Abstract: Methods are described for treatment of aramid fibers to modify the surface of the fibers. The treated fibers have improved adhesion to elastomer materials as compared to untreated fibers. Modification methods include irradiating the fibers, compressing and straining the fibers under a constant pull force and immersing the fibers in a coupling agent fluid. The treated fibers can be used with elastomers and provide reinforcement elements in products such as tires.

Abstract: Compatibility in polymer compounds is determined by the kinetics of mixing and chemical affinity. Compounds like reinforcing filler/elastomer blends display some similarity to colloidal solutions in that the filler particles are close to randomly dispersed through processing. Applying a pseudo-thermodynamic approach takes advantage of this analogy between the kinetics of mixing for polymer compounds and true thermally driven dispersion for colloids. The results represent a new approach to understanding and predicting compatibility in polymer compounds based on a pseudo-thermodynamic approach.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tread rubber compositions containing a specified polyurethane, tires containing a tread made from the rubber compositions, and related methods of improving the wet and dry traction of a tire tread by using the polyurethane-containing rubber compositions. The polyurethane includes a saturated hydroxy-functionalized polydiene segment as diol.

Abstract: A method for rubber formulating and characterizing, the method comprising (i) providing a plurality of rubber samples including at least three rubber samples each contained within a container; (ii) introducing a compounding additive to at least one of the samples within the plurality of rubber samples to thereby form a plurality of rubber formulations each contained within a container; (iii) mixing at least one of the samples of the plurality of rubber formulations under high-shear conditions to thereby form a plurality of vulcanizable compositions; and (iv) analyzing at least one of the samples plurality of vulcanizable compositions to thereby characterize the compositions of the plurality, where at least one or the plurality of the rubber samples, the plurality of rubber formulations, the plurality of vulcanizable compositions are transferred to a subsequent step through an automated transfer.

Abstract: A process for retreading a tire, the process comprising the steps of providing a tire casing; providing a cured rubber component having first and second planar surfaces, where the first planar surface includes a tread pattern; providing a cushion gum, wherein the cushion gum is a composition including a functional polymer including at least one functional group, and a crosslinking agent including at least two moieties that will react with the functional group of the functional elastomer; applying the cushion gum to the tire casing; applying the second planar surface of the cured rubber to the cushion gum to form a tire composite; and treating the tire composite to thereby form a retread tire.

Abstract: A process for retreading a tire, the process comprising the steps of providing a tire casing; providing a cured rubber component having first and second planar surfaces, where the first planar surface includes a tread pattern; providing a cushion gum, wherein the cushion gum is a composition including a functional polymer including at least one functional group, and a crosslinking agent including at least two moieties that will react with the functional group of the functional elastomer; applying the cushion gum to the tire casing; applying the second planar surface of the cured rubber to the cushion gum to form a tire composite; and treating the tire composite to thereby form a retread tire.

Abstract: Compatibility in polymer compounds is determined by the kinetics of mixing and chemical affinity. Compounds like reinforcing filler/elastomer blends display some similarity to colloidal solutions in that the filler particles are close to randomly dispersed through processing. Applying a pseudo-thermodynamic approach takes advantage of this analogy between the kinetics of mixing for polymer compounds and true thermally driven dispersion for colloids. The results represent a new approach to understanding and predicting compatibility in polymer compounds based on a pseudo-thermodynamic approach.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tread rubber compositions containing a specified polyurethane, tires containing a tread made from the rubber compositions, and related methods of improving the wet and dry traction of a tire tread by using the polyurethane-containing rubber compositions. The polyurethane includes a saturated hydroxy-functionalized polydiene segment as diol.

Abstract: Methods are described for treatment of aramid fibers to modify the surface of the fibers. The treated fibers have improved adhesion to elastomer materials as compared to untreated fibers. Modification methods include irradiating the fibers, compressing and straining the fibers under a constant pull force and immersing the fibers in a coupling agent fluid. The treated fibers can be used with elastomers and provide reinforcement elements in products such as tires.

Abstract: Methods are described for treatment of aramid fibers to modify the surface of the fibers. The treated fibers have improved adhesion to elastomer materials as compared to untreated fibers. Modification methods include irradiating the fibers, compressing and straining the fibers under a constant pull force and immersing the fibers in a coupling agent fluid. The treated fibers can be used with elastomers and provide reinforcement elements in products such as tires.

Abstract: Compatibility in polymer compounds is determined by the kinetics of mixing and chemical affinity. Compounds like reinforcing filler/elastomer blends display some similarity to colloidal solutions in that the filler particles are close to randomly dispersed through processing. Applying a pseudo-thermodynamic approach takes advantage of this analogy between the kinetics of mixing for polymer compounds and true thermally driven dispersion for colloids. The results represent a new approach to understanding and predicting compatibility in polymer compounds based on a pseudo-thermodynamic approach.

Abstract: Specific types of block interpolymers can aid in compatibilizing otherwise incompatible elastomers. Each block of the interpolymer is generally compatible, even miscible, with each of the elastomers. The composition includes a sufficient amount of the block interpolymer such that that the level of immiscibility of the composition is decreased, as evidenced by smaller domains of one elastomer in the other.

Abstract: Methods are described for treatment of aramid fibers to modify the surface of the fibers. The treated fibers have improved adhesion to elastomer materials as compared to untreated fibers. Modification methods include irradiating the fibers, compressing and straining the fibers under a constant pull force and immersing the fibers in a coupling agent fluid. The treated fibers can be used with elastomers and provide reinforcement elements in products such as tires.

Abstract: The invention provides a hollow nano-particle comprising a crosslinked shell and a void core; and a preparation method thereof. The hollow nano-particle may be used in rubber composition, tire product, and pharmaceutical delivery system etc.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preparing at least partially hollow nanoparticles having an outer shell comprising a one or more molecules and/or residues derived from a metal soap, where the nanoparticles each comprise a continuous inner void space that averages at least 10 percent of the volume of each of the nanoparticles. Such at least partially hollow nanoparticles can be employed in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, tire manufacturing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides reinforcing filler-containing rubber compositions suitable for use in tires, and particularly in tire treads. These rubber compositions comprise a metal carboxylate. The metal carboxylate provides improved processability to the rubber compositions in the form of a reduced Mooney viscosity. In certain exemplary embodiments, these rubber compositions containing the metal carboxylate also have an enhanced elastic modulus (also referred to as the G?). Further, in certain of the enhanced elastic modulus embodiments, the rubber compositions containing the metal carboxylate also have decreased hysteresis loss.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are rubber compositions suitable for use in tire treads comprising (a) at least one conjugated diene polymer or copolymer; (b) at least one filler; (c) a curative package; and (d) at least one of: (i) from 0.2 to 10 phr of at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax, or (ii) from 0.2 to 10 phr of at least one silicone-containing wax comprising a functionalized polyalkylsiloxane, a functionalized polyalkylsilsesquioxane resin, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax is a chlorinated hydrocarbon or a fluorinated hydrocarbon wax.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing a core-shell nanoparticle that includes the following steps: providing a polymeric seed (in a solvent) that includes mono-vinyl monomer cross-liniked with a cross-linking agent to form the core of the nanoparticle, the core has an average diameter of from about nanometers to about 10,000 nanometers, and the core has polymer chains with living ends; adding a stabilizer to stabilize the seed and prevent the seed from precipitating out of solution; and grafting a shell species onto the living ends of the core to form the shell of the nanoparticle. A core-first synthesized nanoparticle, along with a rubber composition and tire product are also provided.

Abstract: Micro-sized particles having a polymeric structure of cells are provided. Also provided is a method of producing micro-sized particles having a polymeric structure comprising: (1) forming a homogenous solution by heating a mixture of a high molecular weight polymer and a low molecular weight material, wherein said low molecular weight material makes up at least about 50% by weight of the homogenous solution, (2) forming a dispersed solution by dispersing the homogenous solution formed in step (1) into an inert material, (3) cooling the dispersed solution to cause the high molecular weight polymer to phase separate from the low molecular weight material, (4) forming solid particles comprised of said low molecular weight material trapped inside a structure of cells of said high molecular weight polymer, and (5) removing the solid particles from the dispersed solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are rubber compositions suitable for use in tire treads comprising (a) at least one conjugated diene polymer or copolymer; (b) at least one filler; (c) a curative package; and (d) at least one of: (i) from 0.2 to 10 phr of at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax, or (ii) from 0.2 to 10 phr of at least one silicone-containing wax comprising a functionalized polyalkylsiloxane, a functionalized polyalkylsilsesquioxane resin, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax is a chlorinated hydrocarbon or a fluorinated hydrocarbon wax.