Abstract: Sidewalls of a pneumatic tire have greater resistance to failure due to dynamic flexing and abrasion, and the tire's tread has better resistance to tearing than with conventionally used rubber compositions, when sidewalls and tread are formed from a compound having a major proportion by weight of synthetic rubber (SR) and a minor proportion by weight of natural rubber (NR), and a major proportion by weight of the SR itself consists essentially of a high cis-1,4-polybutadiene having defined molecular architecture. The high cis-1,4-PBD has more than 90 percent cis-structure, a poly-dispersity in the range from about 3 to 5, a number average molecular weight Mn in the range from 100,000 to 150,000 and a degree of branching in the range from 2 to 3.5. The sidewall compound has characteristics quite different from one made with a typical commercially available high cis-1,4-PBD; and the tread has excellent tear strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition which contains reinforcement selected from at least one of synthetic amorphous silica, carbon black and silica treated carbon black, non-alkoxysilane containing coupling agent, wherein at least one of said reinforcements is pre-treated prior to its addition to said rubber composition with at least one of an alkylsilane hydrophobating agent and/or non-alkoxysilane containing coupling agent, and to articles of manufacture, including tires, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tread supporting ring for use with a rim for a tire having two beads comprising a sulfur cured rubber composition composed of:

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with silica-based reinforcement together with a non-silane coupling agent as a combination of 1-thioglycerol(3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol) and 2,2′-benzothiazyl disulfide. Said coupling agent materials may be provided for mixing with said diene-based rubber(s), for example, as individual materials, as at least one of said materials being supported on a carbon black carrier or as being pre-reacted, or otherwise pre-treated, with synthetic silica aggregates. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with silica-based reinforcement together with a composite of carbon black supported non-silane coupling agent as 1-thioglycerol(3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol) and exclusive of 2,2′-benzothiazyl disulfide. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with particulate silica-based reinforcement together with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (a non-silane coupling agent) or a combination of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and bis(3-trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide having an average of from 2 to 2.6, or from 3.5 to 4, sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge to aid in the reinforcement of the rubber composition with a particulate silica-based material and an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: Sidewalls of a pneumatic tire have greater resistance to failure due to dynamic flexing and abrasion, and the tire's tread has better resistance to tearing than with conventionally used rubber compositions, when sidewalls and tread are formed from a compound having a major proportion by weight of synthetic rubber (SR) and a minor proportion by weight of natural rubber (NR), and a major proportion by weight of the SR itself consists essentially of a high cis-1,4-polybutadiene having defined molecular architecture. The high cis-1,4-PBD has more than 90 percent cis- structure, a poly-dispersity in the range from about 3 to 5, a number average molecular weight Mn in the range from 100,000 to 150,000 and a degree of branching in the range from 2 to 3.5. The sidewall compound has characteristics quite different from one made with a typical commercially available high cis-1,4-PBD; and the tread has excellent tear strength.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with particulate silica-based reinforcement together with tetrathiodipropionic acid as a non-silane containing coupling agent to aid in the reinforcement of the rubber composition with a particulate silica-based material and an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a conjugated diene-based rubber composition reinforced with silica-based reinforcement together with a composite of carbon black supported non-silane coupling agent as 1-thioglycerol(3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol) and exclusive of 2,2′-benzothiazyl disulfide. The invention includes an article of manufacture, including a tire, having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: Hoses are often reinforced with fabric to improve their performance characteristics, such as burst strength. For instance, radiator hose used in automotive applications is generally reinforced with continuous yarn. However, it is a labor-intensive process to manufacture such hoses which include fiber reinforcements. A substantial amount of material waste also generally occurs in the manufacture of such fiber-reinforced hose. By utilizing the technique of this invention, hose which has a high level of burst strength can be manufactured without including continuous yarn reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of rubber compositions for tire tread and tire sidewall component applications. A tire is provided having tread of such composition designed for relatively heavy loads such as, for example, truck tires. A tire having a sidewall of such composition is also provided. Such tire component rubber compositions are of rubber compositions reinforced with precipitated silica and selected carbon black in specified amounts and prepared with a prescribed order of addition to the rubber composition and composed of elastomers as a specific combination of natural or synthetic cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber together with cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber or with a combination of cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and trans 1,4-polybutadiene rubber.

Abstract: In a tire having a tread with cap/base construction, a regulated amount of partially crosslinked natural rubber in a tire tread compound increases the uncured ("green") stiffness, tensile strength and tear resistance of a green compound used for the base without adversely affecting physical properties of the tread after it is cured. Such green stiffness is particularly useful in the construction of a tread for a pneumatic tire, which tread is of cap/base construction because stiffness provides requisite dimensional stability of both cap and base (in the tread) during the curing of the tire. The amount of partially crosslinked natural rubber used in a tread compound depends upon the extent of crosslinking in the natural rubber, the non-crosslinked remainder being virgin latex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silica-filled rubber composition reinforced with a combination of silica and a mixture of two defined carbon blacks and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound and a process for making the same. The process comprises(a) intimately dispersing substantially all of the silica filler in a first rubber to form a silica-filled compound;(b) separately intimately dispersing the majority of carbon black in a second rubber, which is different from said first rubber, to form a carbon black-filled compound; and(c) mixing said silica-filled compound with said carbon black-filled compound to form a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound.

Abstract: Hoses are often reinforced with fabric to improve their performance characteristics, such as burst strength. For instance, radiator hose used in automotive applications is generally reinforced with continuous yarn. However, it is a labor-intensive process to manufacture such hoses which include fiber reinforcements. A substantial amount of material waste also generally occurs in the manufacture of such fiber-reinforced hose. By utilizing the technique of this invention, hose which has a high level of burst strength can be manufactured without including continuous yarn reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heterogeneous silica/carbon black-filled rubber compound and a process for making the same. The rubber compound is characterized by containing silica, two different carbon blacks and two different rubbers. One of the carbon blacks is selectively dispersed in one rubber along with the silica and the other carbon black is dispersed in another rubber. The two rubber compounds are then mixed to form a heterogeneous rubber compound.