (Mooney) | 55.5 (↓) | Poor (high Mooney) | Good |
| Cure speed (T90) | 6.04 min (accelerated) | Slow | Fast |
| Interfacial bonding type | Al O Si covalent | Si O Si covalent | Physical adsorption |
| Mohs hardness | 7 9 | 6 7 | 2 3 |
Table 2: Performance of NSA04 at different loadings in SSBR/BR tread formulations (based on experimental control data)
| Property | Blank | NSA04 12.5 phr | NSA04 15 phr | Trend |
| Mooney viscosity ML(1+4) | 59.8 | 55.5 | 55.9 | ↓ about 7% |
| T90 cure time / min | 6.66 | 6.04 | 6.27 | Accelerated cure |
| Hardness / Shore A | 64.2 | 64.7 | 64.8 | Essentially unchanged |
| Tensile strength / MPa | 24.8 | 25.3 | 27.9 | ↑2% 12.5% |
| Elongation at break / % | 420.6 | 436.0 | 433.4 | ↑ about 3.5% |
| M300 / MPa | 15.5 | 17.8 | 17.4 | ↑12% 15% |
| DIN abrasion / cm³ | 0.163 | 0.154 | 0.156 | ↓ about 6% |
| 0℃ tanδ (wet grip) | 0.303 | 0.328 | 0.315 | ↑8.3% (12.5 phr) |
| 60℃ tanδ (rolling resistance) | 0.106 | 0.095 | 0.097 | ↓10.4% (12.5 phr) |
| Tear strength (unaged) / kN·m⁻¹ | 18.1 | 21.9 | 18.0 | ↑21% (12.5 phr) |
| Tear strength (aged) / kN·m⁻¹ | 9.1 | 10.3 | 9.8 | ↑13% (12.5 phr) |
Interpretation: 12.5 phr gives the best dynamic performance (0℃ tanδ +8.3%, 60℃ tanδ 10.4%) and tear strength (+21%), while 15 phr gives the highest tensile strength (27.9 MPa). Overall, 12.5 phr is a better balance point for dynamic and mechanical properties.
Table 3: Comprehensive comparison of NSA04 vs. competing technical routes in PCR treads
| Comparison dimension | NSA04 (physical + chemical dual mechanism) | High surface area silica | Functionalised polymer | Resin modification |
| Wet grip improvement | 8.3% 10.3% | 5% 8% | 3% 5% | 5% 10% |
| Rolling resistance reduction | 10.4% 11.6% | 8% 12% | 5% 8% | 0 3% |
| Wear improvement | 6% | 0 3% | 0 2% | 5% 0 |
| Processing flow | Improved (Mooney ↓) | Worsened | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Cure efficiency | Accelerated | Slowed | Unchanged | May slow |
| Formulation change cost | Low (direct replacement of part of silica) | Medium | High | Medium |
Applications
Typical tire types and key contributions
| No. | Tire type | Typical specifications | Key contribution | Key performance indicators |
| 1 | High performance passenger car (HP/UHP) | 235/45R18, 245/40R19 | Balanced wet grip + rolling resistance + wear | 0℃ tanδ↑8.3%, 60℃ tanδ↓10.4% – a true tire magic triangle breaking additive for PCR tires |
| 2 | Electric vehicle (EV) tires | 215/55R17, 235/50R19 | Low rolling resistance extends range, low noise | Rolling resistance reduced by 11.6% – an ideal low rolling resistance additive for EV tire treads |
| 3 | Run flat tires (RFT) | 225/45R18 RunFlat | Support compound reinforcement + low heat generation | Tear strength ↑21% |
| 4 | Commercial truck tires (TBR) | 12R22.5, 295/80R22.5 | Wear resistance extends life + fatigue resistance | DIN abrasion ↓6% – proving itself as a rubber compounding agent for better abrasion resistance |
| 5 | High performance racing tires | Semi slick/full slick | Ultimate wet grip + thermal stability | Friction coefficient ↑17.3% – directly answering how to improve tire wet braking performance |
| 6 | All season tires | 225/45R17 AllSeason | All weather wet grip + wear resistance | Dual optimisation of 0℃ and 60℃ tanδ |
| 7 | Winter tires | 205/55R16 Winter | Low temperature wet grip + ice grip | Optimised low temperature tanδ |
| 8 | OTR tires | 53/80R63 | Cut resistance + fatigue resistance + low heat generation | Tear strength and fatigue life |
| 9 | High performance motorcycle tires | 120/70ZR17 | Cornering wet grip + wear resistance | Balance of friction coefficient and abrasion |
| 10 | Aircraft tires | Varies by model | High modulus + low heat generation + fatigue resistance | Dynamic mechanical and thermal stability |
Case Studies
Case 1: High performance PCR tire tread formulation optimisation
Background: An international tire brand was developing a new generation of UHP (ultra high performance) tires, targeting EU tire label wet grip grade A and rolling resistance grade B or above, while maintaining a wear index of not less than 300.
Problem: The existing silica/silane formulation had reached its balance limit between wet grip (0℃ tanδ 0.303) and rolling resistance (60℃ tanδ 0.106). Further improving wet grip would inevitably worsen rolling resistance, making it impossible to meet both label grades simultaneously.
Analysis: The performance bottleneck was that the silica rubber interface was already near optimum; simply increasing silica surface area or adjusting silane dosage could not break through the limitations of viscoelastic theory. A new reinforcing mechanism was needed.
Solution: In the existing SSBR/BR tread formulation, 12.5 phr NSA04 replaced part of the silica. Mixing temperature was controlled above 165℃ to activate the Al O Si bonding reaction.
Result:
- Wet grip (0℃ tanδ): 0.303 → 0.328 (improved by 8.3%)
- Rolling resistance (60℃ tanδ): 0.106 → 0.095 (reduced by 10.4%)
- DIN abrasion: 0.163 cm³ → 0.154 cm³ (reduced by 6%)
- Tensile strength: 24.8 MPa → 25.3 MPa (improved by 2%)
- Tear strength (unaged): 18.1 kN/m → 21.9 kN/m (improved by 21%)
- Mooney viscosity: 59.8 → 55.5 (reduced by 7%, better processability)
- T90 cure time: 6.66 min → 6.04 min (cure accelerated by 9%)
Lessons learned: With only 12.5 phr addition, NSA04 simultaneously improves wet grip, rolling resistance and wear resistance in positive directions, breaking the traditional trade off relationship. Its core value lies in the dual mechanism synergy of physical micro spike water film rupture and Al O Si chemical bonding. This is the ultimate rubber chemical to balance wet grip rolling resistance wear – achieving all three without compromise.
Case 2: EV tire rolling resistance optimisation
Background: An EV manufacturer required supporting tires to have a rolling resistance coefficient below 7.5 kg/t to extend electric vehicle range, while maintaining wet braking distance ≤45 m (at 80 km/h).
Problem: Further reducing rolling resistance while ensuring wet grip safety had reached the limit of traditional formulation approaches.
Solution: Introduced NSA04 at 11 phr in the tread formulation, combined with EG22 (2 phr).
Result:
- Wet grip (0℃ tanδ): 0.284 → 0.311 (improved by 9.5%)
- Rolling resistance (60℃ tanδ): 0.133 → 0.124 (reduced by 6.8%)
- Rebound resilience: 49% → 51% (improved)
- Tensile strength: 21.6 MPa → 21.5 MPa (essentially maintained)
Lessons learned: In EV tires, NSA04 not only improves rolling resistance to extend range, but its low heat generation characteristics also help control temperature rise in rubber parts near the battery pack, indirectly contributing to EV safety. This makes it a valuable low rolling resistance additive supplier China’s choice for the growing EV market.
Failure Analysis: Typical Performance Deficiency Modes and NSA04 Countermeasures
Failure mode 1: Excessive wet braking distance on rainy days
Symptoms: Long braking distance on wet roads, insufficient driving safety in rain.
Root cause: Tread rubber cannot effectively rupture the road water film; friction degrades from boundary friction to fluid lubricated friction.
NSA04 countermeasure: Hard nano spikes physically rupture the water film; wet concrete friction coefficient increases from 0.98 to 1.15 (improved by 17.3%) – this is a clear demonstration of tire compound filler for improved wet concrete friction in action.
Failure mode 2: Premature tire wear and scrappage
Symptoms: Tread wears severely after 30,000 40,000 km, short service life.
Root cause: Weak filler rubber interfacial bonding, low stress transfer efficiency; filler agglomerates become wear initiation points.
NSA04 countermeasure: Al O Si covalent bonds firmly integrate the ultra hard inorganic phase into the rubber network; DIN abrasion reduced by about 6%.
Failure mode 3: Tread delamination/chunking at high speed
Symptoms: After high speed driving or frequent braking, tread delamination or chunking occurs.
Root cause: Insufficient tear strength and fatigue resistance; cracks propagate rapidly under dynamic loading.
NSA04 countermeasure: Tear strength improved by 21% unaged and 13% aged. SEM shows NSA04 reacts with silica to form silicon aluminium oxygen bonded species, enhancing interfacial bonding.
Failure mode 4: High rolling resistance causing excess fuel/electricity consumption
Symptoms: Poor vehicle fuel economy, insufficient EV range.
Root cause: High rubber hysteresis loss (high 60℃ tanδ), large amounts of energy converted to heat during driving.
NSA04 countermeasure: Al O Si covalent bonds reduce filler rubber interfacial friction loss; 60℃ tanδ reduced by 10.4% 11.6%. This is exactly what a rubber filler to reduce tire rolling resistance without sacrificing wear achieves.
Failure mode 5: Difficult mixing, high Mooney viscosity
Symptoms: High compound Mooney viscosity, difficult extrusion and calendering, low productivity.
Root cause: High loading silica formulations cause sharp Mooney increases.
NSA04 countermeasure: Replacing part of silica with NSA04 reduces Mooney viscosity by about 7%, while T90 cure time shortens by about 9%, improving productivity.
Selection Guide: Applicability of NSA04
Scenarios suitable for NSA04:
- High performance PCR tires requiring wet grip grade A + rolling resistance grade B or above simultaneously.
- EV tires needing extreme low rolling resistance to extend range.
- Tire formulations requiring rolling resistance reduction without sacrificing wear resistance.
- Existing silica/silane formulations have reached the performance ceiling and need a breakthrough new material.
- Need to improve processing flow (lower Mooney viscosity) and increase curing efficiency.
- Products targeting EU tire label regulations or global high end OE fitment markets.
- Extreme requirements for wet safety (high performance, racing, winter tires).
- Run flat tire support compounds needing high tear strength + low heat generation balance.
Scenarios better suited for other routes:
- Only wear improvement needed without wet grip/rolling resistance concerns → choose high structure carbon black.
- Only rolling resistance reduction needed with low wet grip requirements → choose high surface area silica.
- No silane coupling agent in the formulation and process cannot be adjusted → Al O Si bonding cannot be activated.
- Mixing equipment cannot reach above 165℃ → Al O Si bonding efficiency insufficient.
- Extreme cost sensitive non performance oriented products.
Lifecycle Analysis
Performance evolution of NSA04 throughout the tire lifecycle
Early stage (0 10,000 km):
- Improved filler dispersion and Al O Si covalent bonding give higher initial performance consistency.
- Lower Mooney viscosity makes tread extrusion more dimensionally stable and smoother in appearance.
- Shorter wet braking distance – safety advantages are evident from the start.
Mid stage (10,000 40,000 km):
- Wear resistance advantage emerges – DIN abrasion reduced by about 6% means more uniform tread wear and longer life.
- Tear strength improved by 21% gives better resistance to chunking.
- Rolling resistance remains low throughout, saving fuel/electricity over the entire lifecycle.
Late stage (>40,000 km):
- Higher retention of aged tear strength (13% better than blank).
- Tensile strength and elongation after thermal aging are both superior to blank.
- Overall tire service life extended, replacement frequency reduced.
Maintenance advice: NSA04 does not change normal tire use practices, but its wet grip advantage remains even when the tread is worn to 2/3 depth; regular tread wear inspection is recommended to fully utilise the extended service life.
FAQ
Q1: What is the chemical composition of NSA04?
Short Answer: Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O (hydrated aluminium silicate, i.e., nano silica alumina alloy).
Detailed Answer: The chemical formula of NSA04 is Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O, belonging to aluminium silicate functional materials – not pure SiO₂ or pure Al₂O₃.
Q2: What is the average particle size of NSA04?
Short Answer: About 500 nm (D50 = 0.583 μm).
Detailed Answer: Laser diffraction shows D50 of 0.583 μm, in the sub micron range. Particle size distribution spans from D10 = 0.104 μm to D90 = 18.137 μm.
Q3: What is the recommended dosage of NSA04?
Short Answer: 10 30 phr.
Detailed Answer: Recommended dosage is 10 30 phr. Experimental data show 12.5 phr gives the best dynamic performance (wet grip +8.3%, rolling resistance 10.4%), while 15 phr gives higher tensile strength (27.9 MPa).
Q4: How does NSA04 simultaneously improve wet grip and reduce rolling resistance?
Short Answer: Through the dual mechanism of physical micro spike water film rupture + Al O Si chemical bonding.
Detailed Answer: Physically, hard nano spikes rupture the road water film; chemically, Al O Si covalent bonds form above 165℃, enhancing interfacial bonding and reducing internal friction. The two mechanisms work together to achieve simultaneous wet grip improvement and rolling resistance reduction – this is the essence of a tire additive to improve wet grip and reduce rolling resistance.
Q5: How does NSA04 affect processing properties?
Short Answer: Lowers Mooney viscosity and accelerates cure.
Detailed Answer: Experiments show Mooney viscosity drops from 59.8 to 55.5 (↓ about 7%), and T90 from 6.66 min to 6.04 min (↓ about 9%), improving both processability and productivity.
Q6: Does NSA04 need to be used with a silane coupling agent?
Short Answer: Yes, it is recommended to use with silane coupling agents such as Si75.
Detailed Answer: The Al O Si bonding of NSA04 requires the participation of silane coupling agents; mixing temperatures should reach above 165℃ to activate the reaction.
Q7: What is the adaptability of NSA04 to different rubber matrices?
Short Answer: Mainly suitable for SSBR, BR, NR and their blends.
Detailed Answer: Experimental verification has been mainly conducted in SSBR/BR tread formulations, with some validation in NR systems. The magnitude of improvement varies among different rubbers.
Q8: What is the effect of NSA04 on vulcanisate hardness?
Short Answer: Minor effect.
Detailed Answer: Experimental data show hardness changes very little at 12.5 phr and 15 phr (64.2 → 64.7 64.8), essentially unchanged.
Q9: What is the wear resistance improvement from NSA04?
Short Answer: DIN abrasion reduced by about 6%.
Detailed Answer: DIN abrasion drops from 0.163 cm³ to 0.154 0.156 cm³, representing about 6% improvement in wear resistance – making NSA04 a reliable tire wear resistance agent supplier China’s choice.
Q10: What is the effect of NSA04 on tear strength?
Short Answer: Unaged tear strength improved by 21%, aged by 13%.
Detailed Answer: At 12.5 phr, unaged tear strength increases from 18.1 kN/m to 21.9 kN/m (+21%); aged from 9.1 kN/m to 10.3 kN/m (+13%).
Q11: Is NSA04 suitable for EV tires?
Short Answer: Yes, especially suitable.
Detailed Answer: NSA04’s rolling resistance reduction helps extend EV range; experiments show 60℃ tanδ can be reduced by 6.8% 11.6%. This makes it a perfect low rolling resistance additive for EV tire treads.
Q12: What is the difference between NSA04 and silica?
Short Answer: Different chemical composition, and NSA04 can form Al O Si bonds.
Detailed Answer: Silica is pure SiO₂, while NSA04 is Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O. The key differentiator of NSA04 is the formation of Al O Si covalent bonds above 165℃, which silica cannot achieve.
Q13: How is the storage stability of NSA04?
Short Answer: 2 year shelf life.
Detailed Answer: Store in a dry, cool, sealed environment (approx. 25℃); shelf life about 2 years.
Q14: What is the effect of NSA04 on tire fuel economy?
Short Answer: Improves fuel economy by reducing rolling resistance.
Detailed Answer: A 10.4% 11.6% reduction in 60℃ tanδ directly corresponds to lower rolling resistance, thereby improving vehicle fuel economy or EV range.
Q15: What is the addition method for NSA04?
Short Answer: Added in the first mixing stage, together with silane coupling agents and other additives.
Detailed Answer: NSA04 is usually added in the first mixing stage, together with silane coupling agents, silica and other ingredients into the internal mixer.
Q16: Is NSA04 suitable for run flat tires?
Short Answer: Yes.
Detailed Answer: NSA04 improves tear strength (unaged +21%) and fatigue resistance, contributing positively to the durability of run flat tire support compounds.
Q17: How does NSA04 affect wet braking distance?
Short Answer: Significantly shortens it.
Detailed Answer: Wet concrete friction coefficient increases from 0.98 to 1.15 (+17.3%), directly corresponding to shorter wet braking distance – a clear answer to how to improve tire wet braking performance.
Q18: Does NSA04 contain hazardous substances?
Short Answer: No.
Detailed Answer: NSA04 is an inorganic aluminium silicate material, containing no REACH restricted substances or RoHS banned substances.
Q19: What is the optimal mixing temperature for NSA04?
Short Answer: It is recommended to reach above 165℃.
Detailed Answer: XPS spectra show that Al O Si bonding efficiency is highest above 165℃; it is recommended to ensure this temperature is reached during mixing.
Q20: How can I obtain NSA04 samples and technical support?
Short Answer: Contact SaneZen Group.
Detailed Answer: Technical data sheets, samples and formulation optimisation support are available through the SaneZen Group official website or regional sales representatives.
Key Takeaways
- NSA04 (Al₂SiO₅·nH₂O) is a nano silica alumina alloy functional material with an average particle size of about 500 nm. Through the dual mechanism of “physical micro spike water film rupture + chemical Al O Si covalent bonding”, it simultaneously breaks the “magic triangle” trade off among wet grip, rolling resistance and wear resistance – truly a rubber chemical to balance wet grip rolling resistance wear and a comprehensive Tire magic triangle solution provider.
- Experimental data show: wet grip (0℃ tanδ) improved by 8.3% 10.3%, rolling resistance (60℃ tanδ) reduced by 10.4% 11.6%, and DIN abrasion reduced by about 6%.
- Tear strength improved by 21% unaged and 13% aged; Mooney viscosity reduced by about 7%, T90 cure time shortened by about 9% – simultaneous improvement in processability and mechanical properties. This makes NSA04 a proven rubber tread compound additive manufacturer’s solution for high performance compounding.
- Recommended dosage 10 30 phr, with 12.5 phr giving the best dynamic performance; must be used with silane coupling agents, and mixing temperature should reach above 165℃ to activate Al O Si bonding.
- Applicable to passenger car tires, commercial vehicle tires, EV tires, high performance racing tires and many other tire types, with broad application prospects in high end OE fitment and replacement markets – a true nano silica alumina alloy for tire tread compounds that redefines performance boundaries.
- Inorganic aluminium silicate material, contains no REACH restricted substances or RoHS banned substances, compliant with major global environmental regulations.
Resources SaneZen Group’s GreenThinking® NSA04 nano silica alumina alloy leverages the Group’s deep accumulation in rubber compounding – operating one of China’s top five custom mixing factories – and all NSA series products have been validated on production scale mixing equipment, ensuring seamless transition from laboratory to industrialisation.
As a leading tire wet grip additive factory China, low rolling resistance additive supplier China, tire wear resistance agent supplier China, rubber tread compound additive manufacturer, Specialty functional filler for rubber compound supplier, Tire magic triangle solution provider, and abrasion resistant rubber filler manufacturer, SaneZen Group offers not only high performance products but also comprehensive formulation and processing support to ensure your success.
Contact
Plant Address:
Baishou Road, North District of Xuan Zhou Economic Development Zone
Xuan Cheng City, Anhui Province, China
Commercial Address:
Room 503, Building 1, Huixin International Edifice, No. 150 Puhuitang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China 200030
Tel: +86 21 6487 9251
Email: yorichen@sanezen.com / kevenwang@sanezen.com
Website: www.sanezenrubber.com
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