Styron Europe Gmbh

Thomas Knispel

Sven Thiele

Joachim Kiesekamp

Norbert Jantsch

A vulcanized elastomeric composition includes (i) a polymer reaction product of an anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane-sulfide modifier and (ii) a second elastomeric polymer different from the polymer reaction product such that the polymer reaction product comprises at least 30 weight percent of a total amount of the polymer reaction product and the second elastomeric polymer. Methods are described for making the polymer reaction product, their use in preparing vulcanized elastomeric compositions, and articles made from such compositions, including pneumatic tires, tire treads, belts, and the like.

Vulcanized elastomeric compositions

A chain end modified polymer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane-sulfide modifier A preferred class of modifiers includes compounds represented by the formula: (RO)x(R)Si&#x2014;R'&#x2014;S&#x2014;SiR, wherein Si is silicon; S is sulfur; O is oxygen; x is an integer selected from 1, 2 and 3; y is an integer selected from 0, 1, and 2; x+y=3; R is the same or different and is: (C-C) alkyl; and R&#x2032; is aryl, alkylaryl, or (C-C) alkyl. The invention further includes methods for making such chain end modified polymers, their use in preparing vulcanized elastomeric polymer compositions, and articles made from such compositions, including pneumatic tires, tire treads, belts, and the like. The subject compositions exhibit lower Tan &#x3b4; at 60&#xb0; C. values, while maintaining good processing characteristics, and a good balance of physical properties, including: abrasion resistance, tensile strength, modulus and elongation at break.

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Halle, Germany

Thomas Knispel