Abstract: Improved tack, green strength or non-black filler interaction capability are realized in a treated diene rubber. The method of treating diene rubber to achieve the improvements is shown, together with a composition in which maleamic acid or derivatives of maleamic acid are combined with sulfur or an organic sulfur compound capable of generating a thiyl radical.

Abstract: A curemeter has dies maintainable at a substantially uniform vulcanization temperature, the dies being arranged to be separable and for closure, and which when closed define a cavity for accommodating a sample of compounded rubber, means for subjecting the sample of compounded rubber to oscillating shear strain and means for obtaining a signal derived from such oscillation and correlating with the degree of vulcanization of the sample. The curemeter of the invention is characterized by also having separable dies maintainable at the same substantially uniform vulcanization temperature as the first said dies, and which when closed define at least one cavity for accommodating a further sample of the compounded rubber for vulcanization under static conditions.

Abstract: Additives for rubber compositions, giving vulcanisates having improved retention of optimum physical properties, are compounds containing two or more groups of the formula --S--SO.sub.2 R linked by an organic bridging group, or polymers containing two or more groups of the formula --S--SO.sub.2 R attached to an organic polymer chain, where R represents (a) a radical OM where M is a monovalent metal, the equivalent of a multivalent metal, a monovalent ion derived by the addition of a proton to a nitrogenous base, or the equivalent of a multivalent ion derived by the addition of two or more protons to a nitrogenous base, or (b) an organic radical selected from aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic radicals, and radicals which are combinations of any two or more such radicals.

Abstract: Discontinuous cellulose fibers are treated to improve their dispersability into a matrix comprising plasticized vinyl chloride polymer. The treatment includes contacting the fibers with a mixture of an aqueous dispersion of a vinyl chloride polymer and a plasticizer so as to coat the fibers, and drying the fibers. The non-aqueous portion of the mixture is usually present in an amount of at least 25 parts per 100 parts of fibers by weight, and the weight ratio of plasticizer to vinyl chloride polymer in the mixture is from 2:1 to 25:1. The discontinuous fibers thus treated can be dispersed into a matrix comprising plasticized vinyl chloride polymer with a minimum of mixing, and the improved composites thus produced contain a minimum of clumps of undispersed fibers.

Abstract: The method of masticating diene rubber in the presence of maleic acid or maleic anhydride together with sulfur or an organic sulfur compound capable of generating a thiyl radical is shown.Improved tack, green strength or both are realized in the treated diene rubber.

Abstract: Substituted or unsubstituted N,N'-dithiobisformanilide compounds are disclosed, where the substituents can be lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen or CF.sub.3. The compounds are vulcanizing agents for diene rubbers. Diene rubber compounds containing a cross-linking amount of the above compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Cyclohexylamine is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of aniline. In contact with a ruthenium catalyst and in the presence of from about one to about 8 parts by weight of ammonia, aniline is hydrogenated under an absolute pressure of from about 2 to about 5 MPa at a temperature of from about 160.degree. to about 180.degree. C. High yields and a minimum of byproducts result. The catalyst can be recycled.

Abstract: Rubber compositions comprising diene rubber and N-carbamoyl maleamic acid, N-thiocarbamoyl maleamic acid or derivatives thereof exhibit improved green strength or tack properties. Treatment of diene rubber above 130.degree. C. with the same compounds is shown to be effective in obtaining rubber compositions of improved properties.

Abstract: Cellulose fibers are treated with vinyl chloride polymer, a plasticizer and an isocyanate bonding agent. Composites are made from cellulose fibers dispersed in a matrix of plasticized vinyl chloride polymer, and bonded thereto with an isocyanate bonding agent. The composites can be molded or extruded to produce useful articles.

Abstract: An automated tire inspection system employs penetrative emanation such as X-radiation to inspect the integrity of portions of tires fed sequentially along a feed path through a centering station and into a shielded enclosure where an inspection station is defined. An inspection apparatus within the shielded enclosure includes an X-ray emitting tube and an imaging system for producing signals representing the pattern of X-rays directed through the tire by the X-ray tube. A control apparatus for the system includes:(1) A protection apparatus for preventing overtravel of movable components of the system, including apparatus for sensing the positions of the movable components and controlling elements for moving the movable components and responding to the sensing apparatus to limit movement of the movable components to within a first predetermined range of positions.

Abstract: The rheological properties of a viscoelastic material are measured by enclosing a sample of the material between two die members which have protrusions extending therefrom and intermeshing to form shear zones therebetween. The sample is sheared by displacing one member with respect to the other and the displacement force is measured.A die is provided for the test, and means to bias the die members toward each other, to seal them together, to move one member with respect to the other and to measure the force required for such movement are provided.

Abstract: Composites are disclosed of discontinuous cellulose fibers mixed with a methylol phenolic modified polyolefin and a bonding agent. Treated fibers are also disclosed, which are treated to reduce fiber-to-fiber interaction so as to facilitate mixing into composites.

Abstract: N,N'-Bis(1-cyclohexyl-1-ethyl)-p-phenylenediamine is disclosed as a novel compound, useful as an antidegradant for organic materials, such as rubber. Vulcanized or vulcanizable rubber compounds containing minor amounts of this compound show excellent resistance to ozone attack, under static or dynamic exposure.

Abstract: A composite of polymeric matrix and wood pulp is prepared by masticating such proportion of polymeric matrix as provides a continuous phase and wood pulp having a tensile strength below about 10 kg/cm.sup.2. Water is added if needed to provide the requisite low tensile strength.

Abstract: The modulus of a plastic polymer is measured by extruding a strand of the polymer vertically downward through an orifice while accurately measuring the diameter of the strand, cutting off the strand and weighing it, and dividing the strand weight by the square of the difference in strand diameter to give a quotient representative of the modulus of the polymer. The method and apparatus are especially useful in measuring the green strength of a vulcanizable elastomer, so as to characterize its behavior during processing into a finished article.

Abstract: Vulcanizable or vulcanized diene elastomers containing stabilizing amounts of certain poly(6-oxy-2,2,4-trialkyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline)alkylene antidegradants show resistance to ozone attack. The antidegradants themselves are novel compounds.

Abstract: The rheological properties of an extrudable material can be measured by extruding a strand of the material, measuring its diameter continuously, to give a series of diameter values, interpreting the variations in the strand diameter so as to characterize the surface of the strand, and deriving rheological data from the surface characteristics of the strand. The variations in the strand diameter can be interpreted as to peak-to-peak amplitude, average diameter value, the frequency of significant extreme values, standard deviations from a mean value, and the like. By means of these mathematical characterizations, the rheological behavior of the extrudable material can then be derived. The scorch behavior of a curable elastomer can be measured. The heterogeneity of a rubber compound can be described, or the macromolecular properties of a polymer can be measured (such as "gel", or degree of cross-linking.

Abstract: Preparation of nitrodiarylamine by reacting alkali metal hydroxide, activated aromatic amine and nitrohaloarene is described.

Abstract: Forming nitrodiarylamines by reacting the formyl derivative of an aromatic amine, a nitrohaloarene, and a proton abstractor which is sodium carbonate or bicarbonate with or without a reaction promoting amount of a compound of potassium, cesium, rubidium or mixture thereof.

Abstract: An automated tire inspection system employs penetrative emanation such as X-radiation to inspect the integrity of portions of tires fed sequentially along a feed path through a centering station and into a shielded enclosure where an inspection station is defined. An inspection apparatus within the shielded enclosure includes an X-ray emitting tube and an imaging system for producing signals representing the pattern of X-rays directed through the tire by the X-ray tube. A control apparatus for the system includes:(1) A protection apparatus for preventing overtravel of movable components of the system, including apparatus for sensing the positions of the movable components and controlling elements for moving the movable components and responding to the sensing apparatus to limit movement of the movable components to within a first predetermined range of positions.