Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Christopher Pappas

Christophe Chouvel

Xavier Saintigny

Constantine Khripin

Paul Winston

Jessica McDowell

Jeremy John Mehlem

Didler Vasseur

Methods for producing a cross-linkable rubber composition that comprises a masterbatch are disclosed. The masterbatch comprising a base masterbatch and the method includes forming the base masterbatch by adding a diene rubber to an internal mixer; adding a total quantity of a solid agglomerated material that includes carbon nanotubes into the mixing chamber; and mixing the diene elastomer and the solid agglomerated material. To ensure adequate distribution and dispersion of the material, the base masterbatch has a minimum Mooney viscosity ML(1+4)100 of at least 85 MU.

Method for producing rubber compositions with disaggregated carbon nanotubes

Described are articles including treads and/or other tire components that are formed at least in part by rubber compositions having solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes. Such rubber compositions include a diene rubber component and a solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes that consist of a continuous network of carbon nanotubes that contains 1) voids and 2) aggregates of carbon nanotubes having a mean size dof less than 5 &#x3bc;m, the voids and the aggregates together in an amount that is less than 60% of a predetermined surface area, as determined by electron microscopy imagery analysis, the remainder being the disaggregated carbon nanotubes in the continuous network that do not comprise a clearly defined shape.

Rubber compositions with dissagregated carbon nanotubes

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Christopher Pappas