Abstract:
A rubber composition is provided that includes a partially halogenated diene polymer that has a controllable microstructure, and no more than about 50% of the n repeat units are in blocks of three or more consecutive units. In embodiments, a reinforcing filler is also included in the rubber composition. In embodiment, the rubber composition is formed into a tire component. A method of making the composition is also provided.
Abstract:
A rubber composition includes an elastomer having an elongation at break (Eb) of about 50% or more according to ASTM-D 412 at 25° C., a water-insoluble keratin, and a reinforcing filler. A tire component including the composition and a method for making the composition are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A process for preparing a copolymer including one or more phosphorus-containing mer units, the process comprising anionically polymerizing conjugated diene monomer, vinyl organophosphine monomer, and optionally monomer copolymerizable therewith.
Abstract:
Methods of forming blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes are provided. The blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds contain an alkoxysilane group that participates in an alkoxysilane-silica reaction as a silica dispersing agent in rubber, with the release of zero to about 0.1% by weight of the rubber as alcohol (a volatile organic compound (VOC)), during compounding and further processing. The blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds also contain a blocked mercapto group which, when de-blocked, allows the mercapto group to interact with the polymer(s) in a rubber composition. Further described are rubber compounds containing the blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes.
Abstract:
Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (amino AMS), and/or amino co-AMS compounds that also comprise a mercaptosilane or a blocked mercaptosilane, are excellent adhesives for coating plated or unplated metal wire for adherence of the wire to a rubber stock. The amino AMS and/or the amino/mercaptan co-AMS adhesives can be used with all types of rubber and there is no requirement for the use of special adhesive additives to the rubber vulcanizates, such as, but not limited to, cobalt, resins and high sulfur levels. In particular, the use of amino AMS and/or amino/mercaptan co-AMS compounds as adhesives for bonding wire to rubber also improves the adherence performance of the reinforcements to obtain sufficient bonding that is resistant to degradation over the course of time, especially resistance to thermal aging and/or thermo-oxidizing aging, in particular corrosion in the presence of water.
Abstract:
A rubber composition is provided that includes a partially halogenated diene polymer that has a controllable microstructure, and no more than about 50% of the n repeat units are in blocks of three or more consecutive units. In embodiments, a reinforcing filler is also included in the rubber composition. In embodiment, the rubber composition is formed into a tire component. A method of making the composition is also provided.
Abstract:
Alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds are described. The alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds contain an alkoxysilane group that participates in an alkoxysilane-silica reaction as a silica dispersing agent in rubber, with the release of zero to about 0.1% by weight of the rubber of volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially alcohol, during compounding and further processing. Further described are methods for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, methods for making vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, and pneumatic tires comprising a component that contains alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes.
Abstract:
An amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane (AMS) comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino AMS, an amino/mercaptan co-AMS, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-AMS, mixtures thereof, and a weak acid-neutralized solid or aqueous solution thereof, and a method of making the amino AMS, are presented. The compounds are useful in compounding, processing, cure and storage of silica-reinforced rubbers because they contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Abstract:
The invention provides vulcanizable rubber compound having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties. The compounds are formed by mixing an elastomer, containing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in its molecular structure, with a reinforcing inorganic filler silica in the presence of an alkyl alkoxysilane and a non-sulfur coupling agent that binds to the rubber backbone with an “ene” linkage or a 1,3 dipolar addition linkage. In particular, the coupling agent and the alkyl alkoxysilane are present in the compound in a weight ratio of about 0.0001:1 to about 1:1.