Abstract: A container having a zip-top with said top having the contour of a spoon integral with the upper surface of the top. The contour of the spoon being formed by a weakened edge and with the end of the spoon handle being attached to a pull-tab used for removing the spoon.

Abstract: A laminate of rubber and steel cord, which may be brass coated steel where the rubber is comprised of elastomer, carbon black, optionally silica, dithiodipropionic acid and prescribed methylene donor material. In one aspect, a tire is provided having at least one component as such laminate.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided having good rolling resistance properties without sacrificing traction. The tire has a tread that contains 2 to 15 phr thermoplastic reinforcing polymer as a replacement for 5 to 25 phr carbon black.

Abstract: A continuous method for the in-situ polymerization of plastic in an elastomeric material in a form suitable for reinforcing the elastomeric material is provided. The method comprises feeding elastomer and a monomer or monomer precursor of a reinforcing material into a mixing device, mixing the elastomer and the monomer or monomer precursor vigorously, initiating polymerization, and causing the monomers to continue to polymerize until the polymer solidifies when the melting point of the polymer produced exceeds the mixing temperature of the elastomer, terminating polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric alloys which comprise the reaction product of a mixture of:(a) a polyester resin produced from the precondensation reaction of a diol and a dicarboxylic compound, said polyester subsequently condensed and having an intrinsic viscosity from about 0.13 to about 0.35 dl/g, a glass transition temperature of at least 50.degree. C., an acid number from about 5 to 50;(b) at least one polyepoxide having at least two epoxy groups per molecule; and(c) an unvulcanized rubber.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to comb polymers having a halobutyl rubber backbone and to techniques for synthesizing such polymers. The comb polymers of this invention can be thermoplastic elastomers. For instance, halobutyl rubbers having sidechains which are derived from vinyl aromatic monomers are thermoplastic elastomers which can be made by a technique of the subject invention. Such thermoplastic elastomers typically have a chlorobutyl rubber backbone and side chains which are comprised of polystyrene. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for grafting a lithium terminated vinyl aromatic polymer onto a halobutyl rubber which comprises: (1) capping the lithium terminated vinyl aromatic polymer with a diene monomer to produce a lithium terminated diene capped vinyl aromatic polymer, and (2) reacting the lithium terminated diene capped vinyl aromatic polymer with the halobutyl rubber to produce a halobutyl rubber having vinyl aromatic sidechains grafted thereto.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with a tread comprised of elastomer, silica, optionally carbon black, and a silica coupler comprised of dithiodipropionic acid.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprised of elastomer, silica, optionally carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of dithiodipropionic acid.

Abstract: Reinforced elastomeric articles, such as tires, wherein the reinforcement is reticulated bacterial cellulose are provided. Reticulated bacterial cellulose has an average diameter of about 0.1 micron and a substantially infinite aspect ratio. The reinforced article comprises about 2 phr to 10 phr of the cellulose reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified rubber composition comprising:(a) an uncured diene rubber selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene-styrene rubber, nitrile rubber and carboxylated nitrile rubber;(b) from about 1 to 100 phr of a polymeric blend containing(i) from about 10 to 35 weight percent of at least one nylon,(ii) from about 65 to 90 weight percent of at least one polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polypropylene modified with ethylene, and ethylene/propylene copolymers, and(iii) from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of an anhydride modified polyolefin containing from 0.2 to 9% by weight of chemically combined anhydride; and(c) at least one dithio diacid having the formula HOOC--A--S--S--A--COOH wherein A represents an alkylene group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention discloses a unique blend of polyether ester amide and sulfur vulcanized rubber having higher modulus than the rubber component without sacrificing other properties of the rubber component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blend of polypropylene and a trans-1,4-polybutadiene rubber in which the content of trans-1,4 bonds is 65 weight percent or more.

Abstract: A method of mixing micro and macro fibers into a polymer matrix and products made thereby are provided. In the illustrated method, a micro reinforcing polymer is mixed with an elastomeric base polymer and preformed macro fibers are added thereto. In one embodiment, the micro reinforcing polymer forms micro fibers in a resulting elastomeric matrix which is interspersed with macro fibers. A base polymer matrix interspersed with micro reinforcing polymer and macro fibers made according to the invention can be used in reinforced elastomeric products such as tires.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to comb polymers having a halobutyl rubber backbone and to techniques for synthesizing such polymers. The comb polymers of this invention can be thermoplastic elastomers. For instance, halobutyl rubbers having sidechains which are derived from vinyl aromatic monomers are thermoplastic elastomers which can be made by a technique of the subject invention. Such thermoplastic elastomers typically have a chlorobutyl rubber backbone and side chains which are comprised of polystyrene. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for grafting a lithium terminated vinyl aromatic polymer onto a halobutyl rubber which comprises: (1) capping the lithium terminated vinyl aromatic polymer with a diene monomer to produce a lithium terminated diene capped vinyl aromatic polymer, and (2) reacting the lithium terminated diene capped vinyl aromatic polymer with the halobutyl rubber to produce a halobutyl rubber having vinyl aromatic sidechains grafted thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to elastomers and articles reinforced with 5 to 30 phr Chitosan particles having a diameter of 0.5 to 75 microns. In an illustrated embodiment, the Chitosan may be modified with an oxygen reactive group or a nitrogen reactive group to make the Chitosan more reactive with an elastomer. Also provided is an economical method of incorporating very fine Chitosan particles into an elastomer matrix. In the method Chitosan is dissolved in an acid and mixed with a coagulating liquid (for coagulating latex), and the mixture of chitosan/coagulating liquid is mixed with a latex solution to provide an elastomer/chitosan composite. The elastomer/chitosan composite may be used as formed or it can be used as a masterbatch and mixed with more elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber stock containing 0.1 to 10.0 phr of a polyhydric phenoxy resin. The polyhydric phenoxy resins may be used as a replacement for resorcinol and function as a methylene acceptor. The rubber stocks of the present invention exhibit improved tensile strength at break without the inherent fuming problems associated with resorcinol containing rubber stocks. These beneficial properties are obtained while maintaining high low strain stiffness and cord adhesion associated with resorcinol containing stocks.

Abstract: It is often desirable to increase the modulus of rubbers utilized in a wide variety of applications. This invention discloses a technique for modifying rubbers to improve their modulus without sacrificing other properties. By utilizing the process of this invention, rubber compositions having increased modulus are prepared by grafting polyester onto rubber. This can be accomplished by reacting a polydiene rubber with a thioacid or maleic anhydride and subsequently with the polyester. It is also possible to prepare such polyester modified rubber compositions by reacting an epoxidized rubber with the polyester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sulfur vulcanized elastomers containing aramid-polydiene copolymers. When compounded with the elastomers, the aramid-polydiene copolymers improve the reinforcing nature of the elastomers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastomeric composition comprising a blend of from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight of polychloroprene and from about 75 to about 25 percent by weight of epoxidized natural rubber having a level of epoxide modification in the range of from about 15 to 85 mole percent. These blends may be incorporated along with conventional sulfur-vulcanized elastomers to provide new and improved compounded rubbers particularly suited for use in tire tread applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving the adhesion between an aramid cord and sulfur vulcanized rubber comprising (a) treating the aramid cord with a copolymer of the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to 100, y is an integer of from 10 to 500; z is an integer of from 1 to 120; X is: ##STR2## or mixtures thereof; B is: ##STR3## or mixtures thereof; wherein R is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl or CH.sub.3 ; and(b) vulcanizing a composite of the treated cord and rubber.