The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Joseph Frank Geiser

Paul Harry Sandstrom

Richard G Bauer

Roger J Hopper

David John Zanzig

Judy Chu

Dane Kenton Parker

Budd H Sturm

Richard Michael D'Sidocky

Robert A Smith

Kirkwood S Cottman

Kenneth Floyd Castner

Manoj Ajbani

This invention relates to nanocomposites comprised of a functionalized elastomeric polymer, including oligomers which are elastomeric, which contains a particulate dispersion therein of an intercalated, and at least partially exfoliated, swellable clay, such as for example montmorillonite clay. Said clay may be pre-intercalated and thereafter blended with, or intercalated and at least partially exfoliated in situ within, a functionalized elastomer in an aqueous medium, wherein said functionalized elastomer contains at least one functional group selected from acid, acid-salt, anhydride, and protonated amine-modified epoxy groups. The invention further relates to articles of manufacture, including industrial belts and tires, having at least one component comprised of such nanocomposite where such component may be a coating thereon or other integral component. Such tire component may be, for example, a tire tread, tire sidewall and/or tire innerliner.

Process for preparing nanocomposite, composition and article thereof

This invention is based upon the discovery that cyclized polyisoprene polymers can be incorporated into tire tread compounds to improve traction, treadwear, and resistance to tear. It is further based upon the discovery that cyclized polyisoprene polymers can be blended with halobutyl rubber and/or natural rubber and can be utilized in tire innerliner formulations. The present invention more specifically discloses a tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, and wherein said tread is comprised of a sulfur cured rubber composition which is comprised of about 5 phr to about 50 phr of cyclized polyisoprene and about 50 phr to about 95 phr of at least one other rubbery polymer. The present invention further discloses a tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, an innerliner, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said innerliner is comprised of a sulfur cured rubber composition which is comprised of about 5 phr to about 50 phr of cyclized polyisoprene and about 50 phr to about 95 phr of at least one other rubbery polymer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and halobutyl rubber.

Rubber blend containing cyclized polyisoprene

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of epoxidized synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene. The process involves reacting the synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene in a C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 aliphatic hydrocarbon with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a molybdenum catalyst at a reaction temperature ranging from about 20.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. The molybdenum catalyst is prepared by reacting together under a N.sub.2 atmosphere molybdenum pentachloride with a carboxylic acid of the formula:

Process for the preparation of epoxidized synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene

There is disclosed a preparation of (optionally substituted) 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) by the oxidation of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole using bromate salts as the oxidant in an acidified aqueous reaction medium. The process of this invention provides an efficient and practical step in a procedure for the production of 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) that is virtually pollution free.

Preparation of 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) in an acidic aqueous

There is disclosed a preparation of (optionally substituted) 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) by the oxidation of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole using bromate salts as the oxidant in an aqueous/alcohol reaction medium. The process of this invention provides an efficient and practical step in a procedure for the production of 2,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) that is virtually pollution free.

Preparation of 2.2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) in an aqueous/alcohol

There are disclosed polymers which have nonionic surfactant moieties pendant to the polymeric backbone which exhibit activated sulfur vulcanization, a process for their preparation, and mixtures of polymeric cure activators and elastomers.

Polymer bound nonionic surfactants as cure activators

There is disclosed a novel class of vulcanization accelerators, specifically compounds such as 2-(isopropylsulfinyl)-benzothiazole.

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Uniontown, OH, United States of America

Joseph Frank Geiser