Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition comprises an interpenetrating or ionic network (IPN)-promoting resin. The resin comprises side chain functional groups along the resin backbone, which, in the presence of an additive material, form the connections that make up the IPN. In one embodiment, such material is ZnO. A method for forming the rubber composition comprises, in a productive step, mixing the product of the non-productive step, the zinc oxide, and a resin derived from maleic anhydride. The zinc oxide and the resin are simultaneously added to the composition during the productive mixing stage. The rubber composition can be cured and incorporated in a tire component, such as, a tread.

Abstract: A sulfur-vulcanizable rubber compound comprises a silane functionalized diene elastomer, a dual silane coupling system, and a silica filler. The non-active sulfur containing silane coupling agent excludes an active sulfur moiety. The rubber compound is a reaction product of a siloxyl condensation reaction between the silane functionalized diene elastomer and the dual silane coupling system. The dual coupling system comprises a non-active sulfur containing silane coupling agent for reacting with an associated precipitated silica to produce a hydrophobic silica; and a crosslinking reagent for reacting with the non-active sulfur containing silane coupling agent and an associated polymer.

Abstract: A shoe comprising an outsole, where the outsole is comprised of a rubber composition comprised of (A) diene-based elastomer comprising: (1) from about 20 to about 45 phr of high Tg SSBR pre-extended with vegetable oil, wherein said SSBR has a Tg in a range of from about ?20° C. to about +10° C. and a bound styrene content in a range of from about 25 to about 50 percent and a vinyl 1,2-content in a range of from about 10 to about 80 percent based on butadiene content, (2) from 55 to about 80 phr of at least one additional diene-based elastomer comprising of at least one of polybutadiene, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, and (B) about 20 to about 70 phr of reinforcing filler comprised of a combination of carbon black and silica where the filler is comprised of from about 50 to about 100 weight percent silica.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a fiber-reinforced rubber layer can help prevent foreign objects from penetrating/extending beyond the tread and into its underlying layer(s), thereby desirably increasing the overall lifespan of the tire. In one embodiment, the tire includes at least one fiber-reinforced rubber layer, which can be generally supported by a tire carcass and interposed directly between a tread portion and belt ply. The fiber-reinforced rubber layer can define a barrier/barrier layer between the tread portion and belt ply and includes a rubber compound that is reinforced with one or more types of fiber (e.g., chopped nylon fiber) and has one or more specific chemical compounds that can provide desirable barrier properties (e.g., abrasion resistance, penetration energy, and DIN properties), thereby helping to prevent foreign objects from penetrating/extending beyond the tire tread and into its underlying layer(s), such as the belt ply and carcass.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of modified vegetable oils in rubber compositions and in tires.

Abstract: A bead portion for incorporation in a pneumatic tire comprises bead wires and a rubber compound surrounding and/or insulating the bead wires. The rubber compound comprises, based on 100 parts per weight (phr) or rubber elastomer: (1) from 0 to 100 phr of at least one styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR); (2) from 0 to 100 phr of a polyisoprene rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene; (3) from 80 to 150 phr of carbon black; (4) (4) from 0 to 50 phr silica; (5) from 0.5 to 5 phr of N, N?-m-phenylene bismaleimide; and (6) optionally no resin.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition comprises an interpenetrating or ionic network (IPN)-promoting resin. The resin comprises side chain functional groups along the resin backbone, which, in the presence of an additive material, form the connections that make up the IPN. In one embodiment, such material is ZnO. A method for forming the rubber composition comprises, in a productive step, mixing the product of the non-productive step, the zinc oxide, and a resin derived from maleic anhydride. The zinc oxide and the resin are simultaneously added to the composition during the productive mixing stage. The rubber composition can be cured and incorporated in a tire component, such as, a tread.

Abstract: The invention relates to footwear with a rubber sole and to such rubber sole where the sole is provided with a rubber composition which contains dual precipitated silica moieties. The dual precipitated silica moieties are provided in a sense of being comprised of hydrophilic precipitated silica and hydrophobic precipitated silica.

Abstract: The invention relates to a footwear with a rubber sole where such sole is comprised of a rubber composition which contains zinc rosinate. The zinc rosin is provided to include zinc rosinate as a product formed in situ within the rubber composition of zinc oxide and freely added rosin acid. The footwear rubber sole is intended for ground engagement. In one embodiment, the rubber composition for the rubber sole further contains triglyceride vegetable oil. In one embodiment, the rubber composition for the rubber sole additionally contains a traction promoting resin.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition which comprises: 1) 100 parts by weight of elastomer consisting of 25 to 35 phr of a styrene-butadiene rubber, 45 to 75 phr of a polybutadiene, and 5 to 15 phr of a natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber is a functionalized and has a Tg(A) ranging from ?30 to ?10° C.; the natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene has a Tg(B) ranging from ?60 to ?70° C.; and the polybutadiene is a cis 1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg(C) ranging from ?110 to ?90° C., wherein Tg(A)?Tg(B)?25° C., and Tg(B)?Tg(C)?25° C.; 2) 70 to 100 phr of silica; 3) 1 to 20 phr of carbon black; 4) 1 to 15 phr of rubber processing oil; and 5) 5 to 50 phr of at least one hydrocarbon resin having a Tg?20° C. and a rosin derived resin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of modified vegetable oils in rubber compositions and in tires.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article of manufacture, in one case a pneumatic tire. having at least one cord-reinforced rubber component comprising (A) a reinforcing cord; and (B) a rubber composition contacting the cord, the rubber composition comprising (1) from 70 to 100 phr of at least one polyisoprene rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene; (2) from 0 to 30 phr of at least one additional rubber selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene rubber; (3) from 20 to 80 phr of carbon black; (4) from 2 to 10 phr of silica; (5) from 0 to 1 phr of a cobalt salt; and (6) from 0.5 to 5 phr of N, N?-m-phenylene bismaleimide; wherein the rubber composition excludes resins and silane coupling agents.

Abstract: A shoe comprising an outsole, where the outsole is comprised of a rubber composition comprised of (A) diene-based elastomer comprising: (1) from about 20 to about 45 phr of high Tg SSBR pre-extended with vegetable oil, wherein said SSBR has a Tg in a range of from about ?20° C. to about +10° C. and a bound styrene content in a range of from about 25 to about 50 percent and a vinyl 1,2-content in a range of from about 10 to about 80 percent based on butadiene content, (2) from 55 to about 80 phr of at least one additional diene-based elastomer comprising of at least one of polybutadiene, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, and (B) about 20 to about 70 phr of reinforcing filler comprised of a combination of carbon black and silica where the filler is comprised of from about 50 to about 100 weight percent silica.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising at least one plant based antioxidant selected from oleanolic acid and ferulic acid. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic tire comprising the rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a rubber composition for promoting a combination of beneficial wet traction and reduced rolling resistance, while limiting any loss of winter traction at low temperatures. The tread rubber composition contains a combination of high and lower glass transition temperature (Tg) elastomers. Its reinforcing filler is primarily precipitated silica. The high Tg elastomer is comprised of synthetic high vinyl polybutadiene rubber and the lower Tg elastomer is comprised of at least one of natural and synthetic cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber. The tread rubber composition may contain at least one of vegetable oil based rubber processing aid and traction promoting resin. The tread rubber composition is intended to be exclusive of styrene-containing elastomers.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of elastomer consisting of 70 to 100 parts by weight, er 100 parts by weight of the elastomer (phr), of an isoprene-butadiene rubber having a Tg ranging from ?100° C. to ?50° C., and 0 to 30 phr of a second elastomer selected from the group consisting of isoprene-butadiene rubber having a Tg ranging from ?49 to ?20° C., natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, and polybutadiene, (B) from 30 to 80 phr of a resin having a Tg of at least 20 C, (C) from 0 to 4 phr of an oil, and (D) from 80 to 180 of a filler selected from the group consisting of carbon black and silica.

Abstract: The invention relates to footwear with a rubber sole where such sole is comprised of a rubber composition which contains corn cob granules.