Green strength of elastomer blends

Claim 1

A prevulcanization process for preparing an elastomer blend for use in making tires or tire components, comprising: improving the prevulcanization of green strength of blends of (a) synthetic elastomers and (b) synthetic or natural cis-1,4-polyisoprene by adding an amount of an ionogenic compound to synthetic elastomer-forming monomers before polymerizing such that the amount of said ionogenic compound incorporated in said synthetic elastomer after polymerization ranges from about 8 to 58 milliequivalents per 100 parts by weight of said synthetic elastomer; said ionogenic compound having the formula: ##STR11## where X 1 and X 2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, carboxyl, fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine; where R 1 is H, C 1 through C 10 alkyl, --(CH 2 ) n --COOH where n is 0 to 4, or a halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; and where A is OH, NH 2 or OM where M is a metal selected from Group 1A of the Periodic Table, or a monovalent metal capable of reacting with a metal base or salt; said synthetic elastomer-forming monomers selected from the group consisting of at least one conjugated diene having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, at least one conjugated diene having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms with at least one olefin having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms so that a multi-component polymer is formed, and combinations thereof; polymerizing said ionogenic compound and said elastomer-forming monomers and forming a polymerized synthetic elastomer containing from about 8 to 58 milliequivalents of ##STR12## groups pendant from the backbone of said synthetic elastomer, said pendant groups retaining their ionogenic functionality in said synthetic elastomer, the amount of said polymerized synthetic elastomer ranging from about 1 percent to about 99 percent by weight based upon the total weight of said polymer blend, adding a compound selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene to said polymerized synthetic elastomer and forming an elastomer blend; adding and mixing a metal base or salt, said metal base or salt having the formula MZ, wherein M is a metal selected from Group 2A or 2B of the Periodic Table or a polyvalent metal which is capable of reacting with said ionogenic group, and Z is an oxide or hydroxide anion such that said metal base or said metal salt will react with two or more of said ionogenic groups; reacting said metal base or salt with said 8 to about 58 milliequivalents of said pendant ##STR13## groups per 100 parts by weight of said synthetic polymer; and forming ionic bonds between said metal and said pendant ionogenic ##STR14## groups and thereby improving the green strength of said blend of said polymerized synthetic elastomers and said natural or synthetic polyisoprene; carrying out said reaction and the formation of said ionogenic bond between said metal base or salt and said pendant ##STR15## groups at a temperature below a vulcanizing temperature so that vulcanization is prevented;