Abstract: A surface stabilized, non-agglomerated silica is provided. The silica is prepared by the method of providing non-agglomerated silica, and then treating the surface of the silica, thereby substantially preventing agglomeration of silica. The surface of the silica may be treated with a hydrophobating agent, such as a silane, or an alcohol. Different embodiments of the invention illustrate that the hydrophobating agent or alcohol can be added at different points within the process of forming the surface stabilized, non-agglomerated silica. The surface stabilized, non-agglomerated silica has a size in the nanometer range. The surface stabilized, non-agglomerated silica can be used as an additive in any application that uses silica, such as reinforcing fillers for elastomeric compositions, foods, drugs, dentifrices, inks, toners, coatings and abrasives.

Abstract: A tire tread composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a vulcanizable elastomer suitable for use in a tire; from about 1 to about 100 parts by weight of a silica reinforcing filler, per 100 parts of the elatomer; and from about 0.1 to 15 parts by weight of an electrically conductive additive containing a poly(alkylene oxide)-containing polymer having a alkali metal salt dissolved therein, per 100 parts of the elastomer provides improved electrical conductivity properties. A pneumatic tire having improved electrostatic dissipation employing the tire tread composition described above and a related method for dissipating electrostatic charges from tires using the tread composition is also discussed.

Abstract: A process for interpolymerizing a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer and a block polymer is disclosed. The process includes the following steps: (a) forming a block polymer precursor of at least one polymeric block containing conjugated diene monomer contributed units in the presence of an anionic initiator and in an inert diluent, the block polymer precursor having living ends; and (b) thereafter adding to the block polymer precursor a charge of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer and an additional charge of an anionic initiator to simultaneously form (1) a block polymer having a terminal block formed from the charge of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer attached to the block polymer precursor and (2) a poly(vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) polymer interpolymerized with the block polymer. The practice of this process produces a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block terminated block polymer, such as SBS, interpolymerized with a polymer formed from vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer, such as polystyrene.