US7271208B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Silica-reinforced rubber compounded with an alkoxysilane and a strong organic base
Assignee: Bridgestone Corp
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Filing: 2006-05-02
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Granted: 2007-09-18
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Expires: 2026-05-02
Abstract
Abstract Improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties of silica-reinforced sulfur vulcanized rubbers can be achieved by compounding elastomers with silica in the presence of an alkoxysilane and a catalytic amount of a strong organic base. The strong organic base acts as a catalyst to accelerate the alkoxysilane-silica reaction, especially at high compounding temperatures, resulting in rubber compounds that exhibit reduced compound viscosity, improved dispersion of silica, and reduced filler flocculation after compounding, and reduced hysteresis and improved abrasion resistance in the vulcanized product, compared to similar compounds prepared at the temperature without the strong organic base catalyst.
Inventors
- 👤 Chenchy Jeffrey Lin
- 👤 William L. Hergenrother
- 👤 Terrence E. Hogan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:02
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/16; C08K5/29; C08K5/31; C08K5/54; C08K3/00; C08K3/34; C08K3/36; C08L; C08L43/00; C08L43/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound, comprising: an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; an alkyl alkoxysilane; a mercaptosilane silica coupling agent, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1; a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure, wherein the elastomer, the silica, the alkyl alkoxysilane, the mercaptosilane and the strong organic base are mixed together, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of about 130° C. to about 200° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound, comprising: an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; an alkyl alkoxysilane; a mercaptosilane silica coupling agent, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1; a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure, wherein the elastomer, the silica, the alkyl alkoxysilane, the mercaptosilane and the strong organic base are mixed together, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of about 130° C. to about 200° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound exhibits an improved tensile mechanical or dynamic viscoelastic property, selected from the group of properties consisting of about a 1% to about a 10% decrease in Mooney viscosity after compounding, reduced hysteresis as measured by about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in tan σ at 50° C., about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in filler flocculation after compounding, and combinations thereof, compared to a similar compound mixed at the temperature in the absence of the strong organic base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the strong organic base is selected from the group consisting of a guanidine, a hindered amine base, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The compound of claim 3 , wherein the guanidine is selected from the group consisting of triphenylguanidine, diphenylguanidine, di-o-tolylguanidine, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The compound of claim 4 , wherein the guanidine is diphenylguanidine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compound of claim 3 , wherein the hindered amine base is selected from the group consisting of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene; and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base is about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compound of claim 7 , wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is about 0.001:1 to about 0.10:1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is about 0.01:1 to about 0.10:1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the mercaptosilane is present in an amount of about 0.0001% to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the mercaptosilane is present in an amount of about 0.001% to about 1.5% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the mercaptosilane is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl alkoxysilane is an alkyl trialkoxysilane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The compound of claim 1 , further comprising a silica dispersing aid selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C 5 or C 6 sugar, a polyoxyethylene derivative of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C 5 or C 6 sugar, an ester of a polyol, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The compound of claim 15 , wherein the fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan stearate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers, and copolymers and terpolymers of the conjugated diene monomers with monovinyl aromatic monomers and trienes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
148 words
A sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound having improved tensile mechanical properties and dynamic viscoelastic properties, comprising: an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; a silica coupling agent selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano) tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano) disulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, and mixtures thereof; a silica dispersing aid; a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure, wherein the elastomer, the silica, the silica coupling agent, the silica dispersing aid, and the strong organic base are mixed together, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
A sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound having improved tensile mechanical properties and dynamic viscoelastic properties, comprising: an elastomer; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; a silica coupling agent selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano) tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano) disulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, and mixtures thereof; a silica dispersing aid; a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure, wherein the elastomer, the silica, the silica coupling agent, the silica dispersing aid, and the strong organic base are mixed together, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
The compound of claim 18 , wherein the compound exhibits an improved tensile mechanical or dynamic viscoelastic property compared to a similar compound mixed at the temperature in the absence of the strong organic base, the property selected from the group consisting of about a 10% to about a 40% decrease in filler flocculation after compounding, as measured by ΔG′; reduced hysteresis as measured by about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in tangent σ at 650° C.; about a 3% to about a 20% increase in the tensile modulus at 300% strain, and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The compound of claim 18 , wherein the strong organic base is selected from the group consisting of a guanidine, a hindered amine base, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The compound of claim 20 , wherein the guanidine is selected from the group consisting of triphenylguanidine, diphenylguanidine, di-o-tolylguanidine, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The compound of claim 21 , wherein the guanidine is diphenylguanidine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compound of claim 20 , wherein the hindered amine base is selected from the group consisting of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene; and mixtures thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The compound of claim 18 , wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base is about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The compound of claim 24 , wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
The compound of claim 18 , wherein the silica dispersing aid is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl alkoxysilane, a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C 5 or C 6 sugar, a polyoxyethylene derivative of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C 5 or C 6 sugar, an ester of a polyol, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The compound of claim 26 , wherein the alkyl alkoxysilane is a triethoxysilane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The compound of claim 26 , wherein the fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan stearate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The compound of claim 18 , wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers, and copolymers and terpolymers of the conjugated diene monomers with monovinyl aromatic monomers and trienes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The compound of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer comprises an alkoxysilane terminal group.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The compound of claim 18 , wherein the elastomer comprises an alkoxysilane terminal group.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-09-17 | 2011-03-19 | 2011-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-09-17 | 2015-03-19 | 2015-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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