Abstract: A method for microbial and/or enzymatic devulcanization of rubber includes: providing a particulate vulcanized rubber compound, swelling the vulcanized rubber compound in a solvent, and introducing a microbe or enzyme into the solvent containing the particulate vulcanized rubber in order to devulcanize the rubber compound.

Abstract: A method for microbial and/or enzymatic devulcanization of rubber includes: providing a particulate vulcanized rubber compound, swelling the vulcanized rubber compound in a solvent, and introducing a microbe or enzyme into the solvent containing the particulate vulcanized rubber in order to devulcanize the rubber compound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming contoured tire carcass strips having a body ply consisting of two strips of elastomeric material containing individually spaced reinforcing cords sandwiched therebetween, an innerliner, a pair of abrasive gum sections, and pairs of first and second sidewall sections. The carcass strip and reinforcing cords have a contour configuration with a wider central portion and a pair of outwardly flared end portions connected to the central portion by two intermediate portions. The transverse distances between the cords are equal, with the distances being greater at the central portion than the intermediate and end portions. A grooved forming plate has a plurality of grooves in one surface in the configured pattern that the cords will take when sandwiched in the body ply. The cords are placed in the grooves of the forming plate and have two strips of elastomeric material applied thereto by a pair of vacuum transfer plates and a press.

Abstract: It now has been found that uncured modified rubber compositions comprising mixtures of elastomers and a reinforcing filler can be prepared having improved properties.