Nike, Inc.

Thomas W Wilson, Iii

Feng-Ming Ou

Ping-Hung Tsai

An elastomer composition includes guayule rubber and a butadiene rubber, with at least about 5 phr guayule rubber based on 100 phr elastomer. The cured rubber has a higher coefficient of friction as compared to a cured rubber of the same formulation except using Hevea rubber rather than guayule rubber.

Natural rubber outsoles and footwear

Curable rubber compositions and cured articles are based on the use of zinc activator compositions for the sulfur cure. Activator compositions contain zinc and a polymeric component having a plurality of COOH groups, at least some of which are neutralized with the zinc. With polymeric zinc activators, sulfur cure can be activated at levels of zinc below those used in conventional systems.

Zinc ionomer rubber activator

A method for bonding PEBA plastic composition with dissimilar materials. Also, composite articles made in accordance with the method. The method uses only water-borne adhesive compositions.

Method of bonding PEBA plastic composition

Rubber in its uncured state is very tacky and rubber forms such as pellets, sheets, etc., tend to be hard to process due to the agglomeration and sticking of these rubber forms. Aspects of the invention use cured rubber powder as an anti-tack agent in a molding rubber mixture. In one aspect, the cured rubber powder has a particle size between 50 and 250 &#x3bc;m in the uncured rubber forms, a diameter of between 1 and 10 mm, and a length of between 1 and 15 mm.

Anti-tack powder for uncured rubber pellets

Cured rubber compositions with reduced divalent metal levels and improved physical properties are prepared using methods that limit or avoid a deleterious side reaction, and that make activator compounds available only during cure and not earlier during mixing. Specifically, the presence of activator soap (or of components that can form the activator soap in situ) and silica filler together is avoided or minimized in process steps where the temperature would tend to be above 100&#xb0; C. or 110&#xb0; C. The use of ZnO for example can be reduced by as much as 90&#x2dc;95% in a typical rubber compound.

Rubber compositions with activated sulfur cure

Non-petroleum based oils replace traditional process oils used in rubber compositions in general and specifically in footwear applications. The replacement oils, derived from plant or animal sources, represent a renewable resource and provide other advantages. The oils contain a sufficient level and distribution of fatty acid side chains to partially incorporate into the rubber at low levels, and to act as internal plasticizers at higher levels. Other compositions are free of silane coupling agents and additives that generate carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Rubber compositions with non-petroleum oils

Rubber compositions contain, in addition to synthetic or natural rubber and conventional curing agents, an auxiliary composition containing a titanium or zirconium compound. The compositions are characterized by an enhanced cure rate at elevated temperatures such as would be useful for producing molded articles. At the same time the compositions exhibit an increased shelf life whereby uncured compositions of the invention are stable and can be molded for a considerable period of time even after storage at room temperature. Titanium compounds of the invention have at least one alkoxy group bonded to titanium, and zirconium compounds of the invention have at least one alkoxy group bonded to zirconium. In preferred embodiments, the auxiliary composition contains chelates of the titanium or zirconium compound. In particular, the auxiliary composition enhances the rate of cure at elevated temperature, and retards curing at room temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Hillsboro, OR, United States of America

Thomas W Wilson, Iii