Abstract: A method for recovering uncured rubber from unused electron beam pre-cured rubber stock used in the manufacture of pneumatic tires. A first layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having cured rubber is skived with a band knife cutter blade from a second layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having uncured rubber. The band knife cutter blade is lubricated so as to avoid adhesion of the uncured rubber to a leading cutting edge of the cutter blade. After the first layer of cured rubber is removed from the pre-cured rubber stock, the uncured rubber in the second layer is reworked into at least one tire component.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire that includes a tread and a barrier layer disposed inwardly of the tread. The barrier layer includes a dynamically vulcanized alloy. A tire layer, e.g., a ply layer, is situated between the barrier layer and the tread and includes a rubber formulation having a diene rubber. A tie layer is situated between the barrier layer and the tire layer. The tie layer includes a rubber formulation having 100 parts of a mixture of rubbers chosen from 10-50 parts nitrile rubber, 20-70 parts natural rubber, and 10-30 parts synthetic polyisoprene rubber, wherein the mixture is the total amount of rubber for the rubber formulation. The rubber formulation further includes at least one reinforcing filler, at least one tackifier, and optionally at least one processing oil. The tie layer is adhered directly to the barrier layer, which may be the innermost layer, and the tire layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire which contains a built-in zoned puncture sealant layer. The zoned puncture sealant layer is comprised of organoperoxide depolymerized butyl rubber zones comprised of a central primary zone and lateral zones joined together to form a unitary sealant layer. The sealant of the lateral zones of the sealant layer is of a higher storage modulus (G?) than the sealant of the central zone.

Abstract: A composite material comprises a plurality of springs forming a structure embedded within a polymer. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming an entirely polymer-coated structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire puncture sealant and a pneumatic tire containing such puncture sealant as a built-in puncture sealant. The sealant composition contains silica reinforcement and butyl rubber depolymerized in the presence of a balanced and cooperative combination of organoperoxides comprised of a minor amount of 4,4-di(tertiary butylperoxy) valerate depolymerization initiator and a major amount of dicumyl peroxide depolymerization propagator, the combination of which has been observed to have a synergistic effect.

Abstract: An assembly for use in or on a tire. The assembly comprises an electronic device having a body and an adhesive coating on at least the body of the electronic device. The body is at least partially made of a plastic material or a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). The adhesive coating comprises an imide-based adhesive. The adhesive coating may have a polymer bonding group comprising at least one of natural rubber, butyl rubber, a chlorinated elastomer, polybutadiene, synthetic polyisoprene, or styrene-butadiene rubber or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the assembly further comprises a first elastomeric layer and a second elastomeric layer. The adhesive coating secures the body to the first and the second elastomeric layers. The first and second elastomeric layers may comprise a butyl-containing compound or natural rubber compound. In one embodiment, the electronic device is a radio frequency identification tag having the body and an antenna.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a built-in sealant layer comprised of a depolymerized butyl rubber based sealant precursor. The butyl rubber of the built-in sealant precursor composition is depolymerized in situ within the tire with an activated free radical generating organoperoxide. The organoperoxide is activated with a 2,2,6,6-tetra alkyl piperidine hindered amine. Representative of such hindered amines are, for example, a poly[[6-[1,1,3,3,-tetramethylbutyl)amino]-s-triazine-2,4-diyl][2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino]hexamethylene[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino]] compound. The sealant layer, if desired, may be of a color which contrasts with black. For such purpose the sealant layer may contain a colorant of a non-black color to a substantial exclusion of carbon black.

Abstract: An electronic tag for a vehicle includes an antenna; a data transmitter coupled to the antenna; and an elastomeric coating layer encapsulating the transmitter and antenna. The tag may attach to the vehicle by means of a tire or otherwise affixed to the body of the vehicle. The antenna may be configured as a dipole accessible by an external signal from substantially a 360 degree sphere surrounding the tag package. An adhesive material layer may be included to encapsulate the elastomeric material coated transmitter and antenna and utilized to attach the tag to a vehicle component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire which contains a built-in zoned puncture sealant layer. The zoned puncture sealant layer is comprised of organoperoxide depolymerized butyl rubber zones comprised of a central primary zone and lateral zones joined together to form a unitary sealant layer. The sealant of the lateral zones of the sealant layer is of a higher storage modulus (G?) than the sealant of the central zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides for oxygen scavenging materials and uses thereof for reducing oxygen content in an air cavity of a mounted tire, such as to reduce oxidation of a tire. The oxygen scavenging material can include a metal or metal-based material, an antioxidant, or microorganism. In one example, the oxygen scavenging material may be situated or secured within a tire cavity or secured to the tire rim of a wheel prior to mounting of the tire on the rim. Accordingly, the tire is mounted on the tire rim to define an air cavity with the oxygen scavenging material being located therein. The air cavity is be filled with air comprising oxygen to a desired internal air pressure with the oxygen scavenging material being provided in an amount sufficient for reducing oxygen content in the air cavity, such as to reduce oxidation of the tire thereby increasing the lifespan thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a tire with a built in sealant is provided. The method includes the steps of mounting an inner liner onto a tire building drum, extruding a sealant composition into strips having tapered sidewalls, cutting the strip to a desired length, mounting the sealant over the inner liner in two or more zones, wherein each zone is separated by a circumferential divider which joins the inner liner to the a cover layer forming a barrier to prevent migration of the sealant from one zone to another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire puncture sealant and a pneumatic tire containing such puncture sealant. The sealant contains silica reinforcement and butyl rubber depolymerized in the presence of an organoperoxide and modifier comprised of a metal oxide (e.g. magnesium oxide) or a combination of metal oxide modifier and calcium carbonate co-modifier.

Abstract: A tire mold 2 for curing new or retreaded tires 20 has an upper platen 4, a lower platen 6, and a central rim 30 with a frangible member 50 designed to open when a predetermined pressure P1 in excess of the normal curing pressure Pc is observed. The frangible member 50 preferably includes a rupture disk 60 that breaks upon exposure to the pressure P1.

Abstract: A tire mold 2 for curing new or retreaded tires 20 has an upper platen 4, a lower platen 6, and a central rim 30 with a frangible member 50 designed to open when a predetermined pressure P1 in excess of the normal curing pressure Pc is observed. The frangible member 50 preferably includes a rupture disk 60 that breaks upon exposure to the pressure P1.

Abstract: A tire mold 2 for curing new or retreaded tires 20 has an upper platen 4, a lower platen 6, and a central rim 30 with a frangible member 50 designed to open when a predetermined pressure P1 in excess of the normal curing pressure Pc is observed. The frangible member 50 preferably includes a rupture disk 60 that breaks upon exposure to the pressure P1.

Abstract: Leaks in a steam expansion vessel, such as a flexible curing bladder, may be detected during a high temperature curing cycle by using a humidity sensor in an article curing and leak checking apparatus. The effectiveness of the humidity sensor may be enhanced by selecting or creating a path in the apparatus incorporating the humidity sensor for detecting a leakage of steam, which tends to direct escaping steam to the humidity sensor in a substantially concentrated flow. The humidity sensor may be encased in a portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for detecting leakage of an expansion vessel 14 that, in an inflated form, occupies or has occupied at least a portion of a cavity 24 of an elastomeric article. The method includes the step of adding a tracer gas to a pressurized fluid. The method is characterized by the step of examining the atmosphere within the cavity of the elastomeric article, not within the expansion vessel, for evidence indicating that a portion of the tracer gas has escaped from the expansion vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sampling gases at elevated temperatures which is amenable to analysis in a manufacturing environment is described. In particular the method and apparatus can be used to determine accurate compositions of gas mixtures contained in blisters of elastomeric products. The device comprises a syringe 15,15a and a heated block 12,12a for receiving and holding syringe 15,15a, and for preheating or maintaining the temperature of syringe 15,15a. A thermostat may be associated with heating block 12,12a for controlling its temperature close to the temperature of a product from which a gas sample is taken.