Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for elastomeric compounds for tyres, in particular for tyre treads, comprising particular reversible cross-linking agents, tyre components and tyres for vehicle wheels which comprise them. The present elastomeric compounds, due to their particular hysteretic behaviour, allow manufacturing tyres characterised by a lower rolling resistance during moderate driving and at the same time greater resistance to tearing and road grip during sports driving.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metallic reinforcing cord (10) for tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising a single metallic wire (11) extending along a substantially helical path to form a helix having a predetermined pitch (Pw) and, in at least some cross sections thereof, an inner diameter (Di) greater than, or equal to, 0.7 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (II): CB-O-ROS-GC-Zn (II) where CB represents the white filler, O represents one or more oxygen bridge bonds, ROS represents an organo-silane residue, GC represents one or more coordinating groups forming a chelate with zinc in ionic form represented by linear, branched or cyclic alkyl chains, comprising one or more heteroatoms inside or at the end of the alkyl chain, and Zn represents zinc in ionic form coordinated with the coordinating groups, a process for the preparation thereof, and the use thereof in the vulcanisation process of elastomeric compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire (100) for vehicle wheels comprising a tire component comprising a crosslinked elastomeric material obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition, wherein said elastomeric composition comprises a polymer blend comprising (a) 50 to 95 percent by weight of a first elastomeric polymer and (b) 5 to 50 percent by weight of a second elastomeric polymer based on the total weight of the polymer blend. The second elastomeric polymer (b) is obtainable by (i) anionic polymerization of at least one conjugated diene monomer and one or more a-olefin monomer(s) in the presence of a polymerization initiator in an organic solvent, and (ii) coupling the polymer chains obtained in (i) by a coupling agent. The second elastomeric polymer (b) has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 5,000-40,000 g/mol and a coupling rate of at least 50 percent by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to self-supporting tyres for vehicle wheels having sidewall reinforcement inserts (113) with reduced rigidity. These tyres have a good mileage in flat running conditions, greater comfort and significantly reduced rolling resistance compared to known self-supporting tyres, with higher modulus sidewall reinforcement inserts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-supporting tire for vehicle wheels comprising a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass ply having a plurality of hybrid reinforcing cords (10) each comprising at least two strands (20) twisted to each other with a predetermined stranding pitch (P), wherein each of said at least two strands (20) comprises at least one monofilament textile thread (21) at least partially embedded in the filaments (22a) of at least one multifilament textile yarn (22) and a pair of sidewall reinforcement inserts (113), where at least one of said sidewall reinforcement inserts comprises a vulcanised elastomeric compound which has a dynamic shear modulus value G equal to or less than 1.25 MPa measured at 70° C., 10 Hz, 9% deformation according to the RPA method reported in the present description.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a vulcanisable elastomeric compound for tyres, characterised by the use of a particular vulcanisation-activating filler and by the methods of adding additives, in particular the compatibilising agent (silane), which occurs only after completion of the reaction between the activating filler comprising zinc and the fatty acid (stearic acid). The present process, advantageous in itself due to the possible reduction of the times and of the energy required for vulcanisation, allows preparing compounds which, with the same performances compared to the traditional ones, can have a reduced zinc content, and consequently a lower release thereof from tyres during use at an environmental level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one external structural element comprising at least one external structural element comprising a crosslinked elastomeric material obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable clastomeric composition comprising (i) at least one diene elastomeric polymer, and (ii) a system for protection against ozone substantially free of polymeric static protective agents which essentially consists of at least one phenolic antioxidant in an amount substantially equal to or higher than 3 phr.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a metallic reinforcing cord (10) for tyres for vehicle wheels. The process comprises providing at least one elongated element (15) comprising at least one metallic wire (11) twisted together with at least one textile yarn (20) and removing said at least one textile yarn (20) from said at least one elongated element (15) to form the aforementioned metallic reinforcing cord (10). Such a metallic reinforcing cord (10) has a helical geometry, consisting only of said at least one metallic wire (11) that extends along a helical path. The invention also relates to an apparatus (1) for manufacturing the aforementioned metallic reinforcing cord (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one external structural element comprising at least one external structural element comprising a crosslinked elastomeric material obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition comprising (i) at least one diene elastomeric polymer, and (ii) a system for protection against ozone substantially free of polymeric static protective agents which essentially consists of at least one phenolic antioxidant in an amount substantially equal to or higher than 3 phr.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a crosslinked elastomeric material obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition comprising a predispersion of natural rubber and lignin obtained by co-precipitation from latex, where said lignin has a concentration of phenolic groups higher than 2 mmol per gram of lignin, and where said predispersion comprises an amount of said lignin such as to provide, in said crosslinkable elastomeric composition, a concentration of lignin equal to or lower than about 25 phr.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tyre (100) for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a vulcanized elastomeric material obtained by vulcanizing a vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising at least one vulcanizable diene elastomeric polymer and at least one composite reinforcing filler, a process for producing a tyre (100) comprising the composite reinforcing filler, a masterbatch comprising the composite reinforcing filler and a process for producing the same, as well as a process for producing the composite reinforcing filler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new vulcanisable elastomeric compositions for components of tyres, comprising modified silicate fibres as fillers. The silicate fibres are modified according to the process with controlled pH of the invention. In addition, the invention regards components of tyres, comprising elastomeric materials obtainable by vulcanisation of said compositions, and tyres for vehicles comprising one or more of said components. The vulcanised elastomeric materials according to the invention are characterised by good static and dynamic mechanical properties, in particular by particularly low hysteresis. Advantageously the tyres of the invention comprising one or more of said components have a limited rolling resistance.

Abstract: Microbeads are described, comprising silica fibres with needle-shaped morphology of nanometric size, characterised by reduced dustiness and good dispersibility in elastomeric materials, a process for the preparation thereof and the use thereof in the production of vehicle tyres.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a cross-linked elastomeric material obtained by cross-linking a cross-linkable elastomeric composition comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein said carbon nanotubes are obtained with an iron oxides and/or aluminium oxides based catalyst substantially free of Co, Ni and Mo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (II): CB-O-ROS-GC-Zn (II) where CB represents the white filler, O represents one or more oxygen bridge bonds, ROS represents an organo-silane residue, GC represents one or more coordinating groups forming a chelate with zinc in ionic form represented by linear, branched or cyclic alkyl chains, comprising one or more heteroatoms inside or at the end of the alkyl chain, and Zn represents zinc in ionic form coordinated with the coordinating groups, a process for the preparation thereof, and the use thereof in the vulcanisation process of elastomeric compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre for vehicle wheels comprising at least one structural element comprising a cross-linked elastomeric material obtained by cross-linking a cross-linkable elastomeric composition comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein said carbon nanotubes are obtained with an iron oxides and/or aluminium oxides based catalyst substantially free of Co, Ni and Mo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a vulcanisable elastomeric compound for tyres, characterised by the use of a particular vulcanisation-activating filler and by the methods of adding additives, in particular the compatibilising agent (silane), which occurs only after completion of the reaction between the activating filler comprising zinc and the fatty acid (stearic acid). The present process, advantageous in itself due to the possible reduction of the times and of the energy required for vulcanisation, allows preparing compounds which, with the same performances compared to the traditional ones, can have a reduced zinc content, and consequently a lower release thereof from tyres during use at an environmental level.

Abstract: The present invention regards a solid master elastomeric composition (masterbatch, MB) comprising silicate fibres with needle-shaped morphology of nanometric size, characterised by high fibre content and uniformity, a process advantageous for the preparation thereof and its use in manufacturing tyres for vehicles. Advantageously the present elastomeric composition allows minimising the drawbacks associated with the handling of the powdery fibres in the manufacturing of compounds for tyres, without altering the final performances thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new elastomeric materials for the production of tyres for vehicle wheels with good mechanical properties, in particular high moduli associated with low hysteresis values, including new reinforcement materials. Said reinforcement materials are obtainable by derivatising silica—in-situ during the mixing of the elastomeric composition, or previously—with special silanising agents (A) and silsesquioxanes (B), both substituted with reactive alkenyl functionalities.