Abstract: A steel cord that is suitable for reinforcing rubber articles such as tires. The inventive steel cord enables to completely eliminate the presence of cobalt in a tire when combined with the proper cobalt free compound. Advantageously the steel cord adheres equally well to rubbers containing organic cobalt salts. The inventive wire is different from prior art steel cords in that the brass coating now comprises iron particles. The iron particles have a size between 10 nm and 10 000 nm. The presence of iron mitigates the adhesion retention loss of the rubber to steel cord bond in a hot and humid environment. It is a further advantage that the inventive steel cord does not contain any intentionally added cobalt thereby contributing to the elimination of harmful substances in the production area as well as the environment.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed herein comprising a rubber component and a polysaccharide, wherein the polysaccharide comprises i) poly alpha-1,3-glucan; ii) poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan; iii) water insoluble alpha-(1,3-glucan) polymer having 90% or greater ?-1,3-glycosidic linkages, less than 1% by weight of alpha-1,3,6-glycosidic branch points, and a number average degree of polymerization in the range of from 55 to 10,000; iv) dextran; v) a composition comprising poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compounds as disclosed herein; or vi) water-insoluble cellulose having a weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of about 10 to about 1000 and a cellulose II crystal structure. The compositions can be used in articles such as a tire, a belt, a seal, footwear, a coating, a film, or an adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adhesive composition comprising: at least one phosphate salt chosen from sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate and mixtures of these phosphates; and at least one resin based on: at least one compound A1, compound A1 being chosen from a compound A11 comprising at least two functions, one of these functions being a hydroxymethyl function and the other being an aldehyde function or a hydroxymethyl function, or a compound A12 comprising at least one aldehyde function, or a mixture of a compound A11 and of a compound A12; and at least one phenol A21.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-vulcanized rubber composition which is comprised of (1) 90 phr to 100 phr cis 1,4-polyisoprene; (2) 10 phr to 40 phr of pre-silanized precipitated silica; (3) 10 phr to 40 phr of carbon black, (4) 0.1 phr to 5 phr of a cobalt salt, and (5) 1 phr to 15 phr of a resinous reaction product of a methylene donor composition and a methylene acceptor composition. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a tire or tire component comprising the cured rubber composition.

Abstract: A threadlike metallic or metallized reinforcer, for example a thread, film, tape or cord made of carbon steel, at the periphery of which is positioned a layer of metal referred to as “surface metal” chosen from copper, nickel and copper/nickel alloys, is characterized in that this surface metal layer is itself coated, at least in part, with at least one layer of graphene; preferably, there is grafted, to this graphene, at least one functional group which can crosslink to a polymer matrix. This reinforcer of the invention is effectively protected from corrosion by virtue of the graphene present at the surface; advantageously, it can be adhesively bonded directly, without adhesion primer or addition of metal salt, to an unsaturated rubber matrix, such as natural rubber, by virtue of the possible functionalization of this graphene.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for tires which provides both adhesion to fiber cords and conductivity even when an inexpensive conductive carbon black is used, and thus achieves a balanced improvement in conductivity, handling stability, fuel economy, elongation at break, adhesion to fiber cords, processability, and tire durability; and a pneumatic tire including the composition. The composition includes, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component: 1.0-3.5 parts by mass of sulfur with an iron content of 30 ppm or less, calculated as the net sulfur content in the sulfur; and 0.5-15 parts by mass of conductive carbon black having a DBP of 300 ml/100 g or more and an iron content of 60 ppm or more, the composition having a total net sulfur content of 1.0-6.0 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and a volume resistivity of 1.0×108 ?·cm or less.

Abstract: A method of producing colored tire portions, the method including: a step of forming a highly impermeable barrier layer; and a step of depositing a dye or colored layer on the barrier layer. The step of forming the barrier layer includes, in sequence, the operations of (a) depositing an aqueous dispersion on the part of the tire for coloring; (b) separating said aqueous dispersion into an aqueous phase and a solid phase; and (c) removing the aqueous phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive composition that may improve both adhesiveness to a film layer and adhesiveness to a rubber layer, and an adhesion method using the same, as well as a laminate and a tire. The adhesive composition according to the present invention includes a rubber component, at least 80 mass % of which rubber component is an epoxidized natural rubber.

Abstract: Airtight and puncture-resistant multilayer elastomer laminate that can be used in particular in an inflatable article, such as a pneumatic tire for a vehicle, comprising at least the following three layers (phr signifying parts by weight per hundred parts of rubber (elastomer) in each composition considered): as an airtight first layer, a first elastomer composition comprising at least 50 phr of a diene elastomer; as a puncture-resistant second layer, a self-sealing second elastomer composition comprising at least 50 phr of a saturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer and more than 200 phr of an extender oil; as an adhesive third layer or interphase between the above two layers, a third composition comprising at least 30 phr of an unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brass-plated steel cord capable of further improving initial adhesiveness and heat-resistant adhesiveness between a coating rubber and a steel cord and also imparting excellent durability to a resulting rubber article, and more particularly to a brass-plated steel cord, wherein an outermost surface thereof contains 0.3 to 1.7 atomic % of phosphorus, 4.93 to 14 atomic % of zinc, and 0.01 to 2.0 atomic % of a metal having an ionization tendency lower than that of zinc and higher than that of copper as measured by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), and an amount of zinc in the outermost surface is 30 to 90 atomic % based on 100 atomic % of a total amount of zinc and copper.

Abstract: It is ensured the strength of a welded section in a tire that is configured by welding tire constituent members formed of a thermoplastic material. A tire has a first welded portion, in which one section of one tire constituent member and one section of another tire constituent member are both melted and welded, and a second welded portion, which is formed by welding a welding-use thermoplastic material to the surface of the first welded portion, whereby the strength of the joint section is ensured.

Abstract: Provided is a rubber-steel cord composite which is excellent in workability and which is markedly excellent in tensile characteristics, an adhesive property after vulcanization for a short time and a heat resistant adhesive property. The rubber-steel cord composite has such a constitution that a steel cord which has a brass-plated layer on a peripheral surface thereof and in which a content of phosphorus contained in the form of oxide in a wire surface layer region extending from a surface of the above brass-plated layer up to a depth of 5 nm in a wire radial direction toward the inside is 1.5 atomic % or less is adjacent to a rubber composition containing a rubber component, sulfur and a sulfeneamide base vulcanization accelerator represented by the following Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6; x and n are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive composition that may improve both adhesiveness to a film layer and adhesiveness to a rubber layer, and an adhesion method using the same, as well as a laminate and a tire. The adhesive composition according to the present invention includes a rubber component, at least 80 mass % of which rubber component is an epoxidized natural rubber.

Abstract: This invention relates to tacky finishes and to the textile materials and articles treated with the tacky finishes. The tacky finishes provide improved processing features for end-use articles that contain such finishes. The tacky finish may be combined with other adhesion promotion finishes in the treatment of textile materials. The textile materials and articles may be used as rubber reinforcing materials, such as automotive tire cap ply, single end tire cord, carcass reinforcement and side wall reinforcement. End-use articles that contain the treated textile materials include rubber-containing materials such as automobile tires, belts, and hoses. This invention also relates to the methods for manufacturing the treated textile materials and articles.

Abstract: Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (amino AMS), and/or amino co-AMS compounds that also comprise a mercaptosilane or a blocked mercaptosilane, are excellent adhesives for coating plated or unplated metal wire for adherence of the wire to a rubber stock. The amino AMS and/or the amino/mercaptan co-AMS adhesives can be used with all types of rubber and there is no requirement for the use of special adhesive additives to the rubber vulcanizates, such as, but not limited to, cobalt, resins and high sulfur levels. In particular, the use of amino AMS and/or amino/mercaptan co-AMS compounds as adhesives for bonding wire to rubber also improves the adherence performance of the reinforcements to obtain sufficient bonding that is resistant to degradation over the course of time, especially resistance to thermal aging and/or thermo-oxidizing aging, in particular corrosion in the presence of water.

Abstract: A water-based cement for producing tyres includes 5 to 80% by weight of water, 10 to 60% by weight of a cross-linkable unsaturated-chain polymer base, 1 to 15% by weight of emulsifiers, and a quantity of metal oxide depending on the desired degree of adhesion.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which the average peel strength between the surface of (A) a layer of a single-layered or multi-layered film of a thermoplastic resin and (B) a rubbery elastic layer, which are used as the inner liner layer, is 6 kN/m or greater at ?20° C., i.e., a pneumatic tire exhibiting excellent average peel strength between the surface of layer (A) and layer (B), which are used in combination as the inner liner layer exhibiting excellent gas barrier property and flexibility, at a low temperature and at the room temperature, is provided.

Abstract: A polyurethaneurea system that includes in some embodiments Parts A and B reaction components for a polyurethaneurea, wherein an exemplary embodiment provides a Part A that comprises between 55 and 75 wt. % of an oligomeric polyol, between 3 and 7 wt. % of an aromatic diamine chain extender, and between 0.1 and 1.5% of a reactivity catalyst; Part B includes between 1 and 15 wt. % of a short aromatic diisocyanate and between 5 and 35 wt. % of an aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer that is the reaction product of a short aromatic diisocyanate and a diol. The polyurethaneurea system may further comprise an elastomer-surface activator comprising a second short aromatic diisocyanate and a second aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer, wherein at least one of the second diisocyanates may be the same as at least one of the diisocyanates of Part B.

Abstract: A method of effecting an improved adhesive bond between a rubber surface and a device adhered thereto is disclosed. In pneumatic tires, monitoring devices are more securely adhered to the innerliner of the tire utilizing a room temperature vulcanizable adhesive wherein curing is facilitated in the presence of moisture. The innerliner formulation is prepared by incorporating a material which has incomplete compatibility with the rubber of the innerliner formulation, and which has hygroscopic properties which thereby tends to attract moisture.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire superior in low heat build-up (tan ?) and superior in fracture strength is provided. A rubber composition for a tire comprising (B) 5 to 80 parts by mass of silica based on 100 parts by mass of (A) including (a) 10 to 60% by mass of a butadiene rubber including 2.5 to 20% by mass of 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene crystals, (b) 5 to 60% by mass of a modified diene rubber and (c) 20 to 75% by mass of a diene rubber other than (a) and (b).

Abstract: A coextrusion process for coextruding a thermoplastic elastomer with two outer layers of adhesive to form a film, and a laminate comprising a plurality of layers including an adhesive layer, a sublayer and a barrier layer. The barrier layer comprises a dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer composition present in one or more plies of the barrier layer. The sublayer comprises a first ply of a first adhesive composition joining the barrier layer and a second ply, and the adhesive layer comprises the second ply, which is vulcanizable with diene-based rubber. The sublayer of the adhesive can be laid down in contact with the relatively hot thermoplastic elastomer to moderate the temperature of the outer layer of the adhesive, whereby the outer layer of the adhesive at least is protected from scorching and can be co-vulcanized with rubber in a tire building process.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire improved in the durability at a splice part (2) of a tire-constituting member (1) and in the uniformity of the tire, and a process for producing the same. The pneumatic tire includes a tire-constituting member (1) having a splice part (2) on which a thin film (3) made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition is coated and fusion-bonded. In addition, the process for producing the pneumatic tire includes a step of heating the thin films (3) each arranged at the splice part (2) of an inner liner layer (14) or the splice part (2) of a carcass layer (13) so as to thermally fusing the thermoplastic resin or the thermoplastic elastomer composition constituting the thin films (3).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire including at least one component. The component includes a rubber composition. The rubber composition includes a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 100 parts by weight of a metallized organic short fiber, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer. The organic short fibers having a length from 1 mm to 5 mm. Both the length and the ends of the short fibers are completely coated with a layer of metal or metal alloy.

Abstract: A laminate of a thermoplastic resin and rubber comprising a thermoplastic resin layer (A) made of a matrix of a polyamide resin matrix containing an elastomer dispersed therein and an unvulcanized diene-based rubber layer (B) containing a diene-based rubber and a low molecular weight diene-based rubber having an acid anhydride group and having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 50,000 laminated partially or totally in at least one layer each to form a laminate integrated at the time of vulcanization and a pneumatic tire using the same.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing a modified natural rubber masterbatch, which comprises the step of mixing a modified natural rubber latex, which is formed by adding a polar group-containing monomer to a natural rubber latex to graft-polymerize the polar group-containing monomer onto a natural rubber molecule in the natural rubber latex, with a slurry solution formed by previously dispersing a filler into water, and a modified natural rubber masterbatch produced by the method and capable of highly improving a low loss factor, a wear resistance and fracture characteristics of a rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cut resistant tire side-wall component and processes for making such components, and a tire containing such component, the side-wall component comprising a textile fabric wherein a single layer of said fabric provides multi-directional cut resistance in the plane of the fabric, the fabric comprising at least one single yarn having a sheath/core construction, the sheath comprising cut-resistant polymeric staple fibers and the core comprising an inorganic fiber, the fabric further having a coating for improved adhesion of the fabric to rubber such that the cut resistant tire side-wall component has a free area of from 18 to 65 percent.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire superior in low heat build-up (tan ?) and superior in fracture strength is provided. A rubber composition for a tire comprising (B) 5 to 80 parts by mass of silica based on 100 parts by mass of (A) including (a) 10 to 60% by mass of a butadiene rubber including 2.5 to 20% by mass of 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene crystals, (b) 5 to 60% by mass of a modified diene rubber and (c) 20 to 75% by mass of a diene rubber other than (a) and (b).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which the average peel strength between the surface of (A) a layer of a single-layered or multi-layered film of a thermoplastic resin and (B) a rubbery elastic layer, which are used as the inner liner layer, is 6 kN/m or greater at ?20° C., i.e., a pneumatic tire exhibiting excellent average peel strength between the surface of layer (A) and layer (B), which are used in combination as the inner liner layer exhibiting excellent gas barrier property and flexibility, at a low temperature and at the room temperature, is provided.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for annular run-flat tire support which has a supporting part and a leg part, and which, at the time of run-flat running, is capable of carrying load, comprises the steps of supplying said supporting part and said leg part, applying a bonding agent including a chemical conversion treatment to the bonding region of the radial-direction inside end part of said supporting part that is provided for bonding to said leg part, and bonding between said radial-direction inside end part and said leg part. Thereby, a manufacturing method for run-flat tire support which maintains a high bondability between the supporting part and the leg part, and is excellent in durability, and a run-flat tire support are provided.

Abstract: A water-based cement for producing tyres includes 5 to 80% by weight of water, 10 to 60% by weight of a cross-linkable unsaturated-chain polymer base, 1 to 15% by weight of emulsifiers, and a quantity of metal oxide depending on the desired degree of adhesion.

Abstract: A composite article is provided which comprises a silicone rubber matrix reinforced with a polyaramid textile. The polyaramid textile is bonded to the silicone rubber by a bonding composition that comprises at least an acryloxy organosilane. The article is manufactured by dipping polyaramid textile into an organosilane dip that comprises an acyrloxy organosilane. The so-dipped polyaramid textile is then bonded to silicone rubber.

Abstract: A pre-cured pneumatic rubber tire of open toroidal shape having a pre-cured rubber strip, comprised of at least one elastomer and which contains at least one electrically conductive element, adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the tire's cavity. The adhesive is an RTV polysiloxane comprised of an hydroxyl terminated (silanol terminated) polysiloxane and crosslinking agent. The adhesive is applied as a layer, or coating, thereof onto a surface of said pre-cured rubber strip, and/or onto a corresponding pre-cured inner surface of said pre-cured tire, and the resulting coated pre-cured rubber strip and inner surface of said pre-cured tire brought together with said layer of adhesive therebetween and the adhesive allowed to cure and thereby bond said strip to said tire inner surface.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a modified polymer, characterized by carrying out primary modification in which a hydrocarbyloxysilane compound is reacted with the active site of a polymer having an active site of an organic metal type in a molecule and then carrying out secondary modification in which the hydrocarbyloxysilane compound is further reacted therewith. This makes it possible to provide a modified polymer which enhances interactions with silica and carbon black when used for both of silica-blended and carbon black-blended rubber compositions and which elevates the fracture characteristic, the abrasion resistance and the low heat buildup property at the same time and can exhibit a good workability.

Abstract: A polymer-based reinforced rubber composition may be produced that comprises a) a plurality of polymer-based fibers, wherein at least some of the plurality of polymer-based fibers comprises at least one surface modification agent; and b) a rubber compound, wherein the rubber compound comprises a plurality of active rubber moieties, and wherein at least some of the plurality of active rubber moieties is adhesively interactive with the surface modification agent.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition includes at least one elastomeric diene polymer, at least one thermoplastic polymer, and at least one polymer comprising functional groups. The at least one thermoplastic polymer comprises a main hydrocarbon chain. Hydrophilic groups are linked to the main hydrocarbon chain. The functional groups are reactive with the hydrophilic groups. The composition may also include at least one reinforcing filler. The at least one reinforcing filler may include carbon black, silica, or both carbon black and silica. The composition may further include a silica coupling agent, a sulfur-based vulcanizing agent, or both a silica coupling agent and a sulfur-based vulcanizing agent. A tire for vehicle wheels including at least one element including an elastomeric material, where the at least one element include the composition, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tire having at least one reinforcing ply in the carcass, belt, or bead region of the tire. The reinforcing ply is comprised of a blended fiber cord. The cords, in combination with a preferred cure temperature adhesive, achieve a high degree of thermal stability allowing for the use of such cords in various reinforcing plies for a pneumatic tire and for preferred use for such cords in areas of the tire subject to high temperatures either in curing or performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition which contains starch/plasticizer composite, precipitated silica and carbon black reinforcement together with a coupling agent wherein the coupling agent is an organosilane polysulfide having an average of from about 2 to about 2.6 connecting sulfur atoms in its polysulfidic bridge. The invention provides for a chemical reaction between a coupling agent and silica which is substantially decoupled from a reaction between a coupling agent and starch/plasticizer to form a filler reinforcement network in situ within the elastomer host followed by a subsequent phase mixing of the carbon black therewith. The invention further relates to the resulting rubber composition and articles of manufacture, including tires, having at least one component comprised of said rubber composition.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber reinforcing steel cord is provided, wherein the steel cord has a steel wire plated with metal containing copper and having on its surface an oil layer containing a cobalt compound, and includes an application step in which the oil containing a cobalt compound is applied to the steel wire or a steel cord plated with metal containing copper, and a step of twisting the steel wires.

Abstract: A rubber composition including a natural or synthetic rubber, and an adhesive resin capable of unexpected adhesion to metal, polymer and glass substrates, particularly cords in radical tires, hoses, conveyor belts, transmission belts, and the like by the addition of a liquid composition containing long chain esters, including mono, di- and tri-esters, and one or more reactive diluents. In the preferred embodiment, the reactive diluent is selected from (1) glycidyl ethers, (2) diglycidyl ethers; (3) aliphatic, straight chain epoxides; (4) epoxidized vegetable oils, particularly epoxidized soybean oil; (5) cycloaliphatic epoxies; (6) glycidyl esters, and (7) diglycidyl esters.

Abstract: The invention provides a tire having a carcass ply, an inner elastomeric layer for sealing against inflation gases and an intermediate elastomeric layer between the carcass ply and inner layer, in which the intermediate reinforcement layer is formed from a rubber composition comprising: (i) a natural or synthetic polyisoprene having a majority of chains with cis-1,4 bonds and a copolymer prepared in solution of one or more conjugated diene monomers and one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, said copolymer simultaneously satisfying the following relationships: D?60?1.75.VA??(1) D?116?1.64.

Abstract: An improved adhesive composition and method for adhering textile reinforcing elements to rubber, particularly ethylene-propylene-diene rubber in the manufacture of rubber articles such as power transmission belts, wherein the adhesive composition comprises a latex of a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber, a carboxylated hydrogenated styrene-butadiene rubber, a hyddogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber, a carboxylated hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber, a chlorosulfonated polyethylene or blends thereof; an aqueous solution of a half-ester of maleinized liquid poybutadiene; and, optionally, up to about 15% by weight carbon black in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A radial medium truck (RMT) tire has belt or breaker plies which are reinforced by organic reinforcement cords or filaments. In one embodiment, organic monofilaments are used in the belt or breaker plies which have the following characteristics: at least 2,000 denier (2,200 dTex), a tenacity of at least 3.5 g/denier (31 cN/Tex), an initial modulus of at least 30 g/denier (265 cN/Tex) and a shrinkage of at most 6%.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a runflat tire having at least one of its components comprising the radial carcass ply, the underlay, the overlay, the bead inserts or the chippers, reinforced with polyester cords having a polyepoxide disposed on its surface. The polyester cord is formed by first obtaining a cord through twisting together a plurality of polyester yarns, secondly treating the cord with an aqueous dispersion comprising a polyepoxide, and thirdly treating the cord with an aqueous RFL dispersion comprising a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer latex, a vinylpyridine-styrene-butadiene terpolymer latex, and a blocked isocyanate.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire for vehicle wheels includes a radial carcass, a tread band, sidewalls and beads, and a belt structure. The tread band is provided with grooves on its surface for coming into contact with the ground and situated on a radial outer surface of the carcass. The sidewalls and beads anchor the tire on a wheel rim. The belt structure is disposed between the tread band and the carcass. Additionally, a fiber-reinforced elastomeric intermediate layer is placed between the belt structure and the tread band. Methods for manufacturing the pneumatic tire are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a tire is used a rubber-steel cord composite of a steel cord and a rubber composition comprising at least one rubber ingredient and a bismaleimide compound, wherein an amount of the bismaleimide compound is 0.1-5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber ingredient.

Abstract: A rubber-bonded brass composite material prepared by bonding rubber to the surface of a brass-plated material obtained by plating the surface of a substrate with brass or to the surface of a brass material by vulcanization, wherein preheating is carried out before vulcanization to form needle-like Cu—S-based reaction products at the bonding interface between brass and rubber. Thereby, there is provided a rubber-bonded brass composite material having excellent long-term adhesion while excellent initial adhesion at the time of bonding by vulcanization is retained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition containing a hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), a peroxide crosslinking system and a resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, to a process for the preparation of the composition, to the use of the composition as an adhesion promoter, and also to a multilayer product containing the composition according to the present invention.

Abstract: A pre-cured pneumatic rubber tire of open toroidal shape having a pre-cured rubber strip, comprised of at least one elastomer and which contains at least one electrically conductive element, adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the tire's cavity. The adhesive is an RTV polysiloxane comprised of an hydroxyl terminated (silanol terminated) polysiloxane and crosslinking agent. The adhesive is applied as a layer, or coating, thereof onto a surface of said pre-cured rubber strip, and/or onto a corresponding pre-cured inner surface of said pre-cured tire, and the resulting coated pre-cured rubber strip and inner surface of said pre-cured tire brought together with said layer of adhesive therebetween and the adhesive allowed to cure and thereby bond said strip to said tire inner surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition which contains an aminoalcohol as a tack retention additive. The invention also relates to a tire having a component of such rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of preparing a tire having tire tread ends or other rubber components joined together without an adhesive.

Abstract: An applique having a vulcanizable adhesive layer is co-cured on a rubber article by precuring the applique of predominantly pale natural rubber optionally imprinted with a bar code; coating the upper surface of the applique with a protective self-supporting film of polyamide less than 0.050 mm (2 mils) thick, or a non-self-supporting film of polyurethane less than 25.4 &mgr;m, 0.0254 mm (1 mil) thick; adhering the applique to the article at a chosen location; curing the article in a curing mold; and, removing a cured article from the mold with the protective film adhering to the surface of the applique, the surface of which is essentially free from visually observable cracks. The hot flow of rubber in the curing mold does not substantially change the location of the applique which is embedded in the article. If the film does not remain adhered to a cured tire and drops into the mold, it is difficult to retrieve and, when a subsequent article is cured in the same mold, results in a scrap tire.