Abstract: The present invention relates to the utilization of trans 1,4-polybutadiene resin having a melting point of at least 30.degree. C. in rubber compositions. The invention, in one aspect, relates to replacing, or at least partially replacing, natural rubber with a pre-blend of trans 1,4-polybutadiene resin and synthetic cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber. The invention particularly relates to preparation and utilization of a pre-blend of trans 1,4-polybutadiene resin and synthetic cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber by blending individual polymerizate cements, drying the pre-blend, and use of such pre-blend in the preparation of rubber compositions and of manufactured products such as, for example, tires.

Abstract: This invention relates to curable rubber compositions containing a fullerene form of carbon which is used as a reinforcing agent in the rubber compositions, the fullerene form of carbon being used in place of at least a portion of, or in addition to, the normally used forms of carbon black reinforcement additives. The invention particularly relates to tires having treads composed of such rubber composition(s). The fullerenes may optionally have surface modifications such as partial or complete hydrogen or functional group substitution. The fullerene form of non-conventional carbon reinforcement of rubber composition(s) may exist as discrete particles, aggregates of particles and/or agglomerates. The carbon fullerene has a lower specific gravity than conventional carbon black, thereby allowing a reduced weight tire or other article made from the rubber compound(s) for comparable volumes of carbon black used.

Abstract: A rubber tire is provided which contains an electrically oriented composite within a rubber composition component of the tire, wherein said composite is composed of at least two electrically conductive metal elements in close proximity to each other and an electrically conductive rubber composition which is in contact with and electrically connects said metal elements together. The invention also contemplates an electrically resistive rubber composition within said tire rubber component which is juxtapositioned to at least a portion of said electrically conductive rubber composition and to at least a portion of at least one of said electrically conductive metal elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition reinforced with a combination of silica and defined carbon black and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition. The reinforced rubber composition comprises in one aspect, at least one elastomer, defined carbon black, precipitated silica and at least one silica coupling agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.A rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of 3,3'-tetrathiodipropanol polysulfide mixture.

Abstract: Expandable bladders for use in curing presses for hydrocarbon rubbers, such as pneumatic tires, are a crosslinked elastomer composition comprising isobutylene repeat units and including a fluorinated ethylene polymer added in particulate form and thereafter dispersed throughout the bladder. These fluorinated ethylene polymer may or may not form fibers. The bladders may further comprise graphite. A preferred isobutylene elastomer is a brominated copolymer of from 80 to 99 weight percent isobutylene and from 1 to 20 weight percent paramethylstyrene. The bladders have enhanced lubricity, reduced adhesion to cured tire innerliners, better resistance to cracking during flexing, and have lower tension set than similar compositions without fluorinated ethylene polymers. The above enhancements allow hydrocarbon rubbers such as tires to be molded with fewer defects caused by abraded or deformed bladders. They also enhance the useful life of the bladder reducing the cost of tire curing.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread composed of selected elastomers with spatially defined glass transition temperatures, in conjunction with defined amounts of aromatic processing oil and reinforcing filler.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprised of elastomer(s), carbon black reinforcement and coupling agents. In one aspect, a modified carbon black may be used.A tire having a component of such rubber composition such as, for example, a tread, is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to aggregates comprised of particles which contain silicon dioxide and to elastomers reinforced therewith. The invention also relates to tires having treads composed of such reinforced elastomers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a rubber tread of a cap/base construction wherein the tread cap is composed of cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber, isoprene/butadiene copolymer rubber and cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, reinforced with precipitated silica and carbon black, and the underlying tread base is composed primarily of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber reinforced with carbon black. The invention particularly relates to truck tires and to bus tires which are collectively referred to herein as "truck tires".

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silica reinforced rubber composition and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of the silica reinforced rubber compositions.The silica reinforced rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, a silica coupler, a silylating agent and, optionally, carbon black.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber tire composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass and having a rubber tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica and contains a minor amount of carbon black reinforcement and/or carbon fibers. When said tread contains silica and carbon black reinforcement exclusive of carbon fibers, the said tread has a thin rubber layer over at least a portion of the outer surface tread intended to be ground-contacting wherein said rubber layer contains a combination of silica and/or carbon black reinforcement and carbon fibers. In one aspect, such alternative outer rubber layer (a) extends across at least a portion of the outer surface of the tread intended to be ground contacting and (b) contacts at least one other carbon black reinforced rubber component of the tire to provide a path of relatively low electrical resistance from said quantitatively silica reinforced tread to the bead portion of the tire carcass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a tread. The tread is composed of three basic elastomers, namely, medium cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, isoprene/butadiene copolymer and natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber and which is reinforced with either carbon black or a combination of carbon black and silica reinforcing fillers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparation of a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement through the utilization of a high purity organosilane disulfide/trisulfide.Pneumatic tires having treads prepared by such process are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing a starch/plasticizer composite and to pneumatic tires having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition. Such tire component can be, for example, its circumferential tread or other component of the tire.The starch/plasticizer composite can be a composite of starch and plasticizer such as, for example, poly(ethylenevinyl alcohol) and/or cellulose acetate or any suitable plasticizer which results in such starch/plasticizer composite having a melting point below that of the starch alone, and particularly below about 160.degree. C., and to thereby enable the starch to be more processable with conventional elastomer composition processing equipment.

Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire having a rubber sidewall composition containing trans 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and at least one additional rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a rubber tread which is primarily reinforced with silica where the rubber of the said tread is composed of an elastomer base of at least three butadiene based synthetic rubbers comprised of two isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomers having spatially defined Tg's, and a cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica where the tread is composed of cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, a high vinyl polybutadiene rubber and, optionally a medium vinyl polybutadiene rubber. In one aspect, the tread rubber can also contain a minor amount of cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.A rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of poly-(2-propanol-1,3-polysulfide).

Abstract: Disclosed are expandable bladders for use in curing presses for rubber compositions such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are a crosslinked elastomer comprising an isobutylene rubbery polymer. The bladder composition includes corn oil which improves the release characteristics of the cured bladder from a tire innerliner cured in contact with said bladder. The improved release characteristics have been observed to allow rubber compositions such as tires to be molded with fewer defects caused during release of the bladder from the tires or caused by abraded or deformed bladders. The use of corn oil also has been observed to increase the useful life time of the bladder allowing more tires to be cured without changing bladders. A preferred isobutylene rubbery polymer is a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene. The bladder compositions have also been observed to have an enhanced flexibility due to the corn oil.