Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming laminar sheet materials comprising a base material having overlay strap material dielectrically sealed thereto at spaced locations along the length of the base material. In accordance with the method, the strap material is positioned under tension adjacent an electrode bar for dielectric sealing to the base material and the lateral edges of the strap material are confined between retractable guides extending along the sides of the electrode bar. The strap material is tensioned and laterally confined until it is fixed to the base material by dielectric sealing. A dielectric sealing press including a strap feeder for tensioning and confining the strap material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition useful as a catalyst in solution polymerization comprises (1) a barium, calcium and/or strontium alcoholate, (2) an organoaluminum compound and (3) an organomagnesium compound. (2) and (3) may be used as a complex with (1). The compositions can be used to polymerize ethylenically unsaturated monomers like butadiene, butadiene and styrene, and isoprene and heterocyclic monomers like oxiranes, thiiranes, siloxanes, thiatanes and lactams. The catalyst composition can produce polybutadienes and butadiene-styrene copolymers having a trans-1,4 content as high as 90%. The non-terminating features of the polymerization of this invention permit the preparation of functionally terminated butadiene based polymers and block polymers containing sufficient amounts of trans-1,4 butadiene units to crystallize.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of preparing a glass-reinforced elastomeric product whereby cord blows may be eliminated. The method includes treating the glass fabric with a dip which improves adhesion to the rubber, and calendering the glass fabric and the rubber compound. The improvement comprises the step, prior to the calendering, of applying to the glass fabric an overdip composition including an effective amount of a material which is a cure accelerator for the rubber, whereby the amount of time required for full cure, and compaction of the rubber compound is reduced.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline dispersion of a rubbery graft low gel vinyl pyridine copolymer and a water soluble, heat reactive phenolic resin is useful in forming an adhesive for bonding polyamide or polyester reinforcing elements or cords to rubber compounds or stocks. After dipping the polyamide or polyester cord in the one-step adhesive dip, the coated cord is heated to dry it and heat cure or heat set the adhesive on the cord. Thereafter, the adhesive containing polyamide or polyester cord is combined with, or laminated to (calendered), a curable rubber compound and the resulting assembly is cured to form a composite in which the polyamide or polyester cord is bonded to the rubber by means of said adhesive.

Abstract: A pressurized game ball including an elastomeric wall defining a cavity containing a compressible inflation gas that includes predetermined mixed amounts of air and a low permeability gas which effectively enables the ball to retain its pressurized state within a desired range of pressures for a period of time significantly longer than the ball would remain pressurized if the inflation gas were air alone with the improvement being that the noise ( a "ping" sound) resulting when an aforesaid gas system is caused to resonate is substantially lessened by including an amount of material sufficient to disturb the sonic resonance in the ball cavity. The best anti-ping material is polyurethane foam, and it may be in the form of a cube weighing less than 0.3 gram.

Abstract: The adhesion of brass plated steel cord to rubber is improved in many cases by treatment of the cord with a dilute aqueous solution of certain amino carboxylic acids and their corresponding ammonium, lithium, sodium and/or potassium salts and salt hydrates. After dipping in the treating solution, the cords may be rinsed with water, dried, combined with a vulcanizable rubber compound and vulcanized.

Abstract: A composition useful as a catalyst in solution polymerization comprises (1) a barium, calcium and/or strontium alcoholate, (2) an organoaluminum compound and (3) an organomagnesium compound. (2) and (3) may be used as a complex with (1). The compositions can be used to polymerize ethylenically unsaturated monomers like butadiene, butadiene and styrene, and isoprene and heterocyclic monomers like oxiranes, thiiranes, siloxanes, thiatanes and lactams. The catalyst composition can product polybutadienes and butadiene-styrene copolymers having a trans-1,4 content as high as 90%. The non-terminating features of the polymerization of this invention permit the preparation of functionally terminated butadiene based polymers and block polymers containing sufficient amounts of trans-1,4 butadiene units to crystallize.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline dispersion of a rubbery graft low gel vinyl pyridine copolymer and a water soluble, heat reactive phenolic resin is useful in forming an adhesive for bonding polyamide or polyester reinforcing elements or cords to rubber compounds or stocks. After dipping the polyamide or polyester cord in the one-step adhesive dip, the coated cord is heated to dry it and heat cure or heat set the adhesive on the cord. Thereafter, the adhesive containing polyamide or polyester cord is combined with, or laminated to (calendered), a curable rubber compound and the resulting assembly is cured to form a composite in which the polyamide or polyester cord is bonded to the rubber by means of said adhesive.

Abstract: Flexible or semiflexible low density polyetherurethane foams containing antimony trioxide, zinc oxide and a brominated diphenyl ether or oxide having from 4 to 10 bromine atoms exhibit good flame retardant properties and also exhibit good resistance to smoldering.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline dispersion of a rubbery polybutadiene and a water soluble, heat reactive phenolic resin is useful in forming an adhesive for bonding polyamide or polyester reinforcing elements or cords to ethylene-propylene-diene rubbery polymer (EPDM) compounds or stocks. After dipping the polyamide or polyester cord in the adhesive dip, the coated cord is heated to dry it and heat cure or heat set the adhesive on the cord. Thereafter, the adhesive containing polyamide or polyester cord is combined with, or laminated to (calendered), a curable or vulcanizable EPDM compound and the resulting assembly is cured to form a composite in which the polymide or polyester cord is bonded to the EPDM rubber by means of said adhesive.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline dispersion of a rubbery graft low gel vinyl pyridine copolymer and a water soluble, heat reactive phenolic resin is useful in forming an adhesive for bonding polyamide or polyester reinforcing elements or cords to rubber compounds or stocks. After dipping the polyamide or polyester cord in the one-step adhesive dip, the coated cord is heated to dry it and heat cure or heat set the adhesive on the cord. Thereafter, the adhesive containing polyamide or polyester cord is combined with, or laminated to (calendered), a curable rubber compound and the resulting assembly is cured to form a composite in which the polyamide or polyester cord is bonded to the rubber by means of said adhesive.

Abstract: A new extrusion die head and method of making the same is provided that permits two strips of elastomeric material to be extruded simultaneously and one above the other from a single core of extrudate. The head is particularly useful for extruding sidewall strips in the manufacture of pneumatic tires. The head design has features common to both conventional strip extruding heads and to heads for extruding tubular shapes, commonly called tuber heads. However, the head is quite different from both the conventional strip extrusion heads and the conventional tuber heads, and has the advantage that it permits two strips to be extruded simultaneously through passages that are relatively short in length and are no wider than the width of a single sidewall strip. The design of the head and the method of making it are such that the extrusion passage surfaces can be easily machined to provide excellent flow characteristics, and the entire head is easily fabricated and cleaned.

Abstract: A block copolymer of polyalkalene oxide and a polydiene is made by the lithium catalyzed anionic polymerization of a diene followed by polymerization of an alkalene oxide using a double metal cyanide catalyst. The dispersant can be used in forming a crude oil methanol dispersion for transport through unheated pipelines from the North Slope oil fields to Prudhoe Bay.

Abstract: The outer surface layers of a flexible polyetherurethane foam are impregnated and dried with a latex of a flexible carboxylated styrene-butadiene type copolymer to provide a polyurethane foam having a surface which resists degradation in contact with a hot metal, e.g., steel, surface.

Abstract: A laminated product such as a tire is cast from chemically extending liquids which form a laminated solid in a mold. The mold cavity is closed in preparation for use except for casting fluid inlet ports and exhaust vents. The mold cavity defines the shape of the product to be cast. Two or more chemically extendable liquids are injected into the mold without mixing through the inlet ports. Each liquid is injected through a different port. After injection, the liquids are arranged in alternate circumferential segments within the annular space. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces which define the mold cavity is then rotated about the common axis to impart a spiral configuration to each of the injected liquids. The liqiuds are then allowed to chemically extend to solids and form a laminated product such as a tire.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming the end portion of a pneumatic tire carcass ply when the ply is mounted on a carcass building drum includes a cutting tool movable radially with respect to the drum and a backing roller that swings in and out of a position behind the end portion of the carcass ply. The backing roller thus provides a firm back-up for the cutting tool while it is cutting the carcass ply, but the roller can be swung to and out-of-the way position while other operations are performed on the carcass.

Abstract: A belted one-ply radial tire is disclosed which is characterized by a circumferential cord-fabric insert between the inner liner and the ply. The insert is of a material with good compressive fatigue resistance such as polyester cord. The single ply is continuous. The benefits of the high modulus radial ply cords are thus retained, and the disadvantages due to the poor compressive fatigue resistance of such cords are reduced or compensated for by the insert so that a durable one-ply radial tire with improved low rolling resistance is obtained.

Abstract: The characteristics of barium t-alkoxide salts used with organolithium compounds as catalyst complexes in the solution polymerization of unsaturated or oxirane monomers to make polymers such as rubbers is improved by reducing or eliminating the nitrogen content of the barium salt and, further, by using a certain mixture of tertiary carbinols and water in forming the barium salt. In certain instances water may be eliminated.

Abstract: An improved sealing assembly for sealing the expansion gap between adjacent sections of a structure has elongated elastomeric pads laid end to end along the length of the gap with a groove in at least one of the end surfaces of each pad for containing a flowable sealant.The groove has an inlet port at the top edge of the end surface through which the flowable sealant may be injected, an intermediate sealing portion for housing the sealant to prevent debris and liquid from passing between the end faces, and a vent portion communicating between the intermediate sealing portion and the top edge of the end surface, so that sealant emerging from the top of the vent portion will indicate that the intermediate sealing portion has been filled.

Abstract: The characteristics of barium t-alkoxide salts used with organolithium compounds as catalyst complexes in the solution polymerization of unsaturated or oxirane monomers to make polymers such as rubbers is improved by reducing or eliminating the nitrogen content of the barium salt and, further, by using a certain mixture of tertiary carbinols and water in forming the barium salt. In certain instances water may be eliminated.