Abstract: A pneumatic tire, which has belts, gum strips and an overlay, which contain 2-15 phr of thermoplastic reinforcing polymer as an addition to a compound or as a replacement for 5-25 phr of carbon black, has good high speed properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to expandable butyl rubber bladders for use in curing presses for hydrocarbon rubbers such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are a crosslinked elastomer comprising isobutylene repeat units and the bladder composition contains lecithin, particularly a modified lecithin, preferably in liquid form, dispersed within the bladder composition. The bladder composition may also contain castor oil, corn oil and/or soya-bean oil. The bladder composition may also contain at least one of graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene powder. The invention also relates to a method of curing tires by utilizing such butyl rubber bladder.

Abstract: Disclosed are expandable bladders for use in curing presses for rubber compositions such as pneumatic tires. The bladders are a crosslinked elastomer comprising an isobutylene rubbery polymer. The bladder composition includes alkylphenoxypoly(alkyleneoxy)-alkanol which improves the release characteristics of the cured bladder from a tire innerliner cured in contact with said bladder. The improved release characteristics allow rubber compositions such as tires to be molded with fewer defects caused during release of the bladder from the tires or caused by abraded or deformed bladders. The use of alkylphenoxypoly(alkyleneoxy)alkanol also increases the useful life time of the bladder allowing more tires to be cured without changing bladders.

Abstract: Expandable bladders for use in curing presses for hydrocarbon rubbers, such as pneumatic tires, are a crosslinked elastomer composition including isobutylene repeat units. When PTFE and/or graphite is present, they can be cured with brominated phenolic resins in shorter periods of time. The fluorinated ethylene polymer is added in particulate form and thereafter dispersed throughout the bladder. The fluorinated ethylene polymer may or may not form fibers. The bladders may further include graphite. The bladders generally have enhanced lubricity, reduced adhesion to cured tire innerliners, better resistance to cracking during flexing, and have lower tension set than similar compositions without fluorinated ethylene polymers. The above enhancements allow hydrocarbon rubbers such as tires to be molded with fewer defects caused by abraded or deformed bladders. They also enhance the useful life of the bladder reducing the cost of tire curing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a rubber sidewall with at least a portion of its outer surface being composed of white rubber devoid of carbon black reinforcement and composed of an elastomer composition prepared as a combination of EPDM, chlorobutyl rubber, diene-based elastomers and liquid EPDM. The liquid EPDM component replaces at least a portion of a traditionally used naphthenic/paraffinic processing oil.

Abstract: Expandable bladders for use in curing presses for hydrocarbon rubbers, such as pneumatic tires, are a crosslinked elastomer composition comprising isobutylene repeat units and including a fluorinated ethylene polymer added in particulate form and thereafter dispersed throughout the bladder. These fluorinated ethylene polymer may or may not form fibers. The bladders may further comprise graphite. A preferred isobutylene elastomer is a brominated copolymer of from 80 to 99 weight percent isobutylene and from 1 to 20 weight percent paramethylstyrene. The bladders have enhanced lubricity, reduced adhesion to cured tire innerliners, better resistance to cracking during flexing, and have lower tension set than similar compositions without fluorinated ethylene polymers. The above enhancements allow hydrocarbon rubbers such as tires to be molded with fewer defects caused by abraded or deformed bladders. They also enhance the useful life of the bladder reducing the cost of tire curing.