The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Michael Joseph Rachita

Paul Harry Sandstrom

Lawson G Wideman

Vanessa Marika Guscoff

Michael Lester Kerns

Junling Zhao

Leena Nebhani

Georges Marcel Victor Thielen

Kenneth Floyd Castner

Frank Schmitz

Stephan Rodewald

George Jim Papakonstantopoulos

Joseph John Kulig

William Paul Francik

Liqing Ma

Tang Hong Wong

Robert Alan Woloszynek

Steven Wayne Cronin

Wesley Glen Sigler

Scott Edwards Johnson

Brad Stephen Gulas

David Mark Frantz

Zhengfang Xu

Michael Paul Mallamaci

Christin Louise Alwardt

Nicola Costantini

Craig William Burkhart

Gabor Kaszas

This invention is based upon the discovery that benzoxazine resins can be incorporated into certain rubber compositions to increase the stiffness thereof without increasing hysteresis or reducing tear strength. Such benzoxazine resin reinforced rubber formulations can accordingly be used beneficially in components of rubber products where high stiffness is desirable. Since these benzoxazine resin reinforced rubbers do not increase levels of hysteresis, they can be used in tires components, such as apexes, chaffers, and high stiffness tread blocks without compromising fuel efficiency. This invention more specifically reveals a radial tire having an apex, a chaffer, or a hard tread block segment which is comprised of a rubbery polymer and a benzoxazine resin.

Rubber composition offering high stiffness and low hysteresis

The production of a protein free synthetic polyisoprene which has both low levels of chemical impurities and good physical properties has yet to be realized. It has now been envisioned that the use of neodymium catalyzed polyisoprene will offer the combined advantages of both a clean, as well as, high cis-1,4 polymer. Synthesis of polyisoprene rubber using a neodymium based catalyst system is described. Characterization of the material shows the absence of an ultra high molecular weight fraction and the presence of very high cis-1,4-microstructure. Gum stock and black filled compound studies comparing neodymium polyisoprene with natural rubber, titanium polyisoprene, and lithium polyisoprene have been performed. Results indicate that polyisoprene rubber synthesized using a neodymium catalyst system (Nd&#x2014;PI) has similar stress-strain and tear properties as synthetic titanium polyisoprene. Analysis of residual volatile, extractable, and oligomer levels indicates Nd&#x2014;PI is indeed a clean source of high cis synthetic polyisoprene.

Polyisoprene rubber breast hood

The production of a protein free synthetic polyisoprene which has both low levels of chemical impurities and good physical properties has yet to be realized. It has now been envisioned that the use of neodymium catalyzed polyisoprene will offer the combined advantages of both a clean, as well as, high cis-1,4 polymer. Synthesis of polyisoprene rubber using a neodymium based catalyst system is described. Characterization of the material shows the absence of an ultra high molecular weight fraction and the presence of very high cis-1,4-microstructure. Gum stock and black filled compound studies comparing neodymium polyisoprene with natural rubber, titanium polyisoprene, and lithium polyisoprene have been performed. Results indicate that polyisoprene rubber synthesized using a neodymium catalyst system (Nd&#x2014;PI) has similar stress-strain and tear properties as synthetic titanium polyisoprene. Analysis of residual volatile, extractable, and oligomer levels indicates Nd&#x2014;PI is indeed a clean source of high cis synthetic polyisoprene. In the practice of this invention such Nd&#x2014;PI is used in manufacturing articles used in manufacturing health care products, garments, clothing, and food and beverage packaging. Some specific applications include: bandages, drug delivery patches, suture tape, pharmaceutical closures, including syringe plungers and sleeves, vial closures and stoppers, tourniquets, exercise bands, condoms and prophylactic devices, gloves and glove dip, intervenous bags and tubing, baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, and teething devices, breast hoods, and dental and orthodontic devices.

Rubber for baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, and syringe plungers

The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I wherein Ris C1 to C4 linear or branched alkanediyl; wherein R, R, R, R, and Rare independently H or C1 to C8 alkyl; Ris C2 to C8 alkanediyl; Rand Rare independently H, aryl or C1 to C8 alkyl; wherein Ris C1 to C8 alkyl.

Functionalized polymer, rubber composition and pneumatic tire

The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I wherein R, R, R, R, and Rare as defined. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the functionalized elastomer, and a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition.

The invention relates to preparation and use of a silica reinforced rubber composition. Such rubber composition may be used, for example, for a truck tire tread expected to be exposed to heavy load duty.

Preparation and use of silica reinforced rubber composition for truck tire tread

There is disclosed a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer; and a polymerization terminator of formula I where R, Rand Rare independently C1 to C8 alkyl or C1 to C8 alkoxy, with the proviso that at least two of R, Rand Rare C1 to C8 alkoxy; Ris C1 to C8 alkyl; Si is silicon; S is sulfur; and Z is Ror of formula II where Ris alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl. There is further disclosed a rubber composition comprising the functionalized elastomer, and a pneumatic tire comprising the rubber composition.

The invention relates to functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agents and silica reinforced rubber compositions. Such rubber composition may be used, for example, for tire components such as, for example, tire treads.

Functionalized polysulfide silica coupling agents and silica reinforced rubber composition for tire components

This invention discloses a process for manufacturing an elastomeric article by liquid injection molding, said process comprising the steps of: (I) heating a curable composition comprised of (1) a liquid polymer comprised of repeat units that are derived from a conjugated diolefin monomer, wherein said liquid polymer has a weight average molecular weight which is within the range of 5,000 to 100,000, and wherein the liquid polymer is functionalized with an amine moiety, (2) a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and (3) a tetrakis(dialkyl siloxy) silane crosslinking agent, to a temperature which is within the range of 30&#xb0; C. to 100&#xb0; C.; (II) injecting the heated curable composition into a mold at a temperature which is within the range of 100&#xb0; C. to 210&#xb0; C. to produce the elastomeric article; and (III) removing the elastomeric article from the mold.

Liquid polymer

The invention includes terminating compounds, polymers, rubber compositions and tires. The terminating compounds can provide terminating groups on the polymer. Polymers can be homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers, and can include repeat units provided from conjugated diene monomers. Rubber compositions can be made from the polymers, and tires and various parts of tires can be made from those rubber compositions.

Terminating compounds, polymers, and their uses in rubber compositions and tires

The production of a protein free synthetic polyisoprene which has both low levels of chemical impurities and good physical properties has yet to be realized. It has now been envisioned that the use of neodymium catalyzed polyisoprene will offer the combined advantages of both a clean, as well as, high cis-1,4 polymer. Synthesis of polyisoprene rubber using a neodymium based catalyst system is described.

Amine-functionalized liquid polyisoprene

This invention discloses a process for manufacturing an elastomeric article by liquid injection molding, wherein the article has improved tensile strength and improved tear strength, said process comprising the steps of: (I) heating a curable composition comprised of (1) a liquid polymer comprised of repeat units that are derived from a conjugated diolefin monomer, wherein said liquid polymer has a weight average molecular weight which is within the range of 5,000 to 100,000, and wherein the liquid polymer is functionalized with an ether moiety, (2) a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and (3) a tetrakis(dialkyl siloxy) silane crosslinking agent, to a temperature which is within the range of 30&#xb0; C. to 100&#xb0; C.; (II) injecting the heated curable composition into a mold at a temperature which is within the range of 100&#xb0; C. to 210&#xb0; C. to produce the elastomeric article; and (III) removing the elastomeric article from the mold. This invention also discloses that the elasticity of such cured elastomeric articles can be increased without reducing cure levels by incorporating a liquid Ctackifier resin into the liquid polymer.

Growing community of inventors

North Canton, OH, United States of America

Michael Joseph Rachita