Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration and of a co-extruded cap/base construction; wherein the tread cap is of a rubber composition which contains carbon black and is thereby of a black color; wherein a visible surface of at least one groove is of a rubber composition exclusive of carbon black and is of a non-black color and wherein said visible non-black colored rubber composition is a rubber layer which underlies said tread cap. Said visible non-black colored rubber is exclusive of any appreciable portion of, and preferably exclusive of, the surface of said tread lugs intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition contains an amorphous precipitated silica reinforcement, preferably a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire with a colored sidewall joined with a plurality of colored grooves in its tread. In particular, the present invention relates to a tire of a black-colored rubber composition having a non-black colored sidewall portion which is integral with a plurality of non-black colored grooves of a tread of lug and groove configuration. For said tread, at least a portion of the visible surface of a plurality of tread grooves, exclusive of the outer surface portion of said carbon black reinforced rubber lugs intended to be ground-contacting, is of a non-black colored, synthetic amorphous silica reinforced rubber composition exclusive of carbon black. For said colored sidewall and plurality of connecting tread groove combination, said tread groove and sidewall may be of the same or different non-black color(s).

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation of a rubber composition by pre-mixing at least one rubber compounding ingredient with an organic solvent solution of at least one elastomer. The invention also contemplates the use of such rubber composition, or blend of such rubber composition with at least one additional elastomer and/or rubber compounding ingredient, as a component of an article of manufacture. Such article of manufacture may be, for example, a tire. Such article may also be an industrial product such as, for example, a hose or belt such as a conveyor belt or power transmission belt.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with silica-based reinforcement together with a non-silane coupling agent as a combination of 1-thioglycerol(3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol) and 2,2′-benzothiazyl disulfide. Said coupling agent materials may be provided for mixing with said diene-based rubber(s), for example, as individual materials, as at least one of said materials being supported on a carbon black carrier or as being pre-reacted, or otherwise pre-treated, with synthetic silica aggregates. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a sidewall rubber insert axially inward of at least one carcass ply. Such insert may, for example, be an apex extending radially outward from the bead core region of the tire into the sidewall. Alternatively, it may be positioned higher in the sidewall portion of the tire and away from the bead core. Such insert is a rubber composition containg a dispersion of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and a dispersion of a starch composite.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with silica-based reinforcement together with a composite of carbon black supported non-silane coupling agent as 1-thioglycerol(3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol) and exclusive of 2,2′-benzothiazyl disulfide. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with particulate silica-based reinforcement together with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (a non-silane coupling agent) or a combination of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and bis(3-trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide having an average of from 2 to 2.6, or from 3.5 to 4, sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge to aid in the reinforcement of the rubber composition with a particulate silica-based material and an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with a rubber tread which utilized an alpha-methyl styrene oligomer

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition comprised of a halogenated (e.g. brominated) copolymer of isobutylene and p-methyl styrene elastomer reinforced with synthetic particulate silica-based reinforcement together with an organo phosphite to aid in enhancing the silica reinforcement of the halogenated isobutylene copolymer elastomer. Preferably, the rubber composition is comprised of a combination of a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methyl styrene and at least one diene-based elastomer. The invention further relates to an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation of a rubber composition by pre-mixing at least one rubber compounding ingredient with an aqueous emulsion, or latex, of at least one elastomer. The invention also contemplates the use of such rubber composition, or blend of such rubber composition with at least one additional elastomer and/or rubber compounding ingredient, as a component of an article of manufacture. Such article of manufacture may be, for example, a tire. Such article may also be an industrial product such as, for example, a hose or belt such as a conveyor belt or power transmission belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration and which may be of a co-extruded cap/base construction; wherein at least a part of the visible portion of the tread is exclusive of carbon black and thereby of a color other than black. Such non-black colored rubber includes the outer surface of at least one of said tread lugs intended to be ground-contacting. In one aspect of the invention, said non-black colored rubber composition contains (A) a precipitated silica reinforcement which has been pre-treated with a hydrophobation agent and optionally also pre-treated with a coupling agent or (B) a precipitated silica which has been pre-treated with a hydrophobating agent and a coupling agent which does not from an alcohol byproduct upon reacting with hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) contained on the surface of said precipitated silica.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sulfur curable (and cured) rubber composition which contains one or more pentaerythritol derivatives as pentaerythritol tetrabenzoate (PTB) and/or pentaerythritol tetrakis (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate) (PTHC) together with a low molecular weight polyester sebacate. Such combination of materials has been observed to increase resistance to tear for a rubber composition. The invention particularly relates to a tire having a component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a carbon black modified by a two step process in which carbon black is initially treated with functional monomers by an electropolymerization process to form a functionalized carbon black having an initial polymer attached to, of grafted to, the carbon black following which (A) at least one diene monomer, or (B) living anionic catalysis prepared polymer, is introduced to the functionalized carbon black to continue the polymerization, starting from a living end of the initially formed polymer, and thereby form an extended diene-based polymer. By the addition of the diene monomer or the live anionic polymer to form the associated extended diene-based polymer, it is contemplated that the modified carbon black is rendered more compatible with diene-based elastomers. Such modified carbon black may be used, for example, as reinforcement for component(s) of various articles of manufacture, including tires.

Abstract: This invention relates to rubber compositions prepared with cis-1,4-polyisoprene, particularly natural rubber, and phthalimide disulfide and to articles of manufacture having at least one component comprised thereof, including tires. The phthalimide disulfide has been observed to enhance stiffness of natural rubber based rubber compositions.

Abstract: This invention relates to rubber compositions comprised of cis-1,4-polyisoprene and a 4,4′-(para or meta-phenylenediisopropylidine) dianiline and to articles of manufacture having at least one component comprised thereof, including tires. The 4,4′-(phenylenediisopropylidine) dianiline acid has been observed to enhance green strength of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with silica-based reinforcement together with a non-silane coupling agent as N-3-(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-N-oleylammonium bromide and/or N-3-(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-N-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazolium bromide for endeavoring to both couple synthetic aggregates of precipitated silica to elastomers and enhancing electrical conductivity of such rubber compositions which contain less than 25 parts by weight carbon black per 100 parts by weight elastomer. Said coupling agent materials may be provided for mixing with said diene-based rubber(s), for example, as individual materials, as at least one of said materials being supported on a carbon black carrier or as being pre-reacted, or otherwise pre-treated, with synthetic silica aggregates. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: A rubber composition is provided comprising a diene-based elastomer, a vulcanizing agent, a vulcanizing accelerator and a reinforcement comprising a conical carbon. The conical carbon comprises cones, flat plates, nanotubes and fullerenes. Also provided is a tire having at least one component fabricated from the rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to use of stabilized unsymmetrical coupling agents for use in conjugated diene-based rubber compositions reinforced with silica-based reinforcement, namely use of stabilized 2-benzothiazyl-3-(triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide and 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl-N-maleamic acid. Said stabilized unsymmetrical coupling agent materials may be provided for mixing with said diene-based rubber(s), for example, as individual materials, as at least one of said materials being pre-reacted with aggregates of precipitated silica, said precipitated silica having hydroxyl groups (e.g. silanol groups) on its surface. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of a cis 1,4-polybutadiene-rich and silica-rich rubber composition which contains specified elastomers with spatially defined glass transition temperatures, in conjunction with silica and specified carbon black reinforcement.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of a rubber composition containing starch/plasticizer composite reinforcement, together with at least one additional reinforcing filler, through the utilization of a combination of an organosilane disulfide compound mixed with a rubber composition in a preparatory, non-productive, mixing stage(s) followed by adding an organosilane polysulfide compound in a subsequent, productive, mixing stage. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and use thereof in rubber products, including tires.