Abstract: The subject invention discloses an improved method for making pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica from rice hull ash silica. This process is renewable, highly efficient, and incorporates virtually all of the silica coupling agent used in making the pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica into the final product. The subject invention more specifically reveals a method for making pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica comprising: (1) dispersing silica into water under conditions of agitation to made an aqueous silica slurry; (2) adding a phase transfer agent to the aqueous silica slurry; (3) adding a silica coupling agent to the aqueous silica slurry; (4) maintaining the aqueous slurry at a temperature of at least 20° C. for a time which is sufficient for the silica coupling agent to react with the silica to produce the pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica; and (5) recovering the pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica from the aqueous silica slurry.

Abstract: A rubber composition for incorporation in an engineered article comprises, based on 100 parts by weight (phr) ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM) elastomer, from about 5 phr to about 100 phr reinforcing filler preferably comprising a prehydrophobated precipitated silica. In the contemplated embodiment, the EPDM has a diene content that is greater than five percent (5%). The diene also contains branching.

Abstract: A rubber composition for incorporation in an engineered article comprises, based on 100 parts by weight (phr) ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM) elastomer, from about 5 phr to about 100 phr reinforcing filler preferably comprising a prehydrophobated precipitated silica. In the contemplated embodiment, the EPDM has a diene content that is greater than five percent (5%). The diene also contains branching.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that silica containing tire tread rubber performance characteristics, such as hysteresis and payne effect, can be significantly improved using low levels of coupling agents and increasing silanization times and temperatures. The rubbers formulations made in accordance with this finding are of particular value for use in the treads of winter tires. Such rubber formulations will typically be made using a maximum level of about 7 phf of silica coupling agent and will more typically contain 3 phf to 6 phf of the silica coupling. A silanization time of at least 4 minutes or 5 minutes (within the range of 4 to 10 minutes) at a temperature of at least 150° C. and preferably 160° C. (within the range of 150° C. to 180° C.) will also be used.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that rice husk ash silica (synthetic amorphous silica from rice husk ash) provides an exceptionally good combination of properties when used in certain tire tread rubber formulations, such as an excellent combination of traction, tread-wear, and rolling resistance. These tread rubber formulations are comprised of a blend of high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber and a solution styrene-butadiene rubber which is preferably functionalized with amine groups, siloxy groups, thiol groups, carboxyl groups, or groups that are reactive with hydroxyl groups present on the precipitated rice husk ash silica. The use of such rice husk silica as a reinforcing-filler in rubber formulations is also highly desirable because such silica is a sustainable resource (bio-renewable) which is derived from an agricultural waste material which would otherwise be discarded as an undesirable waste product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition containing filler reinforcement comprised of precipitated silica with silica coupling agent therefore and conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains end-chain functionalization with multi-functional groups. The groups functionalizing the elastomer are multi-functional in the sense of containing one group reactive with at least one of said precipitated silica and silica coupling agent and another different group reactive with diene-based elastomers through sulfur cure of the rubber composition. A sulfur cured rubber composition containing said end-chain functionalization is provided. A tire is provided having a component comprised of said rubber composition. Representative of said tire component is a tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved tire tread compositions, such as silica-filled tire tread compositions, and tires using the same. In one embodiment, a tire tread is provided that includes a diene-based elastomer, a reinforcing filler that includes an inorganic filler (e.g., silica), and a plurality of silane compounds including bis(dialkylalkoxysilyl-alkyl) polysulfide coupling agent and at least one alkoxysilane compound selected from a hydrophobating bis(trialkoxyl)silane coupling and a hydrophobating mono(trialkoxyl)silane dispersing agent.

Abstract: It has been found that carboxylic acid functionalized high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber which is comprised of polybutadiene rubber chains having a cis-1,4-microstructure content of at least 90 percent has much better interaction with metal salts of ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as zinc diacrylate or zinc dimethacrylate. This results in such rubber compositions being stiff while still exhibiting a lower level of hysteresis. These characteristics are beneficial when used in manufacturing tire apex compositions, in manufacturing golf ball cores, and in a wide variety of other applications. Such rubber compositions can be used as substitutes for thermoplastic elastomers in many applications.

Abstract: The subject invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that the use of a very specific combination of hydrophobating silanes and sulfur crosslinkable silanes can be used to attain outstanding performance characteristics in silica reinforced rubber formulations. More specifically, these rubber formulations provide a highly desirable combination of both improved abrasion characteristics and reduced hysteresis without compromising other important rubber characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses a sulfur cured rubber formulation which is the reaction product of (1) at least one rubbery polymer, (2) sulfur, (3) silica, (4) 2 phf to 12 phf of a hydrophobating silane, and (5) 0.5 phf to 3 phf of a crosslinkable silane. The weight ratio of the hydrophobating silane to the crosslinkable silane will typically be within the range of about 2:1 to about 20:1.

Abstract: The subject invention discloses an improved method for making pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica from rice hull ash silica. This process is renewable, highly efficient, and incorporates virtually all of the silica coupling agent used in making the pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica into the final product. The subject invention more specifically reveals a method for making pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica comprising: (1) dispersing silica into water under conditions of agitation to made an aqueous silica slurry; (2) adding a phase transfer agent to the aqueous silica slurry; (3) adding a silica coupling agent to the aqueous silica slurry; (4) maintaining the aqueous slurry at a temperature of at least 20° C. for a time which is sufficient for the silica coupling agent to react with the silica to produce the pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica; and (5) recovering the pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica from the aqueous silica slurry.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that silica containing tire tread rubber performance characteristics, such as hysteresis and payne effect, can be significantly improved using low levels of coupling agents and increasing silanization times and temperatures. The rubbers formulations made in accordance with this finding are of particular value for use in the treads of winter tires. Such rubber formulations will typically be made using a maximum level of about 7 phf of silica coupling agent and will more typically contain 3 phf to 6 phf of the silica coupling. A silanization time of at least 4 minutes or 5 minutes (within the range of 4 to 10 minutes) at a temperature of at least 150° C. and preferably 160° C. (within the range of 150° C. to 180° C.) will also be used.

Abstract: It has been found that certain silica/cellulose hybrid compositions can be incorporated into rubber formulations with excellent compatibility between the filler and the rubber being attained. These rubber formulations also offer excellent rubber performance characteristics for utilization in tires and other rubber products. These silica/cellulose compositions are made by (1) dispersing sodium silicate or an alkoxy silane into an aqueous cellulose slurry to make an aqueous cellulose dispersion; (2) maintaining the aqueous cellulose dispersion under agitation for a time which is sufficient to allow the sodium silicate or the alkoxy silane to react with the cellulose; (3) adding an acid to the cellulose dispersion in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the pH of the cellulose dispersion to no more than about 8 to produce the silica/cellulose hybrid; and (4) recovering the silica/cellulose hybrid from the water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition containing diene based elastomer(s) coupled with a silica coupler in situ in the rubber composition to a precipitated silica which is partially pre-hydrophobated with an alkylsilane, its preparation and to a tire containing a component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition containing filler reinforcement comprised of precipitated silica with silica coupling agent therefore and conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains end-chain functionalization with multi-functional groups. The groups functionalizing the elastomer are multi-functional in the sense of containing one group reactive with at least one of said precipitated silica and silica coupling agent and another different group reactive with diene-based elastomers through sulfur cure of the rubber composition. A sulfur cured rubber composition containing said end-chain functionalization is provided. A tire is provided having a component comprised of said rubber composition. Representative of said tire component is a tire tread.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber compositions containing a specialized styrene/butadiene elastomer with molecular weight profile containing a limited low molecular weight content and precipitated silica reinforcement and tire with at least one component, such as for example a tread, comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparation of a precipitated silica reinforced rubber composition which contains styrene/butadiene elastomer modified with a combination of bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) polysulfide silica coupler and mercaptoorganoalkoxysilane, a rubber composition thereof and a tire with a component of such rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition containing diene based elastomer(s) coupled with a silica coupler in situ in the rubber composition to a precipitated silica which is partially pre-hydrophobated with an alkylsilane, its preparation and to a tire containing a component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber compositions containing a specialized styrene/butadiene elastomer with molecular weight profile containing a limited low molecular weight content and precipitated silica reinforcement and tire with at least one component, such as for example a tread, comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer and rubber reinforcement comprised of fibrillated aramid fiber micropulp and reinforcing filler comprised of pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica. Such fibrillated aramid micropulp is comprised of micronized fibrillated aramid fiber pulp. Such pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica is comprised of precipitated silica pre-treated with at least one of bis(3-trialkylsilylalkyl) polysulfide, alkoxyorganomercaptosilane, optionally together with an alkylsilane. The invention further relates to such rubber composition wherein said reinforcing filler is comprised of a combination of said pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica as a precipitated silica pre-treated with an alkoxyorganomercaptosilane and a precipitated silica wherein said pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica and said precipitated silica are both hydrophobated in situ within the rubber composition with a bis(3-trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a precipitated silica reinforced rubber composition which contains triethanolamine. The invention further relates to a tire with a component comprised of such rubber composition, such as for example, a tread.