The University of Akron

Frank Kelley

Roderic Paul Quirk

Gary Hamed

Barry Rosenbaum

A temperature indicator for a rubber article comprises a thermochromic material, wherein the thermochromic material is a component of a rubber article selected from the group consisting of tires, belts and hoses. A rubber article containing a temperature indicator is also disclosed, wherein the temperature indicator comprises a thermochromic material compounded with an elastomeric compound to form an elastomeric temperature indicator. A method of determining the operating temperature of a rubber article comprises incorporating at least one thermochromic material into a rubber article, the at least one thermochromic material having the property of changing color at a predetermined temperature, and examining the thermochromic material for a change in color, wherein the rubber article is selected from the group consisting of tires, belts and hoses.

Temperature indicator using thermochromic materials

A self-reinforced polymeric composition of matter comprising a plurality of hard domains dispersed throughout an elastomeric matrix, wherein the plurality of hard domains are formed by thermodynamic phase separation and crosslinking of at least one thermosettable domain block of a polymeric precursor and are substantially bonded to the elastomeric matrix.

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Hudson, OH, United States of America

Frank Kelley