Abstract: The invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr): 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; and from 1 to 100 phr of a carbon dioxide-generated carbon reinforcement produce by a method comprising: mixing a first gas stream containing carbon dioxide and a second gas stream containing a gaseous reducing agent to form a reaction gas mixture; supplying the reaction gas mixture to a reaction zone; reacting the carbon dioxide with the gaseous reducing agent in the reaction zone in the presence of an iron-containing catalyst to form water and the solid carbon product; and separating at least a portion of the water formed in the reaction zone from the reaction gas mixture during the reaction of the carbon dioxide with the gaseous reducing agent.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass ply, a tread disposed radially outward of a crown region of the carcass ply, a belt structure having an overall axial width substantially equal to a tread width interposed between the tread and the crown region in circumferential surrounding relation to the carcass ply, and a fabric layer including a plurality of warp cords and a plurality of weft cords extending transversely over and under each of the warp cords, each warp cord being a monofilament, each weft cord being a flat textured multifilament.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr):100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; from 1-80 phr of carbon black; from 0 to 100 phr of silica; from 1 to 10 phr of a surface-functionalized carbon allotrope; from 1 to 20 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing organosilane per 100 parts by weight of the silica; and from 0.1 to 10 phr of a tetrazine compound of formula 1 where X1 and X2 each represent a heterocyclic group. The invention also includes a pneumatic tire comprising the vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr): 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; from 1 to 80 phr of carbon black; from 40 to 120 phr of silica; from 1 to 20 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing organosilane per 100 parts by weight of the silica; from 0.1 to 10 phr of a tetrazine compound of formula 1 where X1 and X2 each represent a heterocyclic group; and from 0.5 to 10 phr of a zinc complex compound of formula 2 where R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, alkylene groups, hydroxyl-substituted alkyl or alkylene groups, amine-substituted alkyl or alkylene groups, and thiol-substituted alkyl or alkylene groups.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 60 to about 100 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having more than 98 percent of the repeat units derived from styrene in blocks containing less than five repeat units, Tg ranging from ?65° C. to ?79° C.; (B) up to 40 phr of polybutadiene having a cis 1,4 content greater than 95 percent and a Tg ranging from ?80 to ?110° C.; (C) from 30 to 80 phr of a combination of a resin having a Tg of at least 30° C. and an oil, wherein the weight ratio of resin to oil is greater than 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 60 to about 100 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having more than 98 percent of the repeat units derived from styrene in blocks containing less than five repeat units, Tg ranging from ?65° C. to ?79° C.; (B) up to 40 phr of polybutadiene having a cis 1,4 content greater than 95 percent and a Tg ranging from ?80 to ?110° C.; (C) from 30 to 80 phr of a combination of a resin having a Tg of at least 30° C. and an oil, wherein the weight ratio of resin to oil is greater than 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, primary amine, and secondary amine; and a binding agent selected from the group consisting of water-dispersible resin, polyelectrolytes, and polypeptides. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition, and a method of increasing the green strength in a rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicular tire having a rubber tread interlocked with a polyurethane carcass.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a copolymer, comprising the steps of at least partially epoxidizing a polyisoprene to produce an epoxidized polyisoprene; reacting the epoxidized polyisoprene with a dithiol to produce a thiol functionalized polyisoprene; and reacting the thiol functionalized polyisoprene with a thiolophile-functionalized polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and hydrogen bond acceptor site to form the copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bifunctionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of (1) a living anionic elastomeric polymer initiated with a functional initiator and (2) a functional polymerization terminator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising a bifunctionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of 1) a living anionic elastomeric polymer initiated with a functional initiator and 2) a functional polymerization terminator; and a filler selected from silica and carbon black. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic tire comprising the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, primary amine, and secondary amine; and a binding agent selected from the group consisting of water-dispersible resin, polyelectrolytes, and polypeptides. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition, and a method of increasing the green strength in a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and a polymeric side-chain bonded exclusively to a terminal end of the backbone chain, the side-chain comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor moiety and a hydrogen bond acceptor moiety.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polyisoprene backbone chain with a microstructure comprising grater than 98 percent by weight of cis 1,4 linkages; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and a hydrogen bond acceptor site.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a copolymer, comprising the steps of at least partially epoxidizing a polyisoprene to produce an epoxidized polyisoprene; reacting the epoxidized polyisoprene with a dithiol to produce a thiol functionalized polyisoprene; and reacting the thiol functionalized polyisoprene with a thiolophile-functionalized polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and hydrogen bond acceptor site to form the copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polyisoprene backbone chain with a microstructure comprising grater than 98 percent by weight of cis 1,4 linkages; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and a hydrogen bond acceptor site.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and a polymeric side-chain bonded exclusively to a terminal end of the backbone chain, the side-chain comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor moiety and a hydrogen bond acceptor moiety.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the steps of polymerizing at least one diene monomer and optionally a vinyl aromatic monomer in the presence of an initiator of formula (II) to produce a protected hydroxyl end-terminated polymer where R1, R2, R3 can all be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or aryls having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R4 is an alkylene having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkylene having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or an arylene having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, X is S, O or NH, and Li is lithium; de-protecting the protected hydroxyl end-terminated elastomer to produce a hydroxyl end-functionalized polymer; reacting the hydroxyl end-funtionalized polymer with a maleimido acid chloride to produce a maleimido end-functionalized polymer; and reacting the maleimido end-functionalized polymer with a thiol-terminated