A review on vehicle tire elastomers and tire wear particles: composition, degradation mechanisms, analytical methods, and predictive multiscale computational modeling

The study of the properties, chemical composition, and degradation patterns of rubber materials used in vehicle tires remains a complex and interdisciplinary task. Rubber for tires—more precisely, complex mixtures of elastomers containing fillers, plasticizers, binders, and other additives—is a condensed chemically active material, the composition and microstructure of which crucially determine the performance characteristics of tires, their durability, and the formation of tire wear particles (TWPs). These particles contribute to environmental pollution and therefore require a detailed understanding of their formation mechanisms, chemical structure, and identification methods. This review provides a comprehensive description of current knowledge about the chemical nature of elastomeric tire systems and the effects of external and operational factors on aging and structural degradation, as well as key physicochemical parameters that determine both performance and environmental impact. We briefly describe the chemical reactions that occur during operation, including oxidation, crosslinking, chain breaking, and the processes of filler–polymer interaction (vulcanization and silica embedding), as well as their role in mechanical stress and long-term stability of the material. In addition, the article discusses modern analytical approaches to the collection, identification, and quantification of TWP, including laboratory methods for determining morphological, chemical, and molecular characteristics. The central part of this review is devoted to multiscale chemical computer modeling as a tool for predicting the behavior and properties of materials, as well as ways of their decomposition and further behavior in nature. We summarize the research results using methods of quantum mechanics (QMs), polyatomic molecular dynamics (MDs), and coarse-grained (CG) modeling, highlighting how these approaches provide a concrete understanding of key structural and property relationships in elastomeric mixtures. Promising areas of future research include combining QM–MD–CG workflows with experimental verification and developing standardized predictive models linking rubber composition to mechanical moduli and environmental emissions.

Content

Subjects

analytical strategies

degradation of tire rubber

elastomer chemistry

environmental impact

molecular dynamic simulation

multiscale computational modeling

nonexhaust emission

quantum mechanical simulation

tire wear particles

DDC Class

620.11: Engineering Materials

541.3: Physical Chemistry

363.7: Environmental Problems

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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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publishedVersion

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Advances in Polymer Technology - 2026 - Tangalychev - A Review on Vehicle Tire Elastomers and Tire Wear Particles .pdf

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