4216results about "Rolling resistance optimization" patented technology

A process for obtaining a grafted diene elastomer having functional groups along the chain, a rubber composition containing this grafted elastomer and having in particular improved hysteresis properties in the cross-linked state, a preparation process for this composition, a tire tread made from this composition and a tire of reduced rolling resistance which incorporates this tread. A process for obtaining this grafted elastomer includes a radical grafting reaction carried out in solution or without a solvent by means of a reagent of the mercaptan type to graft functional groups on to the chain of a starting elastomer. The starting elastomer is treated with an antioxidant having at least one aromatic amine function before the grafting reaction, so that the grafted elastomer has a macrostructure which is practically identical to that of the starting elastomer. A rubber composition containing the grafted diene elastomer includes a reinforcing inorganic filler, and the grafted elastomer preferably has a molar ratio of units originating from conjugated dienes greater than 30%.

Disclosed are a conjugated diolefin (co) polymer rubber formed from either a conjugated diolefin or a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound, wherein the (co) polymer rubber has a primary amino group and an alkoxysilyl group which are bonded to a (co) polymer chain; a process for producing the same; a rubber composition; a composite; and a tire. The (co) polymer rubber has satisfactory processability, and can give an automotive tire tread having a balance among wear resistance, failure characteristics, low hysteresis loss and wet-skid characteristics.

An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

A scrolling device for a computer may include a touch-sensitive surface, which may be elongated and / or have one or more active regions. Scrolling may be performed in manual as well as automated ways that may result in more accurate and efficient scrolling. Scrolling, as displayed on the screen, may further be rounded to the nearest document text line and / or distance unit, even though a more precise scrolling location value may be stored and / or tracked.

The invention relates to a preparation method of a wet process mixed natural rubber material. The method comprises the following steps of: preparing slurry and soaking 15-40 percent of dry white carbon black in 60-85 percent of deionized water; adding a coupling agent and a surfactant, uniformly mixing, grinding, preparing latex mixed liquor, extracting natural latex and adding white carbon black water dispersoid into the latex; stirring and mixing to obtain a latex mixed liquor, flocculating and adding acetic acid into the mixed liquor; performing rubber washing and dehydration by using a rubber washing machine and feeding to a rubber pelletizer for pelletizing; and feeding rubber particles into a box drying cabinet for drying. The preparation method has the advantages of simple machining process, small equipment investment, realization of various ideal performances with the most ordinary white carbon black, low dust pollution in the entire production process and energy saving. A tire manufactured with the method has small rolling resistance, low heat generation, high tensile strength, high tearing strength and high rubber material ageing resistance. Mixing of the white carbon black is performed in a liquid phase, so that the dispersivity and uniformity are enhanced.

An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

A multi-layer nano-particle composition including a polymer core and at least two additional layers is provided. The nano-particles have a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm. The nano-particles can be modified via, for example, hydrogenation or functionalization. The nano-particles can be advantageously incorporated into rubbers, elastomers, and thermoplastics.

We disclose a monovinylarene / conjugated diene block copolymer, comprising: (i) a random (conjugated dienex / monovinylareney)m block, wherein x is about 2.5 wt % to about 10 wt %, y is from about 90 wt % to about 97.5 wt %, and x+y is about 97.5 wt % to 100 wt %; and (ii) a (conjugated diene)n block; wherein n is from about 20 wt % to about 30 wt %, m is from about 70 wt % to about 80 wt %, and m+n is from about 90 wt % to 100 wt %. We also disclose a method of forming the block copolymer and a method for fabricating an article from the block copolymer. The block copolymer typically exhibits a Tg at least about 10° C. less than the Tg of a reference polymer differing only in that x is about 0 wt % and y is about 100 wt %.

There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of achieving both reduced rolling resistance and enhanced durability and a method of producing the same. The pneumatic tire includes a reinforcement layer, formed of a steel cord coated with coating rubber, including at least one of a carcass, a bead reinforcement layer, a side reinforcement layer and a belt, with said coating rubber formed of a rubber compound containing 100 parts by mass of diene rubber, 30 to 80 parts by mass of silica having a nitrogen surface area of at least 70 m2 / g and at most 150 m2 / g, 1 to 15 parts by mass of a silane coupling agent, and organic acid cobalt salt. Preferably the steel cord has a cut edge of a breaker coated with an edge strip of rubber.

A rubber composition of improved hysteretic and physical properties which make it suitable for forming a tire tread, notably a tire tread of reduced rolling resistance, the rubber composition including carbon black having silica fixed to its surface as the majority portion of reinforcing filler and at least one functionalized diene polymer having at the end of its chain a silanol function or a polysiloxane block including a silanol end or a diene polymer modified along its chain by silanol functions.

A camber angle applying device is controlled to adjust the camber angle of wheels to a predetermined value. Therefore, the characteristics (or a high gripping property) of a high gripping force and the characteristic (or a low rolling resistance) of a small rolling resistance can be separately used as the performance of the wheels. By utilizing the high gripping property of the wheels, therefore, a vehicle is enabled to reduce its energy consumption, while retaining its running characteristics (such as a turning performance, an accelerating performance or a braking performance), by utilizing the rolling resistance of the wheels. Moreover, the camber angle applying device is controlled to reduce the rolling resistance of the wheels, so that the energy loss to occur in the wheels during running can be reduced to further reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle.

Rubber mixtures which contain an organosilane of the general structure 1R2R3Si—R4—Z (I), wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are H, (C1-C4)alkyl, (C1-C4)alkoxy or halogen and the number of alkyl groups is ≧1; R4 is a linear or branched (C1-C18)alkylidene group; and Z=H, halogen, SCN, SH or Sx—R4—SiR1R2R3, where x is 2 to 10. The rubber mixtures are useful in molding compositions particularly for tires and tire treads.

A process for obtaining a grafted diene elastomer having functional groups along the chain, a rubber composition containing this grafted elastomer and having in particular improved hysteresis properties in the cross-linked state, a preparation process for this composition, a tire tread made from this composition and a tire of reduced rolling resistance which incorporates this tread. A process for obtaining this grafted elastomer includes a radical grafting reaction carried out in solution or without a solvent by means of a reagent of the mercaptan type to graft functional groups on to the chain of a starting elastomer. The starting elastomer is treated with an antioxidant having at least one aromatic amine function before the grafting reaction, so that the grafted elastomer has a macrostructure which is practically identical to that of the starting elastomer. A rubber composition containing the grafted diene elastomer includes a reinforcing inorganic filler, and the grafted elastomer preferably has a molar ratio of units originating from conjugated dienes greater than 30%.

The present invention provides a rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber component, 10 to 200 parts by weight of a reinforcing agent, and 0.1 to 15 parts by weight of a fatty acid salt. For example, the diene rubber preferably comprises a diene rubber having a heteroatom-containing polar group, the reinforcing agent preferably comprises carbon black or silica, and the fatty acid salt preferably comprises a metal salt of a C5 to C36 fatty acid. This rubber composition yields a vulcanized rubber showing improvements in heat build-up, tensile strength, abrasion resistance and processability.

An axle assembly connecting a wheel assembly to a vehicle frame. The axle assembly includes a tubular body having first and seconds connectable to the vehicle frame and open-ended slots disposed proximate at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular body. An expansion element is engageable with the tubular body to radially deform the tubular body at a mounting point to the vehicle frame. This configuration provides a rigid connection between the axle assembly and the vehicle frame in both the linear and radial directions.

Precipitated silica having the following parameters:is prepared by reacting alkali silicate with mineral acids and aluminum sulfate solution at temperatures of 60-95° C. at a pH of 7.0-10.0 while stirring constantly, wherein the reaction is continued to a solids concentration of 40-110 g / l, the pH is adjusted to a value between 3 and 5, and the precipitated silica is filtered off, washed and then dried, and optionally ground or granulated.

The invention provides a preparation method of white carbon black modified styrene-butadiene rubber facing green tires and a product thereof. White carbon black is used in the technical field of styrene-butadiene rubber modification, so as to provide guidance to the application of the white carbon black modified styrene-butadiene rubber in the tire industry. The styrene-butadiene rubber is characterized in that the styrene-butadiene rubber contains white carbon black of which the weight percentage to dry styrene-butadiene rubber latex is 30 percent to 100 percent. The preparation method comprises the steps that firstly, the white carbon black is mixed with water to obtain a white carbon black-water suspension; afterwards, the white carbon black-water suspension is subject to surface treatment, so as to enable the surface of the white carbon black to be organized; the pH (potential of hydrogen) value of the suspension is adjusted to be 9 to 12; and finally, the suspension is evenly mixed with the styrene-butadiene rubber latex to obtain liquid styrene-butadiene rubber sizing to which the white carbon black is added, and then the modified styrene-butadiene rubber containing the white carbon black is prepared by adopting an emulsion blending and flocculation process. The white carbon black modified styrene-butadiene rubber prepared by adopting the preparation method has the advantages that the white carbon black is evenly distributed in the styrene-butadiene rubber, and compared with pure styrene-butadiene rubber, the mechanical performance, the wet-skid resistant performanceand the rolling resistance of the white carbon black modified styrene-butadiene rubber are remarkably improved.

An axle assembly connecting a wheel assembly to a vehicle frame. The axle assembly includes a tubular body having first and seconds connectable to the vehicle frame and open-ended slots disposed proximate at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular body. An expansion element is engageable with the tubular body to radially deform the tubular body at a mounting point to the vehicle frame. This configuration provides a rigid connection between the axle assembly and the vehicle frame in both the linear and radial directions.

This invention discloses a method for preparing rubber compositions that exhibit unique combinations of properties that are desirable for tire tread applications for enhanced snow / ice and wet traction, low rolling resistance and increased treadwear performance in comparison with conventional silica compounds. Specifically, a high reactively silane coupling agent, such as a mercaptosilane, is used in combination with a silane coupling typically used for silica tread compounds such as bis(triethoxylsilylpropyl)disulfide to treat silica pellets in a hydrocarbon solvent at elevated temperatures. The treated silica is then blended with solution elastomer cement in a hydrocarbon solvent. The deposited reactive silanes partially react with the elastomer molecules forming a layer of polymer grafted on the silica surfaced. This structure significantly improves the silica retention during the steam stripping operation. Almost 100% (99+%) silica retention has been achieved by this invention. After solvent removal from steam stripping, the treated silica / elastomer mixer is dewatered and dried using conventional equipment such as shaker screens, expellers and expanders to form a well-dispersed silica masterbatch. This technique results in silica compounds with excellent silica dispersion and increased filler-polymer interaction, hence enhanced compound performance such as better physical properties, more desirable dynamic properties (low hysteresis at high temperatures and high hysteresis at low temperatures) and increased abrasion resistance.

A conjugated diene polymer is provided that comprises a conjugated diene-based constituent unit and a constituent unit of formula (I) below, at least one terminus of the polymer being modified by a compound having a linkage of formula (II) below.wherein X1, X2, and X3 independently denote a group as defined in the specification.

Disclosed are a conjugated diolefin (co)polymer rubber formed from either a conjugated diolefin or a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound, wherein the (co) polymer rubber has a primary amino group and an alkoxysilyl group which are bonded to a (co)polymer chain; a process for producing the same; a rubber composition; a composite; and a tire. The (co) polymer rubber has satisfactory processability, and can give an automotive tire tread having a balance among wear resistance, failure characteristics, low hysteresis loss and wet-skid characteristics.

To reduce the weight of the wheel support bearing assembly without sacrificing the strength, the wheel support bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body structure includes a hub axle (2) formed with a radially outwardly extending hub flange (12). This hub flange (12) has an inner peripheral portion and a remaining wall portion other than the inner peripheral portion, and the remaining wall portion thereof is constituted by a plurality of radially outwardly extending ribs (13) each formed with a bolt insertion hole (14). The hub axle (2) also includes a brake pilot area (16) extending outwardly from an outboard face of the hub flange (12) for guiding an inner peripheral surface of the brake rotor (41). At least the root diameter (D1) of at least an inboard face of each rib (13) is chosen to be equal to or smaller than the outer diameter (D2) of the brake pilot area (16).

A hub for bicycles, having an axle and a shell, two bearing units arranged substantially between the hub axle and the hub shell, and a rotor rotatably supported relative to the hub axle for receiving a sprocket the rotor, and a freewheel having two toothed disc units with biased tooth faces for transmitting the drive torque from the rotor to the hub shell. The two toothed disc units are disposed around the hub axle upon assembly, they are, at idle, disposed transverse to the hub axle. At least one toothed disc unit includes a toothed disc having a hole, a radial wall and an axial toothed wall, wherein an inner diameter of the hole is smaller at the axial wall than an inner dimension in the radial wall to form a receiving space at the toothed disc between the clear inner diameter of the axial wall and the radial wall.

A composite material for plain bearings comprises a backing layer, a bearing metal layer consisting of a copper alloy with a copper content of from 50 to 95 wt. % or an aluminum alloy with an aluminum content of from 60 to 95 wt. %, a diffusion barrier layer and an overlay, applied by electroplating, consisting of a lead-free, tin and copper-containing alloy. The invention provides a composite multilayer material whose overlay, applied by electroplating, does not exhibit any embrittlement even at relatively high temperatures, irrespective of the copper content. The overlay preferably comprises from 8 to 30 wt. % copper, 60 to 97 wt. % tin and 0.5-19 wt. % cobalt.

Copper alloy contains (in wt.%) 60-70 Cu, 0.5-3.5 Sn and further matrix-active elements, 0.01-0.5 Fe and / or Co, 0.01-0.5 Ni, 0.01-0.5 Mn and / or Si, up to 3 Mg, up to 0.2 P, up to 0.5 Ag, Al, As, Sb, Ti or Zr, and a balance of Zn and impurities.

Provided is a composition comprising a rubber and a polymer nano-particle comprising a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic) core and a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) surface layer, wherein the core of the polymeric nano-particle has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of between about 150° C. and about 600° C. Also provided is a composition comprising at least two (mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) copolymer rubbers and a polymeric nano-particle comprising a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic) core and a poly(mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) surface layer; wherein the core of the polymeric nano-particle has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of between about 150° C. and about 600° C., and the poly(mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) surface layer of the polymeric nano-particle comprises a mono-vinyl aromatic content that is between about 50 percent and about 150 percent that of the mono-vinyl content of one of the (mono-vinyl aromatic-conjugated diene) copolymer rubbers.

An amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane (AMS) comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino AMS, an amino / mercaptan co-AMS, an amino / blocked mercaptan co-AMS, mixtures thereof, and a weak acid-neutralized solid or aqueous solution thereof, and a method of making the amino AMS, are presented. The compounds are useful in compounding, processing, cure and storage of silica-reinforced rubbers because they contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

This invention relates to novel free-flowing filler compositions containing sulfur-containing silane coupling agents, and to a rubber containing the filler composition.