Abstract: A process that enables the formation of a high damping, soft polymer gel includes reacting a maleimide copolymer with a maleated polyalkylene and an alkyl diamine under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a polyalkylene-grafted maleimide copolymer product which then is dispersed with an extender sufficient to form the gel. The steps can be carried out sequentially in a high shear mixer without the need for intermediate steps of cooling and grinding the reaction product of one step before proceeding to the next.

Abstract: A tire component comprising a vulcanized rubber, and from about 3 to about 85 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight rubber, of a filler dispersed within said vulcanized rubber, where the vulcanized rubber includes the vulcanized residue of a thermoplastic-elastomeric block copolymer defined by the formula ?-?-?-? where ? is a hydrogen atom or a functional group, ? includes an elastomeric block, ? includes a thermoplastic block, and ? includes a hydrogen atom or a functional group.

Abstract: A tire comprising a tread, where the tread includes a vulcanized rubber, from about 5 to about 80 parts by weight of a nylon-containing block copolymer per 100 parts by weight of the vulcanized rubber, and from about 1 to about 100 parts by weight filler per 100 parts by weight of the vulcanized rubber.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having improved conductivity is disclosed herein whereby the tire is provided with at least one conductive pathway extending through the tread surface and contacting the tread cushion. Conductive pathways are created by introducing small volumes of high carbon black concentration. Such pathways provide low electrical resistance and dissipation of static charge accumulation on a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides chain-coupled polymeric sulfide compounds for use as the elastomeric component in vulcanizable elastomeric compositions comprising silica, carbon black or mixtures thereof. In particular, the invention provides anionically polymerized polymers having polymer chain living ends that are functionalized with sulfide groups and coupled together by a metal or nonmetal atom. The chain-coupled polymeric sulfide compounds have an initial high viscosity for ease of handling prior to compounding, a stable viscosity during storage, and a decreased compound viscosity for better filler dispersion and improved mixing efficiency. The invention further provides a pneumatic tire having at least one component produced from the vulcanizable elastomeric composition of the invention. A tire tread produced from vulcanized elastomers exhibiting these improved properties will exhibit reduced hysteresis resulting in an increase in rebound and improved rolling resistance and wet traction.

Abstract: The present invention provides silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compounds comprising an elastomer mixed with at least a silica filler, a processing aid, and a curing agent, and processes for the preparation of the same. Generally, the present invention provides processing aids which effectively reduce or replace the amount (i.e., about 10 percent by weight based upon the silica filler) of the processing aid bis[3-triethyoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide (“Si69”) used in the production of silica-filled rubber stocks. These new processing aids include alkyl alkoxysilanes, fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated sugars and the polyoxyethylene derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof, with or without various non-reinforcing fillers such as mineral fillers. The processing aids do not hinder the physical properties of the compounds and have been found to be excellent substitutes for Si69.

Abstract: A tire component formed by a process comprising the steps of (A) vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising, (1) a rubber, (2) a modified polyolefin additive, (3) an aluminum hydroxide filler, and (4) a rubber vulcanizing agent.

Abstract: A curable sealant composition is provided. The composition includes a polymer including at least conjugated diene contributed monomer units in a backbone of the polymer and terminal groups including silicon. The composition also includes additional sealant ingredients selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, filler, reinforcing agents, modifiers, curing catalysts/hardeners, stabilizers, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The use of high density metal oxide fillers in vulcanizable rubber compounds is disclosed. The use of the fillers reduce or eliminate the need for conventional fillers, such as carbon black or silica, because viscoelastic performance properties of vulcanized rubber compounds with high density metal oxide fillers therein predict improved wet traction and rolling resistance, two key factors in the use of rubber compounds as vehicle tire treads. Methods of making and using such rubber compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Rubber compositions such as tire innerliners contain significant amounts of ground, fine size tire curing bladder rubber as a filler. Critical properties such as air retention are not affected and spent or old curing bladder rubber which would otherwise go to a landfill is effectively recycled.

Abstract: A humidification system (A) for humidifying a dry hydrocarbon stream includes a column (10) which defines an interior cavity (20). The cavity is partially filled with a bed (12) of a packing material (40) and a layer of water (20), leaving a headspace above the water. An inlet (52) adjacent a lower end of the cavity receives a dry hydrocarbon stream which is broken up by the packing material and dissolves water as it passes therethrough. Entrained water droplets fall out of the wet blend in a disengagement zone (70) above the water layer leaving the hydrocarbon stream humidified yet substantially free of liquid water in an upper region (72) of the column.

Abstract: A polar surfactant, preferably organic, is disclosed to increase dispersion of reinforcing filler aggregates in rubber compositions. The surfactant acts on binders present in the reinforcing filler aggregates so that the surfactant associates with the water soluble binder on carbon black to increase carbon black dispersion. The polar surfactant has an hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of about 3 to about 35. Rubber products using the composition and methods of making the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A conductive polymer gel composition including a copolymer with alkenyl monomer units and maleimide monomer units, a crosslinking agent, and an electrolyte solution. The conductive polymer has a current resistance less than or equal to 10−4 ohms and can be used to provide electrolyte cells.

Abstract: A composition comprising an elastomer, a filler, and a comb-like polymer, the comb-like polymer comprising a backbone and a plurality of side chains, the backbone having a length greater than or equal to the entanglement length, the side chains having a length greater than about 33% of the entanglement length, the backbone including at least one side chain per entanglement length, and the comb-like polymer having a Tg of less than −5° C.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) an &agr;-acylphosphonate diester, and (c) an organoaluminum compound.

Abstract: Sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compounds and pneumatic tire components having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties are produced by compounding polymers with silica at a temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C., in the presence of a silica dispersing agent, and a very small amount (e.g., about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, based on the weight of the silica) of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano) tetrasulfide silica coupling agent.

Abstract: A tire having improved tear strength including at least one component comprising: a vulcanized elastomer; and up to about 35 parts by weight functionalized polyolefin per one hundred parts by weight rubber.