Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition is provided that comprises an elastomer, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, a silica dispersing aid comprising about 0.1 to about 15 phr poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA), and a cure agent. The addition of PVA to the composition improves the processability of the compound, improves the tear strength and modulus of the rubber and can reduce the number of mixing stages during compounding, resulting in lowering of the cost of operation and increasing plant productivity without compromising the processability or other physical properties of the stocks. Also provided are a vulcanizate formed from vulcanizing the rubber composition, a tire component formed from the vulcanized rubber and a process for forming the tire component.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition is provided that comprises an elastomer, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, a silica dispersing aid comprising about 0.1 to about 15 phr poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA), and a cure agent. The addition of PVA to the composition improves the processability of the compound, improves the tear strength and modulus of the rubber and can reduce the number of mixing stages during compounding, resulting in lowering of the cost of operation and increasing plant productivity without compromising the processability or other physical properties of the stocks. Also provided are a vulcanizate formed from vulcanizing the rubber composition, a tire component formed from the vulcanized rubber and a process for forming the tire component.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition is provided that comprises an elastomer, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, a silica dispersing aid comprising about 0.1 to about 15 phr poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA), and a cure agent. The addition of PVA to the composition improves the processability of the compound, improves the tear strength and modulus of the rubber and can reduce the number of mixing stages during compounding, resulting in lowering of the cost of operation and increasing plant productivity without compromising the processability or other physical properties of the stocks. Also provided are a vulcanizate formed from vulcanizing the rubber composition, a tire component formed from the vulcanized rubber and a process for forming the tire component.

Abstract: A tire component formed by a process comprising the steps of (A) vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising, (1) a rubber, (2) a modified polyolefin additive, (3) an aluminum hydroxide filler, and (4) a rubber vulcanizing agent.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition is provided that comprises an elastomer, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, a silica dispersing aid comprising about 0.1 to about 15 phr poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA), and a cure agent. The addition of PVA to the composition improves the processability of the compound, improves the tear strength and modulus of the rubber and can reduce the number of mixing stages during compounding, resulting in lowering of the cost of operation and increasing plant productivity without compromising the processability or other physical properties of the stocks. Also provided are a vulcanizate formed from vulcanizing the rubber composition, a tire component formed from the vulcanized rubber and a process for forming the tire component.

Abstract: A tire having improved tear strength including at least one component comprising: a vulcanized elastomer; and up to about 35 parts by weight functionalized polyolefin per one hundred parts by weight rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the use of processing aids to improve the dispersion of silica reinforcing filler in rubber compounds. In particular, the invention relates to the use of a monofunctional alkyl tin compound as a processing aid in the rubber compounding process. More particularly, the invention provides a vulcanizable elastomeric composition and vulcanized elastomeric products, especially pneumatic tire treadstock that exhibits decreased rolling resistance, hysteresis, and improved snow, ice, and wet traction.

Abstract: A tire component formed by a process comprising the steps of (A) vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising, (1) a rubber, (2) a modified polyolefin additive, (3) an aluminum hydroxide filler, and (4) a rubber vulcanizing agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a sulfur vulcanizable silica-reinforced elastomeric compound having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties. The compounds are formed by mixing an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group, with silica in the presence of an alkyl alkoxysilane for desired processability and a mercaptosilane for increasing the bound rubber content. In particular, the mercaptosilane and the alkyl alkoxysilane are present in a ratio of a maximum of 0.14:1. Preferably, the mercaptosilane and the alkyl alkoxysilane are compounded with the elastomer and the silica at high temperature in the first mixing stage.

Abstract: A vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprises a moisture stabilized polymer, a reinforcing filler comprising silica, a processing aid, and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure of the composition. The moisture stabilized polymer comprises the hydrolysis reaction product of a hydrolyzable substituent of an alkoxysilane terminated polymer reacted with a viscosity stabilizing effective amount of a viscosity stabilizing agent comprising a first long chain alcohol, prior to contacting the polymer with water. The processing aid is a second long chain alcohol, an alkyl alkoxysilane, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A method for controlling any increase in Mooney viscosity during aging of siloxane-functionalized polymers includes the step of adding a viscosity stabilizing effective amount of a long chain alcohol preferably selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic alcohols having more carbon atoms than the hydrolyzable substituent on the siloxane end groups. The method provides for the stabilization of Mooney viscosity of siloxane-functionalized polymers at any given level upon aging. The long chain alcohols react with the siloxane-functionalized polymers prior to hydrolysis of the siloxane end groups to form moisture stabilized polymers.

Abstract: A tire having improved tear strength including at least one component comprising a vulcanized elastomer; and up to about 35 parts by weight of polyolefin copolymer per one hundred parts by weight rubber.

Abstract: A tire having improved tear strength including at least one component comprising a vulcanized elastomer from about 5 to about 50 parts by weight polypropylene per one hundred parts by weight elastomer, and from about 0.05 to about 2.0 parts by weight of an anhydride compatibilizing agent per one hundred parts by weight elastomer.

Abstract: A method for controlling any increase in Mooney viscosity during aging of siloxane-functionalized polymers includes the step of adding a viscosity stabilizing effective amount of a viscosity stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of alkyl alkoxysilanes of the structural formula R1nSi(OR2)4-n wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C20 alkyl, C4 to C10 cycloalkyl, or C5 to C20 aromatic groups, wherein R2 may be the same as or different from R1 and is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C20 alkyl, C4 to C10 cycloalkyl, or C5 to C20 aromatic groups, and wherein n is an integer from 1 to 3. The method provides for the stabilization of Mooney viscosity of siloxane-functionalized polymers at any given level upon aging. The viscosity stabilizing agents react with the siloxane-functionalized polymers during hydrolysis of the siloxane end groups to form moisture stabilized polymers.

Abstract: A vulcanizable filler-reinforced, elastomer-containing composition comprises 100 parts by weight of an elastomer; from about 5 to about 100 parts by weight of a reinforcing filler, per 100 parts of elastomer; from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a free radical capping additive; and from about 0.2 to about 5 parts by weight of a cure agent, per 100 parts of elastomer. A process for the preparation of a vulcanized composition comprising the composition and a pneumatic tire comprising a tread stock manufactured from the composition are also provided.