Abstract: Guayule resin is sulfurized such that it has a high softening point of at least 70.degree. C. The sulfurized guayule resin can be utilized in association with conventional rubbers and the end results in improved properties such as reduced hysteresis loss, increased tensile strength and the like.

Abstract: A non-penetrating mechanical fastener for securing a flexible sheet of an elastomeric material to the upper surface of a roof via the use of a plurality of such fasteners, each of which includes upper and lower members, wherein the latter are anchored to the roofing surface. The upper member includes an inner resilient retainer and an outer locking cap which clamp the sheet about an annular knob formed on the lower member. The locking cap is engaged by a compression fit with the resilient retainer to secure the retainer in position about the annular knob. A bolt and nut securely attaches the locking cap to the retainer to prevent their disengagement from the annular knob of the lower member. A method for securing the flexible sheet to the roofing substrate also is presented.

Abstract: Urethane compositions generally free of phase separation patterns and flow lines are produced. One method includes the utilization of a nucleating compound which is generally added to a urethane prepolymer before any chain extension thereof. Examples of nucleating agents include urethanes, ureas and allophanates such as carboxylic acids, organic acid and anhydrides, amides, imides and the like. Another method includes adding a very small initial incremental amount of a curing agent to the prepolymer with an insoluble product being produced thereby and subsequently adding the remainder of the curing agent.

Abstract: A repaired elastomer article having a cut or crack entirely therethrough. An interior cavity is located in the vicinity of the cut or crack and has a filler therein. A treating agent is located about the cut portion on the inner surface of the article and an amine curable polymer or prepolymer resides over said treating agent. A cured elastomeric patch resides over said amine curable polymer or prepolymer. Since the amine curable polymer or prepolymer cures at ambient temperatures, the repair of the elastomer article can occur in situ. The invention is especially useful in the repair of tires.

Abstract: A non-penetrating mechanical fastener for securing a flexible sheet of an elastomeric material to the upper surface of a roof via the use of a plurality of such fasteners, each of which includes upper and lower members, wherein the latter are anchored to the roofing surface. The upper member includes a snap-ring which clamps the sheet within an annular boss formed on the lower member and a locking cap which is engaged by an interference fit with the snap-ring to lock the ring in position within the boss. A method for securing the flexible sheet to the roofing substrate also is presented.

Abstract: Rubber curing agents such as quinoids are solution compounded to achieve a uniform or homogeneous distribution thereof in a rubber composition. The curing agents are initially solubilized in an organic polar solvent and then mixed with the rubber masterbatch solution. The solvent is then removed. A uniform fine distribution of the curing agent results in improved physical properties. The present invention is particularly suitable as a sealant composition for tires.

Abstract: A process and product thereof for densifying guayule shrubs by compression and forming a densified pellet. The densified pellet substantially maintains its molecular weight during storage over a period of weeks without the aid of any inert gas blanket or the like.

Abstract: Guayule-type resins are chemically treated with polyamine. The resulting composition is suitable as a rubber additive since it improves various physical properties of rubber compositions such as green strength, building tack, tear strength, hysteresis loss and the like.

Abstract: A process for drying lactams to extremely low water contents is provided which comprises mixing the lactam with hydrocarbon distilling from the mixture a water/hydrocarbon vapor and or condensate, contacting said vapor or condensate with a drying agent to remove water and returning the dried distillate to the mixture to permit recycling process is capable of providing anionic polymerization grade lactam with a water content of less than about 50 ppm.

Abstract: A tire manufacturing process of the type which employs a reusable rubber or the like curing bag or bladder. The process includes deflating, between curing cycles of the tire manufacturing process, the curing bag or bladder; preventing oxygen bearing medium entering the curing bag or bladder; and supplying a non-reactive medium upstream of the curing bag or bladder to maintain the bag or bladder in its unstretched state until the bag or bladder is next inflated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a stabilizer ply to a tire building drum and more particularly an apparatus and method for cutting and applying the stabilizer ply material and specifically an apparatus for cutting the stabilizer ply material between cords disposed therein and correcting for variations of the cord angles during the application process in order to provide an improved splice between the leading and trailing edges of the stabilizer ply material.

Abstract: Alkoxyphosphazene polymer is prepared in a homogeneous system by admixing chloropolymer dissolved in cyclohexane or a mix of cyclohexane and C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 alkane with alkali metal alkoxide dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, reacting, desalting the resulting reaction solution and concentrating by a first step involving admixing non-solvent which is cyclohexane (and/or C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 alkane if that is also present in the reaction solution) to cause coagulation thereby forming a higher viscosity rubber phase enriched in polymer and a lower viscosity liquid phase depleted in polymer and separating the rubber and liquid phases and a second step involving evaporating the residual solvent and non-solvent. The first concentrating step is preferably carried out utilizing an extruder.

Abstract: A system and apparatus therefor which stores and processes flexible strip materials and particularly tire manufacturing components such as the tread portion. A portable storage unit has a pair of hollow, cylindrical-shaped spools loosely supported on a pair of cradles within a frame. A pair of annular flanges adjacent the ends of each of the spool surfaces engages stop plates on the frame to retain the spools in position on the cradles when the frame is in both a vertical load and unload position and a horizontal storage and transport position. Drive units for loading and unloading the spools preferably are similar, each including a pair of expanding mandrels and a motor driven chain connected to one of the mandrels. The storage unit is placed on a carriage which is located adjacent the mandrels of the drive units by material handling equipment. The carriage is moved horizontally toward the stationery mandrels until the mandrels are inserted within the spool interiors.

Abstract: Rubber compositions and metal-reinforced rubber ply members have improved metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention. The improvement comprises admixing from about 0.5 to about 10.0 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of bis(2-mercaptobenzothiazato) nickel with a vulcanizable rubber composition prior to combining the metal and rubber and then curing. A method for improving the metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention between a vulcanizable rubber and metal member includes the step of dispersing from about 0.5 to about 10.0 phr of nickel in a vulcanizable rubber composition prior to curing.

Abstract: A method for improving metal adhesion and metal adhesion properties between a vulcanizable rubber composition and brass or zinc or brass-plated or zinc-plated metallic reinforcing elements includes dispersing from about 0.5 to about 12.5 parts by weight of an organic salt of nickel or cobalt per 100 parts of rubber component in a sulfur vulcanizable rubber composition and dispersing from about 0.5 to 15 parts by weight of a thermosetting two-step phenolic resin per 100 parts of the rubber component in the same rubber composition prior to curing.

Abstract: A method for separating guayule bagasse from a guayule-solvent mixture utilizing a monophase solvent. Upon the addition of water, a two-phase system is formed wherein the bagasse is located just below the monophase solvent-water interface.

Abstract: Conjugated dienes, in particular 1,3-conjugated dienes, can be polymerized or copolymerized using the catalyst system of this invention to polymers wherein the amount of 1,2-structure contained in the polymer is increased, and polymers can be prepared containing varying amounts of 1,2-structure as desired. Such desirable results can be obtained in accordance with the process of the present invention for polymerizing conjugated diene monomers which comprises the use of a catalyst system which comprises (a) at least one anionic initiator based on lithium, and (b) a modifier composition comprising at least one cyclic acetal of a glyoxal. ##STR1## wherein R and R' are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or aryl groups, and each A is independently an alkylene or an oxyalkylene group.In another embodiment, the catalyst system also contains at least one co-initiator selected from the group consisting of organomagnesium compounds, organoaluminum compounds, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Including certain carboxy-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers in natural rubber formulations increases their tear strength, and hardness properties.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward a method for improving the green strength properties of vulcanizable rubber compositions comprising the step of mixing a halogenated polymer with the vulcanizable rubber composition prior to curing in an amount ranging from about 5 to 25 weight percent of the rubber in the composition.