Abstract: A tire having a tread has tread elements which, when compressed radially, exhibit a net torque. The net torque so generated can be directed and designed so as to affect the tire's residual self-aligning torque (also known as RSAT). One embodiment of the invention features a tire tread having a tread element which has a shape resembling a top surface with the tread element being twisted relative to a bottom surface of the tread element. Upon radial loading, the tread element is compressed and generates the net torque about the centroid of the tread element.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to an anionic polymerization technique for synthesizing rubbery polymers of conjugated diolefin monomers, such as an rubbery copolymer of .alpha.-methylstyrene and 1,3-butadiene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire tread rubber compounds. They have high trans-isomer contents which leads to good treadwear characteristics and a broad molecular weight distribution which enhances processability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of organo silicon disulfide compounds. The process involves reacting a mercaptoalkoxysilane with a sulfenamide compound.

Abstract: A strip of resilient material is clamped uniformly across the width of the material at a first position by vertically spaced clamps which are separated to stretch a section of the material beyond the elastic limit. The stretched section of material is released and transported on a horizontal conveyor to a second position where the stretched section is cut by a cutter providing edges of reduced thickness which are suitable for overlapping other stretched edges of reduced thickness for splicing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of organosilicon compounds of the formulaZ--Alk--S.sub.n --Alk--Z (I)in which Z is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl or phenyl;R.sup.2 is alkoxy of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or cycloalkoxy of 5 to 8 carbon atoms;Alk is a divalent hydrocarbon of 1 to 18 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 2 to 8; comprising(A) reacting sodium hydroxide with sulfur in the presence of a saturated NaCl aqueous solution to form a reaction mixture;(B) reacting said reaction mixture with a compound of the formula:Z--Alk--X (II)where X is Cl or Br; in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for preparing a latex which is particularly beneficial for utilization in manufacturing high performance masking tape, which comprises the sequential steps of (1) terpolymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, an alkyl acrylate monomer, and an alkyl propenoic acid monomer in an aqueous polymerization medium by free radical polymerization to produce a seed polymer latex; (2) neutralizing the seed polymer latex to a pH of about 6 to about 9 by the addition of an alkali; (3) adding additional vinyl aromatic monomer and alkyl acrylate monomer to the neutralized seed polymer latex; and (4) allowing the additional vinyl aromatic monomer and alkyl acrylate monomer to polymerize in a second polymerization step to a solids content of about 30% to about 50% to produce the latex which is particularly beneficial for utilization in manufacturing high performance masking tape; wherein about 30 percent to about 50 percent of the total amount of vinyl aromatic monomer polymerized is polymerized

Abstract: A new pneumatic radial ply truck tire 10 for use on steering axles is disclosed. The tire 10 has a 20 tread having a plurality of circumferentially continuous grooves 22, a pair of narrow circumferential decoupling grooves 24, a pair of radially recessed ribs 21, and a plurality of tread ribs 25,25A. The tread 20 has a radially outer tread surface 30 having a curvature defined by an internal radius of curvature Ri and an external radius of curvature Re, Re extending laterally over a majority of a shoulder rib 25A to the narrow decoupling groove 24 on at least one-half of the tread 20, preferably both tread halves. The shoulder rib 25A has a thickness (t) at the circumferential groove 22 which progressively increases to a thickness (t max) adjacent the narrow decoupling groove 24. The tread 20 exhibits a pressure distribution in the shoulder region which is complimentary to uniform wear.