申请人:——
公开号:US20030004250A1
公开(公告)日:2003-01-02
This invention relates to a light weight rubber blend that can be beneficially used in rubber articles, such as power transmission belts and tires. In the rubber blends of this invention a 2:1 layered silicate clay, preferably an organophilic 2:1 layered silicate clay, is substituted for a portion of the carbon black that is normally used in the rubber as a filler. This can be done without sacrificing the physical properties of the rubber composition in cases where the rubber in the blend contains an amino group. Tire tread compounds that utilize such rubber compositions offer increased vehicle fuel economy. This invention also relates to improving the strength modulus and elongation of carbon black and silica filled compounds by the addition of 2:1 layered silicate clays thereto without modifying the level of carbon black or silica. Such compounds have increased flexibility and tensile strength for tire side-wall applications. This invention more specifically discloses a process for making a vulcanized rubber article comprising the steps of (1) kneading (a) an amino group containing rubbery polymer, wherein said amino group containing rubbery polymer contains from about 0.1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of a monomer containing an amino group, and (b) from 0.1 to about 25 phr of a 2:1 layered silicate clay which is an organophilic 2:1 layered silicate clay; and (c) conventional rubber compounding ingredients selected at least from the group of curing agents, cure accelerators, cure activators, processing aids, reinforcing fillers, oils, cure retarders, resins, and antidegradants at a temperature within the range of about 70° C. to about 190° C. in a bulk thermomechanical mixer to produce a mixed compound; (2) discharging the said mixed compound from the bulk thermomechanical mixer; (3) forming the mixed compound into an article; and (4) vulcanizing the article. The present invention also reveals a rubber composition that is comprised of: (1) an amino group containing rubbery polymer, wherein said amino group containing rubbery polymer contains from about 0.1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of a monomer containing an amino group, and (2) from about 0.1 phr to about 25 phr of a 2:1 layered silicate clay. The present invention further 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; wherein the tread is comprised of the rubbery polymer of this invention.
本发明涉及一种轻质橡胶混合物,可有效用于橡胶制品,如传动带和轮胎。在本发明的橡胶混合物中,2:1 的层状硅酸盐粘土,最好是亲有机的 2:1 层状硅酸盐粘土,可替代橡胶中通常用作填料的部分炭黑。在混合物中的橡胶含有氨基的情况下,这样做不会影响橡胶组合物的物理特性。使用此类橡胶组合物的轮胎胎面化合物可提高车辆的燃油经济性。本发明还涉及在不改变炭黑或白炭黑含量的情况下,通过添加 2:1 的层状硅酸盐粘土,提高炭黑和白炭黑填充化合物的强度模量和伸长率。这种化合物在轮胎侧壁应用中具有更高的柔韧性和抗拉强度。本发明更具体地公开了一种硫化橡胶制品的制造工艺,包括以下步骤:(1) 揉捏 (a) 含氨基基团的橡胶聚合物,其中所述含氨基基团的橡胶聚合物含有约 0.1 重量%至约 20 重量%的含氨基基团的单体,以及 (b) 0.1 至约 25 phr 的 2:1 层状硅酸盐粘土,它是一种亲有机的 2:1 层状硅酸盐粘土;以及 (c) 至少选自硫化剂、硫化促进剂、硫化活化剂、加工助剂、补强填料、油、硫化延缓剂、树脂和抗降解剂组中的常规橡胶配料,温度在约 70°C 至约 190°C 范围内。(2) 将所述混合料从散装热机械混合器中排出; (3) 将混合料制成制品;以及 (4) 对制品进行硫化。本发明还揭示了一种橡胶组合物,其包含:(1) 含氨基基团的橡胶聚合物,其中所述含氨基基团的橡胶聚合物含有约 0.1 重量%至约 20 重量%的含氨基基团的单体,以及 (2) 约 0.1 phr 至约 25 phr 的 2:1 层状硅酸盐粘土。本发明进一步公开了一种轮胎,该轮胎由一个大体呈环形的胎体组成,胎体具有一个外圆周胎面、两个间隔开的胎圈、至少一个从胎圈延伸至胎圈的帘布层以及从所述胎面径向延伸并连接所述胎圈的侧壁;其中所述胎面适于与地面接触;其中所述胎面由本发明的橡胶聚合物组成。