Abstract: The invention relates to rubber compositions containing a treated silica, particularly sulfur cured rubber compositions, and articles of manufacture having a component thereof such as, for example tires. The invention particularly relates to synthetic amorphous silica, particularly a precipitated silica, treated with a combination of allylsilane and dialkylsilane.

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: This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a rubber composition containing carboxylated styrene/butadiene rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire having an integral rubber innerliner containing anchored hollow glass microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparation of a high silica reinforcement-containing rubber composition by a method which involves a delayed and divided inclusion of greater than 50 percent of fatty acid salt processing aid to a rubber composition in an internal rubber mixer following completion of addition of precipitated silica and silica coupling agent in a preceding rubber mixing step in an internal rubber mixer. The invention further relates to a resulting rubber composition and to tires having a component thereof such as, for example, a tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer.

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 invention relates to allyl functionalized precipitated silica, rubber compositions containing such silica, particularly sulfur cured rubber compositions, and articles of manufacture having a component thereof such as, for example tires. The invention particularly relates to synthetic amorphous silica, particularly a precipitated silica, treated with an allyl silane, particularly to a precipitated silica containing allyl functional groups.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a rubber composition which contains zinc rosinate within and on the surface of said rubber composition. Said zinc rosinate promotes enhanced wet traction for said tire tread by actually replacing a more conventional zinc stearate for a tire tread rubber composition. Said zinc rosinate is a product of a combination of rosin acid and zinc oxide formed in situ within said rubber composition. Said more conventional zinc stearate is a product of a combination of stearic acid and zinc oxide formed in situ within a tread rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a precipitated silica reinforced conjugated diene-based elastomer composition containing an alkoxysilane coupled, in-chain functionalized, conjugated diene-based elastomer and to a tire having at least one component thereof. Said in-chain functionalized conjugated diene-based elastomer is a conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains a plurality of at least one of in-chain p- and m-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene (PES) and m-(2-pyrrolidino-1-methylethyl) alpha-methylstyrene (PAMS) groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a lug and groove configured rubber tread having an outer rubber cap layer with a running surface and an underlying specialized transition rubber layer. The transition rubber layer is specialized in a sense of containing at least one of partially depolymerized rubber, particulate pre-cured rubber and coal dust. The outer tread cap layer is comprised of ground-contacting tread lugs with the tread running surface and associated tread grooves positioned between said tread lugs. The tread grooves may extend radially inward through the outer tread cap layer and, optionally, into the transition tread layer. The rubber tread configuration may also optionally also include a tread base rubber layer underlying the transition rubber layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a puncture resistant rubber sidewall. The said tire sidewall is comprised of an outer, visible annular configured sidewall rubber layer and an inner (non-visible) annular configured sidewall rubber layer integral with and underlying said outer sidewall rubber layer, wherein said inner sidewall rubber layer contains a dispersion of short fibers, wherein said short fibers are substantially aligned in parallel relationship to each other and substantially parallel to the said annular configuration of said inner sidewall rubber layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a circumferential tread containing an outer tread rubber layer, wherein said outer tread rubber layer contains an outer tire running surface, comprised of an electrically insulating (poorly electrically conducting) rubber composition and wherein said tread additionally contains a circumferential tread component in a form of an inverted “T” configuration comprised of a relatively electrically conducting rubber composition (relative to said outer tread rubber strip) wherein the stem of said inverted “T” configured tread component extends through said outer tread rubber layer to its running surface to thereby provide a path of least electrical resistance through said outer tread strip to its running surface and wherein the base of said “T” configured tread component underlies a portion of said outer tread rubber layer and is less than, and therefore not entirely co-extensive with, the axial width of said outer tread rubber layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a circumferential tread of a cap/base configuration composed of an outer tread rubber cap layer with a running surface of the tread and an underlying tread rubber base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is composed of two longitudinal adjacent zones, namely a primary tread cap zone and a minor lateral outboard control element (zone). The primary tread cap zone and the lateral outboard tread cap element provide a significant gradation of cold dynamic storage moduli (G?) at ?25° C. and hot tan delta values at 100° C., yet similar warm dynamic storage moduli (G?) at 60° C. The primary tread cap zone and lateral outboard control tread cap element are load bearing in the sense of extending from the running surface of the tread radially inward to the unitary (non-zoned) tread base rubber layer. The zoned rubber tread cap layer and unitary rubber tread base layer are an integral tread composite in a sense of being co-extruded.

Abstract: This invention relates to a light duty tire (e.g. passenger tire or light duty truck tire) designed for a load bearing capacity of a maximum of 3,500 pounds (1587 kg) with a tread of a cap/base construction with at least one underlying silica-rich, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber based intermediate transition rubber layer to promote a reduced internal heat generation for the light duty tire and to therefore promote a light load carrying light duty tire which is more durable for the long haul. Such light duty tire tread is intended for use with light loads in which internal heat may be generated within the tire, including the tire tread, during use.

Abstract: This invention relates to rubber compositions which contain a combination of silica reinforcement and plant-derived liquid partially decarboxylated rosin acid and to tires having components thereof, such as, for example, tire treads. Said liquid partially decarboxylated rosin acid acts both as a processing aid for the mixing of the rubber composition and as an aid to reinforcement of the rubber composition by interaction with the silica in situ within the rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a heavy duty tire (e.g. heavy duty truck tire) designed for a load bearing capacity of at least 4,000 pounds (1814 kg) with a tread of a cap/base construction with at least one underlying silica-rich, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber based intermediate transition rubber layer to promote a reduced internal heat generation for the heavy duty tire and to therefore promote a load carrying heavy duty tire which is more durable for the long haul. Such heavy duty tire tread is intended for use with heavy loads in which internal heat is expected to be generated within the tire, including the tire tread, during use.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire having at least one component of a polybutadiene-rich rubber composition comprised of a blend of a continuous phase of a specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and a dispersed phase comprised of a composite of styrene/butadiene elastomer which contains a dispersion of at least partially exfoliated, intercalated, clay platelets, wherein said cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and styrene/butadiene elastomer have spatially defined glass transition temperatures, wherein said blend contains amorphous silica and carbon black reinforcement. Such tire component may be, for example, a circumferential tread having a running surface intended to be ground-contacting or a sidewall insert.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of silica-containing rubber compositions which contain precipitated silica reinforcement and use of an oligomeric organomercaptosilane coupling agent containing a plurality of mercapto and silane moieties, and a minimal content, if any, of ethoxy groups and is thus substantially free of ethoxy groups. The interaction of the plurality of mercapto moieties, or groups, of such oligomeric organomercaptosilane with the diene-based elastomer can promote a significant viscosity build up of the uncured rubber composition in a preliminary non-productive mixing stage and therefore present significant rubber processing difficulties during the mixing of the rubber composition. A challenge is therefore presented for reducing such viscosity buildup for such uncured silica-containing rubber composition.