Abstract: A self-sealing tire for vehicle wheels includes: a carcass structure, a tread band applied in a radially external position to the carcass structure at least in a crown area of the tire, a liner applied in a radially inner position to the carcass structure, and a layer of sealing material applied in a radially inner position to the carcass structure and which extends axially at least in all the crown area of the tire in which the sealing material includes a partially chemically crosslinked composition including an unsaturated styrene thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: A self-sealing tyre for vehicle wheels includes: a carcass structure, a tread band applied in a radially external position to the carcass structure at least in a crown area of the tyre, a liner applied in a radially inner position to the carcass structure, and a layer of sealing material applied in a radially inner position to the carcass structure and which extends axially at least in all the crown area of the tyre in which the sealing material includes a partially chemically crosslinked composition including an unsaturated styrene thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: Method for producing a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including: (a) at least one first elastomeric polymer; (b) at least one layered material having an individual layer thickness of 0.01 nm to 30 nm, preferably of 0.

Abstract: A tyre includes at least one structural element obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including: (a) a crosslinkable elastomeric base comprising at least 10 phr, preferably from 30 phr to 100 phr, of (a1) at least one epoxidized elastomeric polymer including less than 10 mol %, preferably from 0.1 mol % to 5 mol %, of epoxy groups relative to the total number of moles of monomers present in the elastomeric polymer; and (b) from 2 phr to 50 phr, preferably from 5 phr to 30 phr, of at least one layered material. Preferably, the at least one structural element is selected from bead filler, sidewall insert, tread underlayer, and tread base.

Abstract: A tire, including a carcass structure, includes at least one carcass ply of a substantially toroidal shape, having opposite lateral edges associated with respective right-hand and left-hand bead structures, the bead structures including at least one bead core and at least one bead filler; a belt structure applied in a radially external position with respect to the carcass structure; a tread band radially superimposed on the belt structure; a pair of sidewalls applied laterally on opposite sides with respect to the carcass structure; and at least one layer including a crosslinked elastomeric material applied in a radially inner position with respect to the carcass structure.

Abstract: A process for producing an epoxidized elastomeric polymer by feeding at least one elastomeric polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation to a mixing device; feeding at least one hydrogen peroxide precursor to the mixing device; feeding at least one carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof to the mixing device; mixing and reacting, in the presence of water, the at least one elastomeric polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation with the at least one hydrogen peroxide precursor and the at least one carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, to obtain an epoxidized elastomeric polymer; and discharging the resulting epoxidized elastomeric polymer from the mixing device.

Abstract: A crosslinkable elastomeric composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from amorphous polymers having a glass transition temperature higher than 80° C. or crystalline polymers having a melting temperature higher than 190° C. and at least one diene elastomeric polymer. A method for preparing the composition includes pre-mixing, at a temperature not lower than Tg or (Tm?20° C.), the at least one thermoplastic polymer with a first portion of the at least one diene elastomeric polymer to obtain a masterbatch and mixing the masterbatch with a remaining portion of the at least one diene elastomeric polymer. The composition may include from 1% to 65% of the at least one thermoplastic polymer and from 35% to 99% of the at least one diene elastomeric polymer. The at least one thermoplastic polymer may be dispersed in a form of particles having an average diameter not greater than 20 ?m.

Abstract: Tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising at least one component made of a crosslinked elastomeric material, in which said component includes an elastomeric composition comprising: (a) at least one diene elastomeric polymer, (b) at least one cycloolefin polymer, said cycloolefin polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less 50° C. Preferably, said component including said composition is a tyre tread band.

Abstract: re for vehicle wheels, comprising at least one component made of crosslinked elastomeric material, in which said component includes an elastomeric composition comprising: a) at least one dicnc clastomcric polymer; b) at least one copolymer of ethylene with at least one aliphatic &agr;-olefin, and optionally a polyene, said copolymer being characterized by a molecular weight distribution (MWD) index of less than 5, preferably between 1.5. and 3.5, and by a melting enthalpy (&Dgr;aHm) of not less than 30 J/g, preferably between 34 J/g and 130 J/g. Preferably, said component including said composition is a tyre tread band.

Abstract: Tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising at least one element made of crosslinked elastomeric material, in which said element includes an elastomeric composition comprising: (a) at least one elastomeric homopolymer or copolymer of 1,3-butadiene; (b) at least one copolymer of ethylene with at least one aromatic &agr;-olefin, said copolymer being essentially free of side chains containing ethylenic double bonds. Preferably, said element including said composition is a tread band of the tyre. The above (mentioned elastomeric composition makes it possible to prepare tread bands having both a low rolling resistance at the normal working temperatures of the tyre (40° C.-70° C.) and a high roadholding when the tread band is thermally stressed above these temperatures.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that styrene-butadiene block copolymers having syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) blocks and cis-1,4-polybutadiene (PBd) blocks can be synthesized by polymerizing styrene and 1,3-butadiene utilizing certain catalyst systems when the polymerization is conducted at a pressure which is within the range of about 10 mm of mercury to about 50 mm of mercury at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C.