Abstract: Diene polymers or copolymers having improved balance between raw polymer viscosity and mixed compound viscosity, useful in tire tread compositions having highly balanced wet traction, rolling resistance, and traction in ice and snow, and fracture properties in the cured and white carbon reinforced states are provided. These diene polymers or copolymers comprise a mixture of diene polymer or copolymer chains containing carbon-tin bonds in the main polymer or copolymer chains and diene polymer or copolymer chains containing terminals derived from hydrocarboxysilane compounds. The diene polymer or copolymers are prepared by first coupling a portion of the living diene polymer or copolymer chains obtained by anionic polymerization using a tin polyhalide coupling agent and then terminating the remaining living diene polymer or copolymer chains using hydrocarboxysilane compounds.

Abstract: A processable rubber stock is produced by the preparation of a silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compound comprising mixing an elastomer with an amorphous silica filler, from 0 to less than about 1% by weight based on said silica filler of bis[3-(triethoxysily)propyl]tetrasulfide, an alkylalkoxysilane and a cure agent. A further processing aid comprising at least one of an ester of a fatty acid or an ester of a polyol is preferred. The elastomer is preferably a diene monomer homopolymer or a copolymer of at least one diene and at least one monovinyl aromatic monomer. By effecting vulcanization, a vulcanized elastomeric compound is produced containing good physical properties for use as tread stock for a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: Rubber tire component compositions containing silica have effective amounts of extra conductive carbon black to dissipate static electricity. The volume resistivity in Ohm-centimeters of the component such as a tread is generally 108 or less. The extra conductive carbon black generally has a BET surface area of at least 500 square meters per gram and the silica is generally utilized in amounts of at least 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the rubber.

Abstract: An antistatic tire and relative production method, whereby a portion of a tread made of an electrically insulating mix is hollowed out and filled with a cement (C) in the form of a carbon black mix in a volatile liquid; the carbon black mix being left inside the hollow portion when the volatile liquid evaporates, and defining inside the tread at least one conducting body communicating with a rolling surface of the tire.

Abstract: Incorporation of neutral water soluble inorganic salts into a precipitated silica improves the filler dispersion in a compounded rubber, reduces rolling resistance (hysteresis), and improves processability. These properties are achieved without loss of the expected reinforcement effect due to the substitution of inorganic salt for SiO2 in the silica. The properties are seen when a variety of silanes and processing aids are added to the silica.

Abstract: A band element for mounting in the crown portion of a pneumatic tire to provide run flat ability to the tire in the event of loss of air pressure and to provide increased puncture resistance is formed of flat strips of tape having fibers embedded in a resin matrix which in one embodiment are twisted and then pultruded to provide a rectangular cross sectional configuration. The twisted tape is wrapped about a mandrel and forms either the only layer, or the intermediate layer of a composite band in combination with inner and outer layers of flat tape or wound filament fibers, whereby the fibers in the tape extend across the central axis of the band to reduce interlaminar sheer. In another embodiment, a plurality of dimples or depressions are formed in the individual tape layers to extend a plurality of the fibers across the layer boundaries to reduce interlaminar sheer.

Abstract: Novel solid supported anionic polymerization initiators that are multiply metalated with Group IA alkali metal atoms are provided and employed to produce extremely high molecular weight branched diene polymers. The initiators are prepared by metalating a particle comprising a thermoplastic polymer or a cured elastomer in the presence of a polar coordinator. The polymers obtained by anionic polymerization employing the initiators are multiply branched, with a polymer chain covalently attached to the particle at virtually every metalation site. The macro-branched polymers exhibit desirable properties, such as an extremely high molecular weight, a controlled molecular weight distribution, T.sub.g and vinyl content, and the ability to readily absorb hydrocarbon solvents and oils. The polymers are easily compounded to form vulcanizable elastomeric compounds and articles that have excellent resistance to wear and tear and exhibit reduced hysteresis properties.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Membranes to form permanent and undistorted images, and methods of preparing such images from image-forming substances in receptive media are also provided.

Abstract: A method and unit for detecting defects in the tread belt of a tire (2), whereby a circumferential dimension of a tire (2) inflated to a given pressure is measured by means of a detecting device (4) with a roller (40), and the measured dimension is compared by a central control unit (47) with a reference value emitted by an emitter (50), to emit an alarm signal (51) in the event the measured dimension exceeds the reference value by a quantity greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for building a run flat pneumatic tire by precoating a thin high strength annular band of material with a layer of rubber to form a rubber/band composite. The rubber coated band composite is at least partially cured and then assembled between a body ply carcass and a tread package in a usual second stage tire building machine. The band can be encased completely with the rubber or the rubber can be applied only to the outside surface, the inside surface or the end edges of the band or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A run flat pneumatic tire has a thin annular band embedded in a crown portion of the tire. The band preferably is a composite member formed of a plurality of layers elongated strip material providing the band with inner and outer annular axially extending surfaces terminating in a pair of outer end portions. Either one or both of the outer end portions are tapered toward the other end portion and toward a pair of end edges to reduce interlaminar shear. The end edges can be straight or rounded surfaces and the tapered outer end portions may be coated with fiber filled epoxy coating.

Abstract: A method and unit for producing a road vehicle radial tire, whereby an impermeable innerliner (10) is applied to the inner surface of a toroidal tire carcass (3) by placing the innerliner (10) on a substantially cylindrical inner support (13), which is radially deformable to gradually assume a deformed configuration capable of mating with an inner surface of the carcass (3); the inner support (13) being fitted through the toroidal carcass (3) and through a toroidal outer support (14) housing the carcass (3), and being moved into the deformed configuration to lift the innerliner (10) towards the carcass (3) and compress the innerliner (10) against the inner surface of the carcass (3), (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Abstract: An improved method for achieving enhanced bond strength between components of unvulcanized and at least partially vulcanized rubber the improvement comprising the steps of selecting first and second initially unvulcanized rubber components (10, 12) for the manufacture of a vulcanized rubber article (21); applying an interphase layer (11) of rubber material, essentially devoid of crosslinking agents and containing from about 0.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a solution of a cyclic amine compound, an organolithium compound, and from 3 to about 300 equivalents, based upon one equivalent of lithium, of a monomer selected from the group including diene monomers, vinyl aromatic monomers, and mixtures thereof, where the cyclic amine compound is defined by the formula where R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene, substituted alkylene, oxy- or N-alkylamino-alkylene group having from about 3 to about 16 methylene groups, N is a nitrogen atom, and H is a hydrogen atom, thereby forming a polymerization initiator having the formula where Li is a lithium atom, SOL is a divalent hydrocarbon group having from 3 to about 300 polymerized monomeric units, y is from 0.5 to about 3, and A is a cyclic amine radical derived from the cyclic amine, charging the solution containing (A)Li(SOL)y with from about 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decreasing dynamic modulus without decreasing hardness in silica tread compounds in tires made in accordance with this method. The tread composition comprises an elastomer including a performance-enhancing package comprising silica, carbon black and a silica replacement. The replacement replaces up to about 40 percent by weight of the silica and yet maintains one or more selected performance properties as if the performance enhancement package were pure carbon black and silica. The replacement is kaolin clay present in conjunction with a silane coupling agent. In the method of the present invention kaolin clay is used as a replacement for about 5 to about 20 parts, by weight, of silica in the compounding of silica tread compounds.

Abstract: A functionialized polymer according to the invention includes a polymer molecule having the general formula AYLi where A is a cyclic amine-containing radical having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a divalent alkylene, an oxy- or amino-alkylene, or substituted alkylene having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is a linear-, branched-, or cyclo-alkylene having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms; and Y is a divalent polymer radical and Li is a lithium atom bonded to a carbon atom of Y.

Abstract: The invention provides solid supported anionic catalysts, suitable for gas phase anionic polymerization of conjugated diene monomers, that are useful for anionically producing very high molecular weight branched diene polymers, such as styrene butadiene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber, and the like. The catalysts comprise a metalatable particle, such as a bound rubber, a thermoplastic polymer or a cured elastomer, that is multiply metalated with Group IA alkali metal atoms. The multi-branched diene polymers obtained by gas phase anionic polymerization employing the catalysts exhibit desirable properties, such as an extremely high molecular weight, a controlled molecular weight distribution, T.sub.g and vinyl content, and the ability to readily absorb hydrocarbon solvents and oils. The polymers are easily compounded to form vulcanizable elastomeric compounds and articles, such as tires, that have excellent resistance to wear and tear and exhibit reduced hysteresis properties.

Abstract: A rubber tread stock comprising a vulcanizable composition of matter, and a triazine, wherein said triazine is defined by the formula ##STR1## where X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, amines, and organic groups having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, Y is selected from the group consisting of halides, alkoxy derivatives, amine derivatives, aryloxy derivatives, and urea derivatives, with the proviso that the substituent Y is displacable by a reaction with a secondary amine, and Z is selected from the group consisting of alkoxy derivatives, amino derivatives, aryloxy derivatives, and urea derivatives, with the proviso that the substituent Z is displacable by a reaction with a secondary amine.