Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, a rubber composition is provided, comprising at least one rubber, at least one filler, at least one thermoplastic polymer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a poly alkylacrylate, and wherein the alkylacrylate comprises a polycyclic substituent at its single bonded oxygen atom. In another aspect of the invention, an article of manufacture such as a tire, a power transmission belt, a hose, a track, an air sleeve, and a conveyor belt is provided which comprises the rubber composition in accordance with the first aspect.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a vulcanization rubber composition, the vulcanizable rubber composition comprising: from 30 to 90 phr of a first functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature Tg1 ranging from ?70 to ?50° C.; from 10 to 50 phr of a second functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature Tg2 ranging from ?110 to ?70° C.; wherein Tg2?Tg1 is at least 10° C.; from 0 to 40 phr of at least one additional elastomer; from 50 to 150 phr of silica; from 0 to 50 phr of a hydrocarbon resin; and from 10 to 50 phr of an oil.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 100 phr of one or more diene-based elastomers, 30 phr to 200 phr of a filler, and a benzoxazine which is the reaction of (i) a diphenol comprising two phenol groups and a bridge covalently connecting the two phenol groups, (ii) an aldehyde derivative, and (iii) an amine, wherein the bridge is connected to at least one of the phenol groups at a meta position of said at least one phenol group. The present invention is also directed to a rubber product comprising such a rubber composition and the use of such rubber products in tire components.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sulfur vulcanizable elastomer composition comprising 50 phr to 100 phr of at least one partially saturated elastomer comprising repeat units, wherein at most 15% of all repeat units of the partially saturated elastomer comprise a double bond. Furthermore, the elastomer composition comprises 0 phr to 50 phr of at least one diene based elastomer, and 40 phr to 200 phr of at least one filler, wherein said filler comprises predominantly silanized or pre-silanized silica. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such an elastomer composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 100 phr of at least one diene-based rubber, 30 phr to 250 phr of at least one filler, and 1 phr to 40 phr of an epoxidized and aminated fatty acid ester, wherein the epoxidized and aminated fatty acid ester is obtained from the reaction of an epoxidized fatty acid ester with an aliphatic amine. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a rubber product, such as a tire, comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising an elastomer, a filler, and a block-copolymer. According to the invention, the block-copolymer comprises (i) an elastomer block and (ii) a thermoplastic block comprising a poly alkylacrylate, wherein the alkylacrylate comprises a polycyclic substituent at its single bonded oxygen atom. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a block-copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a benzoxazine-functionalized diene-based elastomer comprising polymer chains including repeat units which include conjugated diolefin monomers, such as 1,3-butadiene and isoprene. Additionally, said elastomer comprises at least one benzoxazine connected to a polymer chain via a spacer, wherein the spacer has a length ranging from 3 to 8 atoms. A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising such an elastomer, an article of manufacture comprising this rubber composition, and a method of making said benzoxazine-functionalized diene-based elastomer.

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) 100 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from ?85° C. to ?50° C.; (B) from 1 to 30 phr of a process oil; (C) from 20 to 80 phr of a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg of at least 30° C.; and (D) from 90 to 150 phr of silica.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of styrene and ?-methylstyrene comprising an alternating sequence of styrene and ?-methylstyrene residues, and a method to make the copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising at least one solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, optionally at least one polybutadiene rubber, 55 phr to 200 phr of a filler, at least 15 phr of oil, wherein the filler to oil ratio by weight is between 3.5:1 and 8.0:1, and wherein the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the at least one solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber is within a range of 400,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 80 phr to 100 phr of at least one solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, 0 phr to 20 phr of at least one polybutadiene, 55 phr to 200 phr of a filler, at least 15 phr of oil, wherein the filler to oil ratio by weight is between 3.5:1 and 8.0:1, and wherein the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the at least one solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber is within a range of 400,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 100 phr of at least one diene-based rubber, 30 phr to 250 phr of at least one filler, and 1 phr to 40 phr of an epoxidized and aminated fatty acid ester, wherein the epoxidized and aminated fatty acid ester is obtained from the reaction of an epoxidized fatty acid ester with an aliphatic amine. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a rubber product, such as a tire, comprising such a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising 100 phr of one or more diene-based elastomers, 30 phr to 200 phr of a filler, and a benzoxazine which is the reaction of (i) a diphenol comprising two phenol groups and a bridge covalently connecting the two phenol groups, (ii) an aldehyde derivative, and (iii) an amine, wherein the bridge is connected to at least one of the phenol groups at a meta position of said at least one phenol group. The present invention is also directed to a rubber product comprising such a rubber composition and the use of such rubber products in tire components.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a vulcanization rubber composition, the vulcanizable rubber composition comprising: from 30 to 90 phr of a first functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature Tg1 ranging from ?70 to ?50° C.; from 10 to 50 phr of a second functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature Tg2 ranging from ?110 to ?70° C.; wherein Tg2?Tg1 is at least 10° C.; from 0 to 40 phr of at least one additional elastomer; from 50 to 150 phr of silica; from 0 to 50 phr of a hydrocarbon resin; and from 10 to 50 phr of an oil.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, a rubber composition is provided, comprising at least one rubber, at least one filler, at least one thermoplastic polymer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a poly alkylacrylate, and wherein the alkylacrylate comprises a polycyclic substituent at its single bonded oxygen atom. In another aspect of the invention, an article of manufacture such as a tire, a power transmission belt, a hose, a track, an air sleeve, and a conveyor belt is provided which comprises the rubber composition in accordance with the first aspect.

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 20 to about 60 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from ?85° C. to ?50° C.; (B) from about 45 to about 80 phr of a polybutadiene having a cis 1,4 content greater than 95 percent and a Tg ranging from ?80 to ?110° C.; and (C) from 0 to 20 phr of a process oil; (D) from 55 to 80 phr of a resin selected from the group consisting of C5/C9 resins and DCPD/C9 resins, the resin having a Tg greater than 30° C.; and (E) from 110 to 160 phr of silica.

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) 100 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from ?85° C. to ?50° C.; (B) from 1 to 30 phr of a process oil; (C) from 20 to 80 phr of a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg of at least 30° C.; and (D) from 90 to 150 phr of silica.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of styrene and ?-methylstyrene comprising an alternating sequence of styrene and ?-methylstyrene residues, and a method to make the copolymer.

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 20 to about 60 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from ?85° C. to ?50° C.; (B) from about 45 to about 80 phr of a polybutadiene having a cis 1,4 content greater than 95 percent and a Tg ranging from ?80 to ?110° C.; and (C) from 0 to 20 phr of a process oil; (D) from 55 to 80 phr of a resin selected from the group consisting of C5/C9 resins and DCPD/C9 resins, the resin having a Tg greater than 30° C.; and (E) from 110 to 160 phr of silica.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with high performance tread of rubber composition for promoting tread durability and traction. For such purpose, a tread rubber composition is provided which contains a high Tg solvent solution polymerization prepared styrene/butadiene elastomer (SSBR) together with precipitated silica reinforcement and traction resin. The invention includes extension of the uncured high Tg SSBR by triglyceride vegetable oil instead of petroleum based oil.