Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition which contains a block copolymer and a tire having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition. In one aspect of the invention, such rubber composition is comprised of a combination of at least one diene-based elastomer and liquid polymer comprised of a central polyalkylene polymer block, a first terminal hydroxyl group positioned on one end of said polyalkylene polymer block comprised of at least one primary hydroxyl group and a second terminal group positioned on the opposite end of said polyalkylene polymer block comprised of an epoxidized polyisoprene block or a hydrogenated polyisoprene block. The diene-based elastomer may be, for example, cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and/or other diene-based elastomer. The rubber composition contains reinforcement as carbon black and/or silica together with a coupling agent. The invention further relates to a tire having a tread of such rubber composition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a component comprising: at least one rubber selected from polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, synthetic polyisoprene rubber, and natural rubber; and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of rubber, of a terpolymer of: ethylene, an ?-olefin, and a non-conjugated diene; the terpolymer having an ethylene content of greater than 80 percent by weight and a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 at 125° C.) of from 5 to 25 as measured by ASTM D-1646.

Abstract: A tire having a visible sidewall of a rubber composition containing a combination of aromatic and naphthenic/paraffinic rubber processing oils together with a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene, which also contains cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, and a minor amount of at least one additional conjugated diene-based rubber, preferably cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber. In a further aspect of the invention, the rubber composition may be reinforced with a reinforcing filler as carbon black or as a combination of carbon black and silica together with a coupling agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition and tire having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer, to the exclusion of butyl type elastomers, which contains an internal dispersion of corncob granules. Such tire component may be, for example, a tire tread and/or cord reinforced rubber ply and/or belt. A tire tread intended for winter driving, although not necessarily limited to winter driving, is provided of a rubber composition containing at least one diene-based sulfur vulcanizable elastomer having a Tg below ?30° C. and an internal dispersion therein of corncob granules. The running surface of the tire tread is configured with a combination of micro-protrusions of corncob granules from said corncob granule internal dispersion and micro-cavities therein created by a release of a portion of the protruded corncob granules during the abrading, or wearing, of the tire tread running surface as the tire is being run.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of corncob granules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a sulfur cured rubber composition. The innerliner rubber composition is comprised of at least one elastomer selected from bromobutyl rubber and chlorobutyl rubber which also contains a dispersion therein of pre-cured diene-based rubber particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a natural rubber-rich rubber composition and tire with tread thereof. A partial replacement of the natural rubber in the natural rubber-rich tire tread is accomplished by an inclusion of a specialized trans 1,4-styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber characterized by having a combination of bound styrene content and microstructure limitations. The tire tread rubber composition is comprised of a blend of the specialized trans 1,4-styrene/butadiene rubber and cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber optionally together with at least one additional diene-based elastomer in which the natural rubber remains a major portion of the elastomers in the tread rubber composition. A significant aspect of the invention is a partial replacement of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber in the tread rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a natural rubber-rich rubber composition. A partial replacement of the natural rubber in the tire tread is accomplished by an inclusion of a relatively low Mooney viscosity specialized trans 1,4-polybutadiene. The tire tread rubber composition is comprised of a blend of the specialized trans 1,4-polybutadiene polymer and cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber optionally together with at least one additional diene-based elastomer in which the natural rubber remains a major portion of the elastomers in the tread rubber composition. A significant aspect of the invention is a partial replacement of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber in the tread rubber composition. The specialized trans 1,4-polybutadiene polymer has a relatively low Mooney (ML1+4), 100° C., viscosity within a range of 25 to 55.

Abstract: The invention relates to pneumatic tires with a focus on pneumatic tires primarily intended for use in off-the-road service at relatively slow vehicular speeds, and to large truck tires, aircraft tires and agricultural tires and therefor not primarily focused on, and in one aspect intended to be exclusive of, passenger tires and particularly smaller passenger tires, wherein the elastomer composition of the treads, and at least two additional components, of such tires are of natural rubber rich rubber compositions composed, based upon the elastomers of the rubber compositions, of at least 45, alternately at least 75 weight percent cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber. For this invention, the natural rubber rich treads and at least two additional natural rubber rich rubber components of such tires contain rubber reinforcing carbon blacks comprised primarily of high reinforcing, small particle size, carbon blacks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with a component composed of a rubber composition containing at least two diverse carbon blacks. In one aspect such tire is a heavy tire and such component is a tread for a heavy tire which contains at least two diverse carbon blacks to aid in providing an improved path for thermal conductivity for a heavy tire with its relatively thick cross section such as, for example, its relatively thick tread.

Abstract: The neodymium catalyst system prepared by the technique of this invention can be used in the polymerization of isoprene monomer into synthetic polyisoprene rubber having an extremely high cis-microstructure content and high stereo regularity. This polyisoprene rubber will crystallize under strain and can be compounded into rubber formulations in a manner similar to natural rubber. This invention more specifically discloses a process for preparing a neodymium catalyst system which comprises (1) reacting a neodymium carboxylate with an organoaluminum compound in an organic solvent to produce neodymium-aluminum catalyst component, and (2) subsequently reacting the neodymium-aluminum catalyst component with an elemental halogen to produce the neodymium catalyst system. The present invention further discloses a synthetic polyisoprene rubber which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene, wherein the synthetic polyisoprene rubber has a cis-microstructure content which is within the range of 98.

Abstract: This invention relates to an expandable curing bladder of a butyl rubber composition containing a micro-encapsulated polysiloxane lubricant for delivering lubricity to the surface of the bladder. The invention further relates to a process of curing tires with such bladder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an outer, circumferential tread wherein said tread has a tread configuration comprised of significantly spaced apart, raised lugs designed to be shock absorbingly ground engaging. For such tire, it is intended that, in the field, normally few tread lugs actually engage the ground at any one time in a manner that individual lugs have a relatively significant shock absorbing responsibility. Said tread and associated tread lugs are comprised of a shock dampening closed cellular rubber composition. The rubber for such cellular rubber composition for said tread of spaced apart lugs is comprised of conjugated diene-based elastomers or comprised of elastomers selected from butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber or brominated copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene rubber. Said butyl rubber is a copolymer of isobutylene and a minor amount of a diene monomer such as isoprene.

Abstract: The present invention comprises compositions and methods comprising a spumavirus isolated from a human. More specifically, the spumavirus of the present invention was isolated from a human who had exposure to nonhuman primates. Importantly, the methods and compositions of the present invention comprising the spumavirus and including antibodies to the spumavirus, can be used to detect the presence of spumavirus or antibodies in body fluids, for pathogenicity studies of related viruses, and as a vector for gene therapies. The present invention can also be used for treatment of conditions in humans due to the presence of rapidly dividing cells and for recombinant live virus vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention comprises spumavirus isolated from humans. More specifically, the spumavirus of the present invention was isolated from humans who had exposure to nonhuman primates. Importantly, the spumavirus of the present invention or antibodies to the spumavirus can be used to detect the presence of spumavirus or antibodies in body fluids, for pathogenicity studies of related viruses, and as a vector for gene therapies. The spumavirus of the invention can also be used for treatment of conditions in humans due to the presence of rapidly dividing cells and for recombinant live virus vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a spumavirus isolated from a human. More specifically, the spumavirus of the present invention was isolated from a human who had exposure to nonhuman primates. Importantly, the spumavirus of the present invention or antibodies to the spumavirus can be used to detect the presence of spumavirus or antibodies in body fluids, for pathogenicity studies of related viruses, and as a vector for gene therapies. The spumavirus of the invention can also be used for treatment of conditions in humans due to the presence of rapidly dividing cells and for recombinant live virus vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention comprises spumavirus isolated from humans. More specifically, the spumavirus of the present invention was isolated from humans who had exposure to nonhuman primates. Importantly, the spumavirus of the present invention or antibodies to the spumavirus can be used to detect the presence of spumavirus or antibodies in body fluids, for pathogenicity studies of related viruses, and as a vector for gene therapies. The spumavirus of the invention can also be used for treatment of conditions in humans due to the presence of rapidly dividing cells and for recombinant live virus vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods, devices and compositions for detection of endogenous retroviruses found in xenotransplant materials. The methods and compositions are suited for detection of endogenous type-C retroviruses and in particular, for porcine endogenous retrovirus, PERV.

Abstract: The present invention comprises spumavirus isolated from humans. More specifically, the spumavirus of the present invention was isolated from humans who had exposure to nonhuman primates. Importantly, the spumavirus of the present invention or antibodies to the spumavirus can be used to detect the presence of spumavirus or antibodies in body fluids, for pathogenicity studies of related viruses, and as a vector for gene therapies. The spumavirus of the invention can also be used for treatment of conditions in humans due to the presence of rapidly dividing cells and for recombinant live virus vaccination.