Abstract: Provided is a studless winter tire which provides good performance on ice and snow and good abrasion resistance, and suffers little change in hardness and little discoloration on the tire surface. The present invention relates to a studless winter tire including a tread formed from a rubber composition containing a predetermined amount of a farnesene resin obtained by polymerizing farnesene. The present invention relates to a studless winter tire including a tread formed from a rubber composition containing a predetermined amount of at least one myrcene resin selected from the group consisting of myrcene polymers with a Mw of 1,000-500,000, myrcene-butadiene copolymers with a Mw of 1,000-500,000, and myrcene-styrene copolymers with a Mw of 1,000-150,000; and a predetermined amount of a silica with an N2SA of 40-400 m2/g, the rubber component containing a predetermined amount of a high-cis polybutadiene with a cis content of 95% by mass or more.

Abstract: A friction element for a synchronizing device as well as an apparatus for producing a friction element for a synchronizing device are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for a base tread capable of improving fuel efficiency, handling stability, and durability (flex crack growth resistance) in a balanced manner, and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a base tread, including: a rubber component and a reinforcing agent, the rubber component including natural rubber, a butadiene rubber (1) containing 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene crystals, a butadiene rubber (2) synthesized in the presence of a rare earth catalyst, and a modified butadiene rubber (3) having a cis content of not more than 50% by mass.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition achieving balanced improvement in processability, fuel economy, rubber strength, abrasion resistance, wet-grip performance, and handling stability, and a pneumatic tire including the composition. The rubber composition includes, per 100% by mass of a rubber component, at least 35% by mass of SR, the composition including a conjugated diene polymer and a silica having N2SA of 40-400 m2/g, the polymer being obtained by polymerizing a monomer component including a conjugated diene compound and a silicon-containing vinyl compound using a polymerization initiator of formula (I): to produce a copolymer, and reacting a compound containing nitrogen and/or silicon atoms with an active terminal of the copolymer, wherein the amount of the diene polymer is 1-90% by mass and the amount of polyisoprene-based rubber is 0-40% by mass, each per 100% by mass of the rubber component, and the amount of the silica is 10-150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler including at least carbon black, having a specific surface area CTAB greater than or equal to 130 m2/g, a plasticizing hydrocarbon resin, the vitreous transition temperature of which, Tg, is greater than 20° C. and the softening point of which is less than 170° C., and a cross linking system, the dispersion of the filler in the elastomeric matrix having a Z score greater than or equal to 70.

Abstract: A tire having an improved wet grip, in particular for a passenger vehicle, a van, or a two-wheel vehicle, includes a tread formed of a rubber composition. The rubber composition includes at least (phr meaning parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer): as a first diene elastomer, from 55 to 95 phr of natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene; as a second diene elastomer, from 5 to 45 phr of a polybutadiene or butadiene copolymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) which is greater than ?70° C.; as a reinforcing filler, more than 90 phr and less than 150 phr of an inorganic filler; and as a plasticizer, more than 10 phr of a thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin exhibiting a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than 20° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread containing functionalized carbon nanotubes and particulate reinforcement comprised of precipitated silica.

Abstract: A vehicle tyre includes a tread formed of a rubber composition that is heat-expandable when unvulcanized, and expanded when vulcanized. When unvulcanized, the composition includes from 50 to 100 phr of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene; optionally from 0 to 50 phr of another diene elastomer, such as a polybutadiene or a natural rubber; more than 50 phr of a reinforcing filler, such as silica and/or carbon black; between 5 and 25 phr of a sodium- or potassium-including carbonate or hydrogencarbonate; and between 2 and 15 phr of a carboxylic acid having a melting point between 60° C. and 220° C., such as citric acid. A total content of the carboxylic acid and the carbonate or the hydrogencarbonate is greater than 10 phr. Presence of the carboxylic acid and the carbonate or the hydrogencarbonate makes it possible to significantly reduce noise emitted by the tyre during running.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire rubber composition based on at least one diene elastomer, an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler, a coupling agent providing the bonding between the inorganic filler and the diene elastomer, characterized in that the coupling agent is an azosilane compound of following formula (I): (G1)3-a(G2)aSi—Z—NH—C(O)—N?N—C(O)—NH—Z—Si(G1)3-a(G2)a ??(I) in which: G1, identical to or different from one another, each represent a monovalent hydrocarbon-based group chosen from branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyls, having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyls or aryls, having from 5 to 18 carbon atoms, G2, identical to or different from one another, each represent a hydroxyl group or a monovalent group in the form (G3)n-OG1 in which G3 is a divalent linking group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms and comprising one or more heteroatoms chosen from O, S, Si and N, n being a number equal to or higher than 0 and less than or equal to 18, Z

Abstract: Provided are: a rubber composition for studless winter tires, achieving balanced improvement in performance on ice and snow, wet grip performance, and abrasion resistance; and a studless winter tire including a tread formed from the same. The rubber composition for studless winter tires includes: a rubber component including NR and BR; an aromatic oil; silica; and carbon black, wherein the combined amount of NR and BR is 30 mass % or more per 100 mass % of the rubber component; the amount of aromatic oil is 12-85 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component; the silica content is 45 mass % or more per 100 mass % in total of silica and carbon black; the silica includes at least one silica (1) with an N2SA of 100 m2/g or less and at least one silica (2) with an N2SA of 180 m2/g or more; the combined amount of silicas (1) and (2) is 30-150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component; and the amounts of silicas (1) and (2) satisfy: [Amount of silica (1)]×0.

Abstract: The invention relates to an off-road tire tread comprising a composition based on at least one filler, a crosslinking system, from 50 to 80 parts by weight, per hundred parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of at least one isoprene elastomer and from 20 to 50 phr of at least one tin-functionalized copolymer of butadiene and styrene having a low styrene content, the total content of isoprene elastomer and of tin-functionalized copolymer of butadiene and styrene having a low styrene content being within a range varying from 85 to 100 phr.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition capable of achieving a balanced improvement in performance on ice and snow, fuel economy, abrasion resistance, rubber strength, wet-grip performance, and dry handling stability, and a studless winter tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including a specific conjugated diene polymer obtained by using a polymerization initiator represented by the formula (I) below, a high-cis polybutadiene having a cis microstructure content of not less than 95% by mass, a polyisoprene-based rubber, and a silica having a N2SA of 40-400 m2/g, wherein the rubber composition includes, based on 100% by mass of a rubber component, 1-45% by mass of the conjugated diene polymer, 20-64% by mass of the high-cis polybutadiene, and 35-60% by mass of the polyisoprene-based rubber, and the rubber composition includes 5-150 parts by mass of the silica for each 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: A wound friction coating and a method for the production thereof.

Abstract: Provided by the present invention are: a non-asbestos frictional material composition containing a binder, an organic filler, an inorganic filler, and a fiber substrate, wherein, in the non-asbestos frictional material composition, content of a copper is 5% or less by mass as a copper element, content of a metal fiber other than a copper fiber and a copper alloy fiber is 0.5% or less by mass, and a titanate salt is contained therein with antimony trisulfide or zinc powders, with content of the titanate salt being in the range of 10 to 35% by mass; and a frictional material and a friction member that use the said non-asbestos frictional material composition.

Abstract: Provided are: a rubber composition that improves fuel economy, wet grip performance, and dry grip performance together while maintaining the balance between them; and a pneumatic tire whose component (particularly tread) includes the rubber composition. The invention relates to a rubber composition containing: a rubber component containing a copolymer; and a silica, wherein the copolymer is obtained by copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene, styrene, and a compound of formula (I) below, has an amino group at a first chain end and a functional group containing at least one atom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and silicon at second chain end, and has a Mw of 1.0×105-2.5×106, and the silica has an average length W1 between branched particles Z-Z inclusive of the branched particles Zs of 30-400 nm, wherein the branched particles Zs are each adjacent to at least three particles; wherein R1 represents a C1-C10 hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: A tire, the tread of which comprises a rubber composition comprising a diene elastomer, such as, for example, an SBR or BR elastomer, a poly(vinyl ester) resin, at a content preferably of between 5 and 50 phr, and a reinforcing filler, such as silica and/or carbon black. The poly(vinyl ester) resin is in particular a vinyl ester homopolymer or copolymer of formula R—C(?O)O—CH?CH2, at least one of the vinyl ester monomers of which comprises a radical R having more than 2 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 20 carbon atoms. Such a composition makes it possible to improve the wet grip of the treads of the tire and also the processability of such a composition.

Abstract: Provided are: a rubber composition for tires capable of improving fuel economy, wet grip performance, and abrasion resistance; and a pneumatic tire including the same. Included is a rubber composition for tires including: a diene polymer; silica; and a liquid resin having a softening point of ?20 to 20° C., the diene polymer being a modified diene polymer obtained by reacting components (A) and (B), the liquid resin being present in an amount of 3-40 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, the component (A) being an active alkali metal-terminated conjugated diene polymer obtained by polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer alone or with an aromatic vinyl monomer, in the presence of a component (C) the component (B) being a modifier containing a functional group, the component (C) being a chemical species obtained by reacting an organic alkali metal compound and a compound of Formula (1) below.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition suitable for cushion rubbers of retreaded tires in which tread rubbers of tires such as truck and bus tires (TBR) and aircraft tires are replaced for reuse, and a rubber composition which is suitable for adhesion carried out by interposing the rubber composition between vulcanized rubber members and covulcanizing them in a tire prepared by adhering separately vulcanized rubber members and which is excellent in a productivity. The rubber composition is characterized by comprising 0.3 to 2.5 parts by mass of aldehydeamines, 0.1 to 1.5 part by mass of at least one compound selected from a group consisting of tetra(2-ethylhexyl)thiuram disulfide, 1,6-bis(N,N?-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane and 1,6-bis{N,N?-di(2-ethylhexyl)thiocarbamoyldithio}-hexane, and 0.1 to 2.5 parts by mass of a thiazole type vulcanization accelerator based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition for tires capable of improving handling stability, fuel economy, wet grip performance, elongation at break, and abrasion resistance together while maintaining the balance between them. The present invention also provides a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for tires containing a diene rubber, silica having a BET specific surface area of 170 to 270 m2/g, sulfur, and a liquid resin having a softening point of ?20 to 45° C., wherein the amount of the liquid resin is 0.5 to 20 parts by mass, and the amount of the silica is 40 to 120 parts by mass, each per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component of the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silica-containing rubber mixture produced from at least one rubber, from a sulphur-containing alkoxysilane, from a crosslinking agent, from a filler, and optionally from further rubber auxiliaries, where the said mixture comprises from 0.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprises from 2 to 50 parts by weight of an aromatic modified terpene resin having a softening point of ?100° C., and two types of silica, a silica X and a silica Y, at a total quantity of 60 to 130 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber containing from 5 to 50 weight % of a modified S-SBR having a vinyl content of not lower than 60 weight %. A functional group in the modified S-SBR reacts with a silanol group, a proportion of silica relative to the total quantity of a reinforcing filler containing the silica and carbon black is not lower than 85 weight %, a nitrogen specific surface area of the silica X is not lower than 140 m2/g, and a nitrogen specific surface area of the silica Y is not lower than 100 m2/g but lower than 140 m2/g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tyre, the tread of which comprises a rubber composition comprising at least: from 40 to 100 phr of an emulsion styrene/butadiene copolymer (E-SBR), referred to as first diene elastomer, the content of trans-1,4-butadienyl units of which is greater than 50% by weight of the total of the butadienyl units; optionally, from 0 to 60 phr of another diene elastomer referred to as second diene elastomer; from 90 to 150 phr of a reinforcing inorganic filler; a plasticizing system comprising: according to a content A of between 10 and 60 phr, a hydrocarbon resin exhibiting a Tg of greater than 20° C.; according to a content B of between 10 and 60 phr, a plasticizer which is liquid at 20° C., the Tg of which is less than ?20° C.; it being understood that A+B is greater than 45 phr.

Abstract: A macromolecule includes a functional group including imine functionality bonded to a polymer chain. Where desired, the functional group also can contain additional (e.g., amine and/or silane) functionality. The material can be provided by reacting a polymer including carbonyl functionality with a compound including a primary amino group. The functional group can interact with particulate filler such as, e.g., carbon black and silica.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition and method incorporating a hydrocarbon polymer modifier with improved permanence. The composition comprises elastomer, filler and silane-functionalized hydrocarbon polymer modifier (Si-HPM) adapted to couple the Si-HPM to the elastomer, filler or both, wherein the Si-HPM comprises an interpolymer of monomers chosen from piperylenes, cyclic pentadienes, aromatics, limonenes, pinenes, amylenes, and combinations thereof. The method comprises melt processing a mixture to form the elastomeric composition in the shape of an article, wherein the mixture comprises elastomer, Si-HPM, silica, bifunctional organosilane crosslinking agent; and curing the elastomeric composition to form the article. Also disclosed are a silylated hydrocarbon polymer modifier coupled with a bifunctional organosilane crosslinking agent, and a silica-coupled hydrocarbon polymer modifier coupled to the silica via the bifunctional organosilane crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber mixture, in particular for pneumatic vehicle tires, more particularly for the inner liner of a pneumatic vehicle tire, seat belts, belts and hoses. The rubber mixture is characterized by the following composition: 30 to 100 phr of at least one halobutyl rubber, 0 to 70 phr of at least one other diene rubber, 5 to 100 phr of at least one dry mixture compound containing at least 25% of at least one delaminated aluminohydrosilicate modification, the delaminated aluminohydrosilicate modification having a two-layer grid, 10 to 100 phr of at least one carbon black with an STSA surface as defined according to ASTM-D 6556 of from 10 to 60 m2/g and a DBP number defined according to ASTM-D 2414 of from 50 to 160 mL/100g, 3 to 20 phr of at least one mineral-oil softener, and other additives.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based elastomer; an ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkane; and sulfur in a form selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur and insoluble sulfur; wherein the rubber composition is essentially free of cure accelerators. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic tire comprising the rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition and tire with component comprises of such rubber composition comprised of a combination of cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber, desirably natural rubber, and low level of soybean oil.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for a tread, capable of improving the fuel economy and abrasion resistance in a balanced manner while achieving a good appearance and a good cure rate; and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tread, including: a solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, carbon black, silica, and polyethylene glycol, wherein a rubber component of the rubber composition contains 60 mass % or more of the solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber based on 100 mass % of the rubber component, and the rubber composition includes, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, 10 parts by mass or less of the carbon black, 50 parts by mass or more of the silica, and 0.1 to 3.5 parts by mass of the polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tire member, that improves various performances such as abrasion resistance, tear strength, fatigue resistance and the like of the tire member in good balance is provided. The method includes a step (A) for mixing at least a rubber component, a filler and a thiosulfuric acid compound containing an amino group, and a step (B) for mixing the mixture obtained by the step (A), a sulfur component, and a vulcanization accelerator, wherein the thiosulfuric acid compound containing an amino group is added in an amount of 0.2 parts by mass or more to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component in the step (A), and a temperature of the mixture during mixing is maintained within a range of from 145 to 170° C. for 20 seconds or more in the step (A).

Abstract: A positive friction powder additive for modifying existing brake pad or brake shoe formulations to reduce squealing associated with braking. The positive friction powder additive comprises a friction modifier and a solid lubricant and is comprised of talc, barytes, aluminum oxide, and molybdenum disulphide. The positive friction powder additive can be formulated with binders and fillers to prepare a non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe formulation and a non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe. The positive friction powder additive, non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe formulation, and non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe have high and positive frictional characteristic which reduces vibrations and noise by reducing stick/slip oscillations by changing friction from negative to positive.

Abstract: A rubber composition for the manufacture of tyres is based on one or more diene elastomers, one or more reinforcing fillers, and a vulcanization system. The vulcanization system includes one or more thiazole compounds chosen from compounds having the following formula (I): Certain specific thiazole derivatives are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a cord-reinforced rubber article, comprising the steps of (A) atomizing a mixture of a halogenated hydrocarbon, a carrier gas, and at least one member of the group consisting of hydrocarbon sulfides and polymerizable monomers, to form an atomized mixture; (B) generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; (C) exposing a reinforcement cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma to produce a treated reinforcement cord; and (D) contacting the treated reinforcement cord with a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and at least one member of the group consisting of methylene donors and methylene acceptors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of treating a reinforcement cord, comprising the steps of (A) atomizing a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon sulfide, a low viscosity organic solvent, and a carrier gas to form an atomized mixture; (B) generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; and (C) exposing the reinforcement cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma under conditions suitable to form a polymer strongly bonded to the reinforcement cord and capable of bonding to rubber.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric composition, the method comprising providing a polymer cement including a polymer and a solvent; introducing a cold-flow inhibitor with the polymer cement, where the cold-flow inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of vicinal diamides, vicinal diureas and vicinal amide-ureas; and isolating at least a portion of the polymer and the cold-flow inhibitor from the solvent to provide a polymeric composition including the polymer and the cold-flow inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition comprising at least one rubber component, between about 50 phr and about 120 phr of a filler, wherein at least 20 phr of the filler is a high surface area carbon black. Further, the composition comprises between 10 phr and 30 phr of a phenolic resin. The present invention is further directed to a tire tread or a tire comprising such a composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition that can enhance the fuel economy, wet-grip performance, abrasion resistance, and kneading processability in a balanced manner, and a pneumatic tire using this rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition that contains a rubber component and silica, wherein the rubber component contains, based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, 10 to 70% by mass of a high-cis polybutadiene having a cis content of 95% by mass or more and satisfying the following requirements (A) to (C): (A) a Mooney viscosity (ML) of 40 to 49; (B) a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 3.0 to 3.9; and (C) an index (n-value in Expression (1) below) of velocity dependence of Mooney viscosity of 2.3 to 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition and its preparation having a crosslink distribution, particularly at least two types of crosslinks, its preparation, and an article of manufacture, including a tire, having a component of such rubber composition. In one embodiment, such crosslink distribution relates to an inclusion in the rubber composition of an additive to promote the crosslink distribution where the additive itself has a part of the desired crosslink characteristics. The crosslink distribution can be random or in the nature of a gradient change between domains of different crosslinks.

Abstract: A rubber composition that can obtain a rubber elastic body having small rolling resistance and excellent impact resilience and a method for producing the same, and a tire having small rolling resistance and excellent impact resilience are provided. The rubber composition of the present invention is obtained by kneading a conjugated diene polymer having a functional group bondable to silica, an acylate compound containing metal and silica. In the present invention, a polymer having no functional group bondable to silica is preferably kneaded as a rubber component other than the conjugated diene polymer, together with the conjugated diene polymer having a functional group bondable to silica, the acylate compound containing metal and the silica.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition that can enhance the fuel economy, wet-grip performance, and abrasion resistance in a balanced manner, and a pneumatic tire using this rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition that contains a rubber component, silica, and a liquid resin having a softening point of ?20 to 20° C., wherein the rubber component contains, based on 100% by mass of the rubber component, not less than 5% by mass of a conjugated diene polymer containing a constituent unit based on a conjugated diene and a constituent unit represented by formula (I) below, at least one terminal of the polymer being modified with a specific compound; and an amount of the silica is 5 to 150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: A tire, the tread of which comprises a rubber composition comprising at least: as first elastomer, a diene elastomer; as second elastomer, a thermoplastic polyurethane block copolymer with polyurethane blocks and polydiene blocks; 70 to 150 pce of an inorganic reinforcing filler; a plasticizing system comprising: with a content A of 5 to 60 pce, a hydrocarbon resin, the Tg of which is higher than 20° C.; with a content B of 5 to 60 pce, a plasticizer which is liquid at 20° C., and the Tg of which is lower than ?20° C.; it being understood that A+B is higher than 30 pce. The use of a thermoplastic polyurethane block copolymer with polyurethane blocks and polydiene blocks, in particular in the presence of high filler and plasticizer contents, in the composition of a tire tread as per the present invention enables tires having improved grip on wet ground to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 100 phr of a solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber with a bound styrene content of from 20 to 50 percent by weight, a vinyl 1,2 content of from 10 to 40 percent by weight based on the rubber weight, and a Tg of from about ?40° C. to about ?10° C.; (B) 5 to 60 phr of a low PCA process oil having a polycyclic aromatic content of less than 3 percent by weight as determined by the IP346 method; (C) 90 to 150 phr of silica having a CTAB specific surface area (SCTAB) of between 40 and 525 m2/g, a BET specific surface area (SBET) of between 45 and 550 m2/g; (D) 10 to 20 phr of sulfur containing organosilicon compound; (E) 5 to 30 phr of a polyterpene resin, and (F) less than 10 phr of carbon black.

Abstract: Rubber composition containing at least 10 parts by mass, in 100 parts by mass of a rubber component, of a polymer component (B) containing a residue of an organic acid (A) added in a production process of the polymer, and containing from 10 to 150 parts by mass of a reinforcing filler (C), and 6 parts by mass or less in total of the residue of an organic acid (A) and an organic acid (D) used on mixing, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, thereby providing a rubber composition and a tire produced by using the composition, by defining the total amount of an acidic component with respect to the total mixed rubber, including an organic acid, such as stearic acid, and an organic acid contained in a residue of an emulsifier added in a production process of emulsion-polymerized SBR.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprises a diene rubber including not less than 30% by weight of a modified conjugated diene polymer rubber and, per 100 parts by weight of the diene rubber, from 1 to 25 parts by weight of a tackifying resin, and from 25 to 80 parts by weight of a filler comprising not less than 50% by weight of silica. The modified conjugated diene polymer rubber has a terminal modified group comprising a functional group that interacts with silica. In the modified conjugated diene polymer rubber, aromatic vinyl unit content is from 38% to 48% by weight, vinyl unit content is from 20% to 35%, weight-average molecular weight is from 600,000 to 1,000,000, and glass transition temperature is from ?22 to ?32° C. A glass transition temperature of the tackifying resin is from 50 to 110° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the modified conjugated diene polymer rubber.

Abstract: A process for producing a nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay includes the in-situ protonation of a modifier, which may be an alkylamine, arylamine or an alkylarylamine. This process can be integrated with a polymer halogenation process. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as a tire innerliner or innertube.

Abstract: A method of producing a rubber compound, which includes mixing at least one cross-linkable unsaturated-chain polymer base, silica, a first type of silane coupling agent, and a second type of silane coupling agent. The second type of silane coupling agent is added to the mix after the first type of silane coupling agent has reacted with the silica. The first type of silane coupling agent is a trialkoxymercaptoalkyl-silane, and the second type of silane coupling agent is a mercaptosilane protected in the form of thioester.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition which makes it possible to improve the handling stability, ride comfort, and elongation at break in a balanced manner and at the same time to achieve satisfactory processability and fuel economy; and also provides a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including a masterbatch that includes: a modified natural rubber with a phosphorus content of 200 ppm or less; and microfibrillated plant fibers. The rubber composition preferably has a ratio (E*a/E*b) of a complex modulus E*a in an extrusion direction to a complex modulus E*b in a perpendicular direction to the extrusion direction, both measured at a temperature of 70° C. and a dynamic strain amplitude of 2% under an initial elongation of 10%, of 1.05 to 6.00, wherein the complex modulus E*a is 7 to 100 MPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functionalized diene elastomer composed: a) of a diene elastomer functionalized, at the chain end or in the middle of the chain, by a tin functional group, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before functionalization and a polydispersity index before functionalization of less than or equal to 1.3, b) of a diene elastomer star-branched with a tin compound, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before star-branching and a polydispersity index before star-branching of less than or equal to 1.3, and c) of a content of less than 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the functionalized diene elastomer, of a non-tin-functional diene elastomer, the said diene elastomers a), b) and c) being, before optional functionalization or optional star-branching, the same in nature.

Abstract: A method includes mixing a filler including silica and a bio-based oil including a soy polyol to form a filler mixture, and mixing the filler mixture with an elastomer to form an elastomeric composition. The weight ratio of silica to the soy polyol is 1.5 to 2.5. The elastomer is present in an amount less than 25 weight percent of the elastomeric composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition that comprises a rubber component containing a polybutadiene and a dienic rubber or an olefinic rubber immiscible with the polybutadiene, and a filler, in which the Mooney viscosity (ML1+4/100° C.) of the polybutadiene referred to as ML(I), and the Mooney viscosity (ML1+4/100° C.) of the dienic rubber or the olefinic rubber immiscible with the polybutadiene referred to as ML(II) are in a relation of ML(I)?ML(II), a method for producing the rubber composition and a tire using the rubber composition. The rubber composition is excellent in fracture resistance and capable of attaining good workability not lowering the durability such as abrasion resistance and the like of tires, and can reduce the rolling resistance of tires.

Abstract: The invention provides vulcanizable rubber compound having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties. The compounds are formed by mixing an elastomer, containing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in its molecular structure, with a reinforcing inorganic filler silica in the presence of an alkyl alkoxysilane and a non-sulfur coupling agent that binds to the rubber backbone with an “ene” linkage or a 1,3 dipolar addition linkage. In particular, the coupling agent and the alkyl alkoxysilane are present in the compound in a weight ratio of about 0.0001:1 to about 1:1.