Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and a tread located radially outward of the carcass and extending between the tire sidewalls; the tread providing a radially outermost tread running surface; the tread comprising a first tread layer comprising a first rubber compound and a second tread layer comprising a second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer is located radially adjacent to the first tread layer; wherein the first rubber compound is compositionally distinct from the second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer comprises one or more integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer extending radially outwardly toward the tread running surface; wherein each of the integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer comprises a circumferentially continuous groove and a reinforcement zone disposed on a side of the groove; wherein the first rubber compound comprises 100 parts by weight of at least one diene based elastomer, and from 1 to 150 phr of sil

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a radially outer circumferential rubber tread disposed on a supporting carcass, an inner liner rubber layer radially inwardly disposed on the supporting carcass, and a sealant layer adhered to and disposed inwardly of the rubber inner liner layer as a radially inner surface of the tire, wherein the sealant layer comprises 100 parts by weight of elastomer comprising 5 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) of butyl rubber, 10 to 25 phr of bromobutyl rubber, and 65 to 85 phr of polybutene: and from 0.05 to 2 phr of a polymeric amine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and a tread located radially outward of the carcass and extending between the tire sidewalls; the tread providing a radially outermost tread running surface; the tread comprising a first tread layer comprising a first rubber compound and a second tread layer comprising a second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer is located radially adjacent to the first tread layer; wherein the first rubber compound is compositionally distinct from the second rubber compound; wherein the second tread layer comprises one or more integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer extending radially outwardly toward the tread running surface; wherein each of the integrally formed extensions of the second tread layer comprises a circumferentially continuous groove and a reinforcement zone disposed on a side of the groove; wherein the first rubber compound comprises 100 parts by weight of at least one diene based elastomer, and from 1 to 150 phr of sil

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a radially outer circumferential rubber tread disposed on a supporting carcass, an inner liner rubber layer radially inwardly disposed on the supporting carcass, and a sealant layer adhered to and disposed inwardly of the rubber inner liner layer as a radially inner surface of the tire, wherein the sealant layer comprises 100 parts by weight of elastomer comprising 5 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) of butyl rubber, 10 to 25 phr of bromobutyl rubber, and 65 to 85 phr of polybutene: and from 0.05 to 2 phr of a polymeric amine.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a tire sealant, the method comprising the steps of: mixing a first mixture of 100 parts by weight of bromobutyl rubber with from 100 to 900 parts by weight of polybutene to make a first mixture; and mixing the first mixture with 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of a nucleophile to make a tire sealant.

Abstract: The present invention achieves increased filler interaction by incorporating a small amount (a few units per chain of rubbery polymer) of a conjugated triene monomer, such as alloocimene, randomly throughout the polymer chain of a rubbery polymer or at the chain ends of the rubbery polymer. The incorporation of the conjugated triene monomer leads to the formation of a polymer containing highly reactive conjugated diene units. These conjugated diene units can chemically react with carbon black leading to superior reinforcement. Alternatively, these conjugated diene units can be used for functionalization of the polymer with silica interactive/reactive groups using Diels Alder reactions. This functionalization of the rubbery polymer can conveniently be conducted in a mixer, such as a Banbury mixer, a mill mixer, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a radially outer circumferential rubber tread disposed on a supporting carcass, an inner liner rubber layer radially inwardly disposed on the supporting carcass, and a sealant layer adhered to and disposed inwardly of the rubber inner liner layer as a radially inner surface of the tire, wherein the sealant layer comprises 100 parts by weight of an ionomer, and from 100 to 900 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of ionomer (phr), of a diluent.

Abstract: The present invention achieves increased filler interaction by incorporating a small amount (a few units per chain of rubbery polymer) of a conjugated triene monomer, such as alloocimene, randomly throughout the polymer chain of a rubbery polymer or at the chain ends of the rubbery polymer. The incorporation of the conjugated triene monomer leads to the formation of a polymer containing highly reactive conjugated diene units. These conjugated diene units can chemically react with carbon black leading to superior reinforcement. Alternatively, these conjugated diene units can be used for functionalization of the polymer with silica interactive/reactive groups using Diels Alder reactions. This functionalization of the rubbery polymer can conveniently be conducted in a mixer, such as a Banbury mixer, a mill mixer, or the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation and use of in situ functionalized elastomers in a rubber composition, namely post polymerization functionalization of elastomers, in rubber compositions containing precipitated silica filler reinforcement and tires having components thereof.

Abstract: The present invention achieves increased filler interaction by incorporating a small amount (a few units per chain of rubbery polymer) of a conjugated triene monomer, such as alloocimene, randomly throughout the polymer chain of a rubbery polymer or at the chain ends of the rubbery polymer. The incorporation of the conjugated triene monomer leads to the formation of a polymer containing highly reactive conjugated diene units. These conjugated diene units can chemically react with carbon black leading to superior reinforcement. Alternatively, these conjugated diene units can be used for functionalization of the polymer with silica interactive/reactive groups using Diels Alder reactions. This functionalization of the rubbery polymer can conveniently be conducted in a mixer, such as a Banbury mixer, a mill mixer, or the like.

Abstract: Copolymers having a substantially heterogeneous composition distribution and strong UV absorption comprise the direct reaction product of an isoolefin and at least one terpene having the molecular formulae of (C5H8)n where n is equal to or greater than two, and optionally additional monomers. More specifically, the invention relates to copolymers of isobutylene and alloocimene that exhibit thermoplastic elastomeric properties and exhibit strong filler interaction. The present invention also relates to methods for producing copolymers of at least one isoolefin and at least one terepene by a two-phase living polymerization that produces a substantially linear diblock, triblock, and multiblock copolymer having substantially heterogeneous distribution of the isoolefin and terpene units.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arborescent polymers and to a process for making same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with a polymer or copolymer having a low glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with less than about 5 weight percent end blocks derived from a polymer or copolymer having a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to preparation and use of in situ functionalized elastomers in a rubber composition, namely post polymerization functionalization of elastomers, in rubber compositions containing precipitated silica filler reinforcement and tires having components thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preparing a functionalized elastomer, comprising the steps of A) obtaining a diene-based elastomer; B) mixing the diene-based elastomer with a halogenating agent to form an intermediate elastomer; and C) mixing the intermediate elastomer with a dienophile comprising a filler-active functional group to form a functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arborescent polymers and to a process for making same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with a polymer or copolymer having a low glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with less than about 5 weight percent end blocks derived from a polymer or copolymer having a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arborescent polymers and to a process for making same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with a polymer or copolymer having a low glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with less than about 5 weight percent end blocks derived from a polymer or copolymer having a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arborescent polymers and to a process for making same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with a polymer or copolymer having a low glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with less than about 5 weight percent end blocks derived from a polymer or copolymer having a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a rubber composition, comprising the steps of A) obtaining a diene-based elastomer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR), and emulsion polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR); B) mixing the diene-based elastomer with a halogenating agent to form an intermediate elastomer; and C) mixing the intermediate elastomer with a carbon black. There is further disclosed a rubber composition made by the foregoing method, and a pneumatic tire comprising the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention achieves increased filler interaction by incorporating a small amount (a few units per chain of rubbery polymer) of a conjugated triene monomer, such as alloocimene, randomly throughout the polymer chain of a rubbery polymer or at the chain ends of the rubbery polymer. The incorporation of the conjugated triene monomer leads to the formation of a polymer containing highly reactive conjugated diene units. These conjugated diene units can chemically react with carbon black leading to superior reinforcement. Alternatively, these conjugated diene units can be used for functionalization of the polymer with silica interactive/reactive groups using Diels Alder reactions. This functionalization of the rubbery polymer can conveniently be conducted in a mixer, such as a Banbury mixer, a mill mixer, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arborescent polymers and to a process for making same. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with a polymer or copolymer having a low glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to arborescent polymers formed from at least one inimer and at least one isoolefin that have been end-functionalized with less than about 5 weight percent end blocks derived from a polymer or copolymer having a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and to a process for making such arborescent polymers.