Patents for May

Vulcanization process for rubber products
U.S. patent: 12,552, 919
Issued: February 17, 2026
Inventor: Irina S. Yurovskaya
Key statement: A process for preparing a rubber article involves modifying the crosslinking density in one region of the article relative to another region of the article. The modification can be carried out by increasing or decreasing the energy transferred to the first region relative to the energy transferred to the second region during vulcanization. In one implementation, the process is conducted in a mold. Rubber parts described have two or more regions that differ from one another with respect to their crosslinking density.

Rubber-modified bitumen, process for production thereof and use thereof in asphalt
U.S. patent: 12,516,193
Issued: January 6, 2026
Inventors: Thomas Klein, Thomas Rossrucker, Sandra Horstmann and Svenja Kusterer
Assigned: Lanxess
Key statement: The present invention relates to novel rubber-modified bitumen, to improved processes for producing rubber-modified bitumen using vulcanized rubber and to the use thereof in asphalt.
Rubber composition based on epoxy resin and an aminobenzoate derivative
U.S. patent: 12,516,180
Issued: January 6, 2026
Inventors: Lionel Belin, Fabien Bonnette, Emmanuel Landreau and Philippe Laubry
Assigned: Michelin
Key statement: A rubber composition exhibiting an improved processability/stiffness compromise is based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a crosslinking system, from 1 to 30 phr of an epoxy resin and from 0.5 to 15 phr of a specific aminobenzoate derivative.

Sulfur crosslinked rubber mixture and vehicle tire
U.S. patent: 12,516,181
Issued: January 6, 2026
Inventors: Frank Hengesbach, Joseph Guardalabene and Thorsten Torbrügge
Assigned: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
Key statement: A sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture, in particular for vehicle tires, and a vehicle tire. The sulfur-crosslinked rubber mixture contains at least the following constituents: at least one diene rubber and 0.5 to 10.0 phr of at least one anti-reversion agent and 2.0 phr or more of at least one para-phenylenediamine and 2.0 phr or more of at least one dihydroquinoline and wherein the network node spacing of the crosslinked rubber mixture is 4.5 to 10 nm.

Methods of recycling end-of-life rubber and oil fouled plastics
U.S. patent: 12,522,772
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Rainer Kolb and Brian W. Satterley
Assigned: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents
Key statement: Methods for absorbing residual hydrocarbon liquids from plastic waste including obtaining hydrocarbon liquid-fouled plastic waste shreds, wherein the plastic waste shreds have a particle size of about 0.1 inches to about 3 inches; admixing the hydrocarbon liquid-fouled plastic waste shreds with absorbent elastomer granules, wherein the absorbent elastomer granules have a particle size of about 0.05 inches to about 2 inches; wherein the ratio of absorbent elastomer to hydrocarbon liquid-fouled plastic is about 1:4 to about 4:1 by weight; and agitating the mixture for a period of time.

Silicone rubber with ultraviolet aging resistance and low water absorption and preparation method and application thereof
U.S. patent: 12,522,712
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Jiazheng Lu, Kai Ning, Bowen Wang, Pengkang Xie, Zhenglong Jiang, Bo Li, Jianping Hu, Zhiyao Fu, Zemin Liao and Xiang Zhou
Assigned: Hunan Xiangdian Experimental Research Technology
Key statement: A silicone rubber with UV aging resistance and low water absorption and its preparation method and application are provided. The preparation method uses a coupling agent KH570 and glyceryl monostearate to perform modified treatment on titanium dioxide to obtain modified titanium dioxide, uses a surface-modified coupling agent A171 and glyceryl monostearate to perform modified treatment on fumed silica to obtain modified fumed silica and further performs subsequent treatment on methyl vinyl siloxane raw rubber, silicone oil, aluminum hydroxide, the modified fumed silica, the modified titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, α-alumina, a coupling agent KH560, a defoamer, iron oxide and a vulcanizing agent to obtain the silicone rubber. The silicone rubber prepared by the preparation method has low water absorption and excellent aging resistance, and its mechanical and electrical properties are also superior.

Tire sealant
U.S. patent: 12,522,719
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Hava Kaya, Jade Warren and Martin Spindler
Assigned: Illinois Tool Works
Key statement: An efficient tire sealant that is environmentally friendly or less damaging to the environment, which is characterized by a high stability, good processability and safe application. The tire sealant includes approximately 5 wt. % to approximately 50 wt. % of a bio-based aliphatic diol; approximately 5 wt. % to approximately 70 wt. % natural rubber latex; and approximately 0.001 wt. % to approximately 10 wt. % of a water-soluble polymer as an additive for adjusting and/or influencing a freezing point of the tire sealant.

Rubber composition for tire tread and pneumatic tire using the same
U.S. patent: 12,522,021
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventor: Yasuhiro Hishikawa
Assigned: Toyo Tire
Key statement: A rubber composition for a tire tread is disclosed, which provides a tire excellent in wet grip performance at low temperatures and wet grip performance at high temperatures. The rubber composition for a tire tread includes, per 100 parts by mass of diene based rubbers including (a) 30 to 50 parts by mass of a styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition point of -35°C or more, (b) 20 to 40 parts by mass of a styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition point of -45°C or more and less than -35°C and (c) 10 to 30 parts by mass of a styrene butadiene rubber having a glass transition point of -65°C or more and less than -45°C: 80 to 140 parts by mass of silica; and 15 to 50 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin having a softening point of 40°C or more.

Modified conjugated diene based polymer, method for preparing the same and rubber composition including the same
U.S. patent: 12,522,720
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Hyun Jun Kim, Ro Mi Lee, Min Sik Mun and No Ma Kim
Assigned: LG Chem
Key statement: The present invention relates to a modified conjugated diene-based polymer and a rubber composition including the same and relates to a modified conjugated diene-based polymer which may have a Mooney large relaxation area of 1,500 MU-s or more and has a high molecular weight and low Mooney viscosity after being compounded into a rubber composition and accordingly, has excellent processability during manufacturing a tire, good physical properties such as tensile properties and excellent viscoelasticity properties, a method for preparing the same and a rubber composition including the same.

Rubber composition
U.S. patent: 12,528,895
Issued: January 20, 2026
Inventor: Yasufumi Nakashima
Assigned: Michelin
Key statement: A rubber composition based on at least an elastomer matrix, a carbon black, a silica, a silane coupling agent and short fibers, wherein the amount in phr of the silica is higher than that of the carbon black, wherein the amount of the silane coupling agent is more than 0.0% and less than 5.0% by weight per 100% by weight of the silica, wherein the amount of the short fibers is more than 0.0 phr and less than 5.0 phr and wherein the number-average length of the short fibers is less than 10 mm.