The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

John J Verthe

Paul Harry Sandstrom

David John Zanzig

Adel Farhan Halasa

Wen-Liang Hsu

Edward John Blok

Joseph Kevin Hubbell

Cheryl Ann Losey

Gregory M Holtzapple

Thomas Joseph Segatta

Raymond Robert DiRossi

Richard G Bauer

Michael Julian Crawford

Johnny Dale Massie, Ii

Donald J Burlett

Deborah A Tung

Mark Henry Seloover

Mark Andrew Marinko

J Dale Massie, Ii

Paul H Standstrom

This invention relates to a tire tread compound that is easily processable which can be used to improve the treadwear, rolling resistance and traction characteristics of tires. The tire tread compounds of this invention are a blend of tin-coupled polybutadiene, high vinyl polybutadiene and natural rubber. This blend of low glass transition temperature rubber and high glass transition temperature rubber is surprisingly easy to process which makes the concept of this invention commercially feasible. Thus, the tire tread compounds of this invention can be utilized in making tires having greatly improved traction characteristics and treadwear without sacrificing rolling resistance. These improved properties may be due, in part, to better interaction and compatibility with carbon black and/or silica fillers. The polybutadiene in the blend can be asymmetrical tin-coupled to further improve the cold flow characteristics of the rubber blend. Asymmetrical tin coupling in general also leads to better processability and other beneficial properties. This invention more specifically discloses a tire tread rubber composition which is comprised of (1) from about 20 phr to about 60 phr of tin-coupled polybutadiene rubber, (2) from about 20 phr to about 60 phr of a rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene and (3) from about 5 phr to about 40 phr of high vinyl polybutadiene rubber.

Tire tread compositions containing asymmetrically tin-coupled

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a tread containing (a) from 50 to 90 phr (parts by weight of rubber per 100 total parts of rubber) of a rubber which, in its uncured state, has a glass transition temperature in the range of from -80.degree. C. to -110.degree. C. and (b) from 15 to 50 phr of a resin.

Pneumatic tire having a tread compound containing high levels of low Tg

The invention relates to a tire with a tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica where the tread rubber is composed of a backbone of a combination of isoprene/butadiene copolymer rubber, cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and halogenated copolymer of isobutylene and p-methylstyrene. Such tread rubber may optionally also contain other elastomers such as, for example, cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber and styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber.

Tire tread with quantitative silica reinforcement

The invention relates to a rubber tire composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass and having a rubber tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica and contains a minor amount of carbon black reinforcement and/or carbon fibers. When said tread contains silica and carbon black reinforcement exclusive of carbon fibers, the said tread has a thin rubber layer over at least a portion of the outer surface tread intended to be ground-contacting wherein said rubber layer contains a combination of silica and/or carbon black reinforcement and carbon fibers. In one aspect, such alternative outer rubber layer (a) extends across at least a portion of the outer surface of the tread intended to be ground contacting and (b) contacts at least one other carbon black reinforced rubber component of the tire to provide a path of relatively low electrical resistance from said quantitatively silica reinforced tread to the bead portion of the tire carcass.

Tire having silica reinforced rubber tread containing carbon fibers

The invention relates to a tire with a tread which is quantitatively reinforced with silica where the tread is composed of cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, a high vinyl polybutadiene rubber and, optionally a medium vinyl polybutadiene rubber. In one aspect, the tread rubber can also contain a minor amount of cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber.

Tire with silica reinforced tread

The subject invention relates to a technique for synthesizing rubbery copolymers of styrene and isoprene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire tread rubber compounds. By utilizing these styrene-isoprene rubbers in tire treads, tires having improved wet skid resistance can be built without sacrificing rolling resistance or tread wear characteristics. This invention more specifically discloses a process for the synthesis of styrene-isoprene rubbers which exhibit essentially a single glass transition temperature and which are particularly useful in tire tread rubber compounds, said process comprising copolymerizing a monomer mixture containing from about 2 weight percent to about 15 weight percent styrene monomer and from about 85 weight percent to about 98 weight percent isoprene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) a modifier having the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein n represents an integer within the range of 3 to 6, wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to the lithium initiator is within the range of 2:1 to 40:1.

Styrene-isoprene rubber for tire tread compounds

Pneumatic rubber tire with a tread composed of a rubber blend of a base of at least two synthetic elastomers composed of (i) specialized isoprene/butadiene copolymer elastomer having a low Tg in a range of about -70.degree. to about -100.degree. C. and (ii) a diene based elastomer having a Tg in a range of about -5.degree. to about -30.degree. C. together with a minor amount of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber. Selection of the base of the said two synthetic elastomers having spaced apart, or spatially defined, Tg's of at least 40.degree. C. is an important feature of the tread rubber blend. Representative examples of contemplated elastomers with Tg's in a range of about -5.degree. to about -30.degree. C. are 3,4-polyisoprene elastomer, styrene/isoprene copolymer elastomer and high vinyl polybutadiene elastomers. In one aspect, the tread rubber blend is reinforced with reinforcing filler composed of carbon black or a combination of carbon black and silica accompanied by a coupling agent.

Tire with tread of elastomer composition

Process for synthesizing styrene-isoprene rubber

The present invention relates to a sulfur cured rubber composition particularly suited for use in tire treads and carcass ply compounds. The sulfur cured rubber composition is composed of, based on 100 parts by weight of rubber, from about 5 to 95 parts by weight of epoxidized rubber; from about 5 to 85 parts of a silica filler; from about 0.5 to 8.5 parts by weight of a silica coupling agent; and 95 to 5 parts by weight of a rubber selected from the group consisting of medium vinyl polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene, synthetic 3,4-polyisoprene, natural rubber, cis-polybutadiene, styrene-isoprene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and mixtures thereof.

Sulfur cured rubber composition containing epoxidized natural rubber and

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.

Tires having improved rolling resistance

The present invention relates to polymeric alloys which comprise the reaction product of a mixture of:

Polyester/polyepoxide/rubber alloys

A pneumatic tire with a tread comprising a blend of 3,4-polyisoprene rubber, cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, and a terpolymer of styrene/isoprene/butadiene. The triblend of the three basic elastomers when compounded and cured into a polymer network gives a high tan delta at 0.degree. C. associated with good wet traction and a low tan delta at 60.degree. C. which has been associated with low rolling resistance.

Rubber blend and tire with tread thereof

A pneumatic tire with a tread composed of a blend of 3,4-polyisoprene rubber, cis 1,4 polyisoprene rubber and at least one additional diene based rubber.

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Kent, OH, United States of America

John J Verthe