Abstract: A bond of a rubbery component to a virgin surface of a tire's cured innerliner which virgin surface has never been contaminated by the remnants of a release agent left after buffing with a wire brush and solvent-cleaning the cured innerliner, is unexpectedly stronger than a bond of the component to the contaminated but “cleaned surface”, cleaned as indicated. As an alternative, buffing with a wire brush results in a textured surface that impairs adhesion of a balance pad. Therefore, a pneumatic tire is provided with a virgin surface protected against contamination by a release agent at the curing temperature of the tire; protection is provided by a self-supporting barrier film of sulfur non-vulcanizable, expandable, thermoformable synthetic resinous material; and, a method is provided for maintaining a virgin cured surface within all or part of either the exterior or interior of a pneumatic tire's rubber carcass which is conventionally cured.

Abstract: A pre-cured pneumatic rubber tire of open toroidal shape having a pre-cured rubber strip, comprised of at least one elastomer and which contains at least one electrically conductive element, adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the tire's cavity. The adhesive is an RTV polysiloxane comprised of an hydroxyl terminated (silanol terminated) polysiloxane and crosslinking agent. The adhesive is applied as a layer, or coating, thereof onto a surface of said pre-cured rubber strip, and/or onto a corresponding pre-cured inner surface of said pre-cured tire, and the resulting coated pre-cured rubber strip and inner surface of said pre-cured tire brought together with said layer of adhesive therebetween and the adhesive allowed to cure and thereby bond said strip to said tire inner surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having at least one component of a silica reinforced rubber composition comprised of an emulsion polymerization derived terpolymer rubber which contain pendant hydroxyl groups, particularly derived from diene hydrocarbon and vinyl aromatic compound monomers, particularly a hydroxyalkyl methacrylate. Preferably the hydroxyalkyl methacrylate is a hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA). Preferably at least one additional elastomer is blended with the terpolymer rubber. The rubber composition is prepared by blending a coupling agent therewith subsequent to the addition said silica reinforcement. Said tire component may be, for example, a tire tread.

Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire containing at least one electrically conductive cord extending between its bead and tread portions to provide a path of least electrical resistance. The electrically conductive cord is comprised of at least one electrically conductive metal filament spirally wound around a centrally disposed core of at least one organic fiber. The electrically conductive cord does not extend to, and is exclusive of, an outer surface of the tire.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire which contains at least one electrically conductive cord extending from an external outer surface of its wheel-rim mounting surface rubber component to an internal electrically conductive tread base layer rubber component to provide a path of least electrical resistance, namely an electrically conductive path, between the outer tire wheel-rim mounting surface and the internal tire tread base layer. The electrically conductive cord is comprised of at least one electrically conductive metal filament (e.g. metal filament, carbon fiber or combination of metal filament and carbon fiber) spirally wound around a centrally disposed core of at least one organic fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component comprised of a rubber composition which contains a hydrophobated, pre-silanized silica, namely a pre-silanized silica hydrophobated with an epoxidized soybean oil and/or epoxidized rubber tree seed oil in situ within said rubber composition. Such tire component may be, for example although not limited to, a tire tread, sidewall and/or sidewall insert.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a tread of a rubber composition with compositional limitations containing minimal, if any, of in situ formed volatile alcohol byproduct. The tread component rubber composition contains a combination or pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement and siloxane functionalized styrene/butadiene copolymer elastomer. The pre-hydrophobated silica is prepared, prior to mixing with the elastomer(s), by reacting hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) contained on the surface of a precipitated silica with an alkoxyorganomercaptosilane or with a bis-3(triethoxysilylpropyl)polysulfide which contains an average of from 2 to 4 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge to form a composite thereof which may optionally include an alkyl silane. The volatile alcohol byproduct (e.g. ethanol) therefrom is thereby removed from the pre-hydrophobated silica composite prior to its introduction into the rubber composition(s).

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition and tire having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer, to the exclusion of butyl type elastomers, which contains an internal dispersion of corncob granules. Such tire component may be, for example, a tire tread and/or cord reinforced rubber ply and/or belt. A tire tread intended for winter driving, although not necessarily limited to winter driving, is provided of a rubber composition containing at least one diene-based sulfur vulcanizable elastomer having a Tg below ?30° C. and an internal dispersion therein of corncob granules. The running surface of the tire tread is configured with a combination of micro-protrusions of corncob granules from said corncob granule internal dispersion and micro-cavities therein created by a release of a portion of the protruded corncob granules during the abrading, or wearing, of the tire tread running surface as the tire is being run.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition which contains a block copolymer and a tire having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition. In one aspect of the invention, such rubber composition is comprised of a combination of at least one diene-based elastomer and liquid polymer comprised of a central polyalkylene polymer block, a first terminal hydroxyl group positioned on one end of said polyalkylene polymer block comprised of at least one primary hydroxyl group and a second terminal group positioned on the opposite end of said polyalkylene polymer block comprised of an epoxidized polyisoprene block or a hydrogenated polyisoprene block. The diene-based elastomer may be, for example, cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and/or other diene-based elastomer. The rubber composition contains reinforcement as carbon black and/or silica together with a coupling agent. The invention further relates to a tire having a tread of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with reinforcement comprised of a combination of precipitated silica aggregates and pelletized rubber reinforcing carbon black composites of carbon black and organic binder of a controlled hardness and to a tire with at least one component comprised of and derived from such rubber composition in which said carbon black pellet composites are disintegrated (fragmented) in situ within said rubber composition in the presence of particulate precipitated silica and silica coupling agent. In one aspect the invention relates to a tire having a component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer and reinforcing filler comprised of a combination of precipitated silica, silica coupling agent and fragmented rubber reinforcing carbon black pellet composites, said pellets having a controlled hardness value.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire of a structural combination of tire tread and sidewall components with compositional limitations containing minimal, if any, of in situ formed alcohol and methyl isobutyl ketone byproducts. The tread component rubber composition contains pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement. The sidewall component contains low unsaturation EPDM or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene and may contain pre-hydrophobated silica reinforcement. The silica reinforcement for said tread and sidewall components is a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica. The pre-hydrophobated silica is prepared, prior to mixing with the elastomer(s), by reacting hydroxyl groups (e.g.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a multi-layered rubber composite, said composite and a tire having a component prepared thereby. The multi-layered rubber composite is composed of at least two individual rubber compositions configured as at least three parallel aligned alternating rubber layers, wherein each rubber layer extends through the rubber composite thickness from one side to the other opposing side. The multi-layered rubber composite is prepared by co-extruding at least two individual rubber compositions, via an individual extruder for each rubber composition, to an internal cavity of a former. Said former is comprised of an internal cavity which contains a sequence of flow deflectors and channels for guiding the at least two individual rubber compositions to form said multi-layered rubber composite in a single manufacturing step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition which contains starch/plasticizer composite, precipitated silica and carbon black reinforcement together with a coupling agent wherein the coupling agent is an organosilane polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. The invention provides for a chemical reaction between a coupling agent and silica which is substantially decoupled from a reaction between a coupling agent and starch/plasticizer to form a filler reinforcement network in situ within the elastomer host followed by a subsequent phase mixing of the carbon black therewith. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and articles of manufacture, including tires, having at least one component comprised of said rubber composition.

Abstract: An applique having a vulcanizable adhesive layer is co-cured on a rubber article by precuring the applique of predominantly pale natural rubber optionally imprinted with a bar code; coating the upper surface of the applique with a protective self-supporting film of polyamide less than 0.050 mm (2 mils) thick, or a non-self-supporting film of polyurethane less than 25.4 ?m, 0.0254 mm (1 mil) thick; adhering the applique to the article at a chosen location; curing the article in a curing mold; and, removing a cured article from the mold with the protective film adhering to the surface of the applique, the surface of which is essentially free from visually observable cracks. The hot flow of rubber in the curing mold does not substantially change the location of the applique which is embedded in the article. If the film does not remain adhered to a cured tire and drops into the mold, it is difficult to retrieve and, when a subsequent article is cured in the same mold, results in a scrap tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component (e.g. tread) of a rubber composition comprised of an amine functionalized styrene/conjugated diene copolymer elastomer (e.g. styrene/butadiene and/or styrene/isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer) which contains reinforcement comprised of silanol functionalized particulate carbon black having silica domains covering a fraction of the carbon black surface together with an alkoxysilane polysulfide coupling agent. The silica domains on the carbon black surface contain hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on their surfaces which are reactive with the alkoxysilane moiety of the coupling agent. The amine functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer is an organic solution polymerization prepared elastomer which contains pendant and/or terminal amine groups as one or more of primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, and/or heterocyclic amine groups. The amine functionalized elastomer may be tin coupled.

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 corncob granules.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite of a melamine derivative, particularly a liquid melamine derivative, and carbon black. A representative melamine derivative is, for example, comprised of an alkoxymethylmelamine such as hexamethoxymethylmelamine. The invention further relates to a rubber composition containing such composite of a melamine derivative and carbon black and to a rubber composition containing such composite as a methylene donor in combination with a methylene acceptor and the reaction product thereof in situ within said rubber composition. Such rubber composition may be a component of an article of manufacture, which may contain or be exclusive of, wire reinforcement, such as for example a component of a tire, vehicular track or industrial belt or hose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread cap layer is the load-bearing running surface of the tread having a lug and groove configuration and the tread base layer underlies the tread cap layer wherein the base layer is a transition zone between the tread cap and remainder of the tire carcass and is not intended to be a running surface of the tread. The tread cap layer is comprised of three distinct load-bearing zones, namely a circumferential annular central rubber zone positioned between two lateral and peripheral circumferential annular rubber zones, each zone extending from a tread base carbon black-rich rubber composition to and including said tire tread running surface, wherein the rubber compositions of each of said zones contain both carbon black and silica reinforcement. In one aspect, said central zone is of a silica-rich rubber composition and said lateral zones are of a carbon black-rich composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparation of silica-rich rubber compositions by a sequence of sequential mixing steps conducted in internal rubber mixer(s) with individual maximum temperature limitations. The mixing steps are comprised of at least two non-productive mixing steps followed by a productive mixing step. The non-productive mixing steps themselves are comprised of at least one preliminary non-productive mixing step followed by a final non-productive mixing step. Elastomer, silica and coupling agent are added in at least one of said preliminary non-productive mixing steps to the exclusion of said final non-productive mixing step and said productive mixing step. Sulfur and sulfur vulcanization accelerator(s) are added in said productive mixing step to the exclusion of said non-productive mixing steps. The preliminary non-productive mixing step(s) are individually conducted to a maximum mixing temperature in a range of from about 150° C.