Abstract: There is a need for polymers which are utilized in automotive interiors which offer increased heat and ultraviolet light resistance. It is particularly critical for polymers which are utilized in making skin compounds for automotive instrument and door panels to display excellent heat and ultraviolet light resistance.

Abstract: Tires using high tensile reinforcement with values of at least 1240N (280 lbs) for U+T type cord and at least 2000N (450 lbs) for bunched type cord.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide in combination with a bismaleimide compound and a sulfenamide compound provides for excellent vulcanization of rubbers and results in an improved final rubber vulcanizate possessing superior physical properties and reversion resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica where the tread is composed of cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, a high vinyl polybutadiene rubber and, optionally a medium vinyl polybutadiene rubber. In one aspect, the tread rubber can also contain a minor amount of cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber.

Abstract: An electrically heated knife blade is mounted on a carriage for moving the blade across a strip of elastomeric material. The carriage is propelled by a constant force provided by a pneumatic cylinder in communication with a source of constant air pressure so that the cutting speed is automatically increased at sections of strip material which are relatively thin and the cutting speed is automatically decreased at sections of strip material which are relatively thick. Sensors for determining the position of the relatively thick sections may be connected to the source of electricity for heating the knife blade to increase the voltage while cutting the relatively thick sections and thereby provide for a substantially constant cutting speed across the strip of elastomeric material. A tire tread is bent at the location the knife blade is moved across the tread to provide matching cut ends for splicing on a tire building drum.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the vibration of a tire uniformity machine having a number of rotating components uses the signals from load cells when the machine idle to output voltage signals that are then amplified and input into a computer as unfiltered, amplified voltage signals. The signals are converted into a power spectrum and selected groups of frequencies and their amplitude are compared with acceptable amplitudes for the frequencies generated by various rotating parts of the machine. When at least one of the amplitudes for different frequencies is greater than at least one of the acceptable amplitudes for the frequencies generating different rotating parts of the machine, the computer outputs an alarm signal.

Abstract: The subject invention discloses an isoprene-butadiene diblock rubber which is particularly valuable for use in making treads for tires which have improved wear characteristics without compromising traction characteristics or rolling resistance. Said isoprene-butadiene diblock rubber is comprised of (1) a first block which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from 1,3-butadiene and (2) a second block which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from both 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, wherein the repeat units derived from isoprene and 1,3-butadiene in the second block are in an essentially random order, wherein the diblock rubber has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about -100.degree. C. to about -70.degree. C., and wherein the diblock rubber has a Mooney viscosity which is within the range of about 50 to about 140.

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 seqential 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.A rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of poly-(2-propanol-1,3-polysulfide).

Abstract: An apparatus which uses a sensing device for measuring gauges of elastomeric or rigid articles, or runout of elastomeric articles, has a pivoting arm which holds a means for creating a signal, and is movable relative to the object being measured. The means for creating a signal provides a signal to the sensing device, and the magnitude of the signal depends on the position of the pivoting arm relative to the object being measured. Movement of the pivoting arm, caused by changes in the dimensions of the object, can be recorded and analyzed.

Abstract: A steel wire or cable conveyor belt with improved penetration and rip resistance is made by plying up a series of rubberized longitudinal steel cables or wires to give a core, placing a ply of rubberized woven fabric such as polyaramide or nylon over the core, such as a tire breaker ply or plies over the core, then a ply of rubberized closely placed, essentially in contact wire, preferably of heavy tire ply cable, such as an earth mover ply, cut to cover the core in transverse direction to allow the steel wire or cable to be positioned perpendicular over the longitudinal steel wire or cable, apply a cover stock ply over the transversely positioned short wire or cable. The underside of the longitudinal steel wire or cable core has a rubberized woven fabric positioned there beneath and a rubberized pulley ply beneath the woven fabric ply. The plied up belt is cured with pressure and heat to adhere the plies together and cure the rubber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for applying unvulcanized gumstrips in precise overlapping relation on the marginal edges of an unvulcanized tire reinforcement belt or breaker to enhance the adhesion between the reinforcement belt or breaker and surrounding components of a finished, vulcanized tire.

Abstract: An asymmetric reinforcement belt structure for a pneumatic tire includes an outer belt and inner belt, each reinforced with a plurality of generally parallel cords. The outer belt has a first portion between the centerlines of the cords and a first surface and a second portion between the centerlines of the cords and a second surface. The first portion has a thickness T1 which is between 110% and 150% of T2. Similarly, the inner belt has a third portion and a fourth portion, with the third portion being between the centerlines of the cords and a third surface and a the fourth portion being between the centerlines of the cords and a fourth surface. The fourth portion has a thickness T4 which is between 50% and 90% of a thickness of the third portion T3. Orienting the cords within the belts in this way separates them slightly more than would be so if the belts were symmetrical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing silica reinforcement and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.A rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of 3,3'-tetrathiodipropionitrile polysulfide mixture.

Abstract: Improved tires designed for use in an improved tire/vehicle system having two pneumatic front tires and two pneumatic rear tires are provided. The improved tire/vehicle system is especially effective on wet road surfaces. The front tire treads are each divided circumferentially into first, second, and third zones. The rear tire treads are divided circumferentially into four zones. Both the front and rear tires have tread groove patterns that are asymmetric and are especially configured for tires having negative camber.

Abstract: A reinforcing fabric comprises reinforcing warp cords and weft cords that melt at a temperature of 200.degree. to 300.degree. F. The weft cords hold the warp cords in position relative to one another when the fabric is being calendered and placed in an elastomeric composite, but melt at the normal curing temperature of an elastomer to form domains of polymer in the cured composite. The reinforcing fabric has particular use as reinforcement in V-belts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making a polyurea foamed backed product with a polyurethane skin. The process involves (a) providing a mold surface, (b) applying a polyurethane paint to the inner surface of the mold to provide a coated inner surface and (c) spraying at least one polyurea layer onto said coated inner surface to form an integral foamed backed polyurea product with a polyurethane skin.