Patents for March 2024

Patents for March 2024 as collected by the editors of Rubber World Magazine.

Silicon-functionalized rubber
U.S. patent: 11,767,388
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventors: Seth Cody Ensign, Margaret Flook Vielhaber, Jena Lynn Johngrass and Liqing Ma
Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Key statement: The compatibility between silica fillers and synthetic rubbers
which are synthesized utilizing lanthanide-based catalyst systems, such as
neodymium catalyst systems can be improved by terminating the
polymerization with a vinyl silane terminating agent. In doing so the vinyl
silane is allowed to react with the polymer chain ends of the neodymium
rubber to functionalize the chain ends of the polymer chains with silicon
containing groups. This results in the rubber having better characteristics
for utilization in tire rubber formulations, such as tire tread formulations,
that exhibit improved wear characteristics and lower rolling resistance. The
process for the synthesis of such functionalized polydiene rubber comprises
(1) polymerizing a diene monomer in the presence of a lanthanide-based
catalyst system and (2) terminating the polymerization with a vinyl silane
terminator. The functionalized polydiene rubber composition made by this
method is comprised of a polydiene rubber which is functionalized at its
chain ends with a silicon containing group.

Rubber composition
U.S. patent: 11,767,418
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventors: Ryosuke Kobe and Koichi Kawamoto
Assigned: Kao
Key statement: The present invention relates to a rubber composition with
an excellent grip force; a method of producing the rubber composition; a
shoe sole, a shoe and a tire each using the rubber composition; and a
method of improving a frictional force of a rubber component. The present
invention is concerned with [1] a rubber composition containing a rubber
component (A), a lignin degradation product (B), and a specified amine
compound (C); [2] a rubber composition composed of a blend of a rubber
component (A), a lignin (B) and a specified amine compound (C); [3] a shoe
sole using the aforementioned rubber composition; [4] a shoe having the
aforementioned shoe sole; [5] a tire using the aforementioned rubber
composition; [6] a method of producing a rubber composition, including
blending a rubber component (A), a lignin (B) and a specified amine
compound (C) and vulcanizing the blend; and [7] a method of improving a
frictional force of a rubber component, including blending a rubber
component (A), a lignin (B) and a specified amine compound (C).

Tire comprising a tread
U.S. patent: 11,767,417
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventor: Tomoya Sakurada
Assigned: Michelin
Key statement: A tire having a tread comprising at least three radially
superposed portions which comprise a radially external portion being made
of a first rubber composition, a radially intermediate portion being made of
a second rubber composition and a radially internal portion being made of a
third rubber composition; wherein each of the rubber compositions is
based on at least an elastomer matrix, a reinforcing filler and a crosslinking
system based on sulfur; wherein the amount in phr of sulfur in the first
rubber composition is lower than that in the second rubber composition
and wherein the amount in phr of sulfur in the second rubber composition
is higher than that in the third rubber composition.

Fluorinated copolymer composition and metal rubber laminate
U.S. patent: 11,767,410
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventor: Keisuke Yagi
Assigned: AGC
Key statement: To provide a fluorinated copolymer composition capable of
forming a crosslinked rubber having favorable rubber properties and
excellent metal adhesion and a metal rubber laminate using the crosslinked
rubber. A fluorinated copolymer composition comprising a copolymer
having units based on tetrafluoroethylene and units based on propylene, a
copolymer having units based on tetrafluoroethylene and units based on a
perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), or a copolymer having units based on
hexafluoropropylene and units based on vinylidene fluoride, hydrophilic
silica and an acid acceptor.

Grinding roller for waste tires and multifunctional crusher having the same grinding roller
U.S. patent: 11,766,673
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventors: Yun Huo and Zhengqing Huo
Key statement: Disclosed is a grinding roller for waste tires and a
multifunctional crusher having the grinding roller. The grinding roller
comprises a roll shaft and a plurality of grinding components. The grinding
components each comprise a grinding frame and grinding blocks mounted
in grooves of the grinding frame. Each grinding block has a grinding surface
that protrudes with respect to the grooves. Axial interval adjusting rings are
disposed on the ring shaft for separating the grinding components at a
predetermined distance to cut waste tires into blocks. The crusher
comprises a box for housing the grinding roller. The box is provided with a
material inlet and a material outlet. Axial blockers are mounted on the
crusher to help grind waste tires into fine powder.

Pneumatic tire
U.S. patent: 11,766,891
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventors: Katsunori Shimizu and Tsuyoshi Nomaguchi
Assigned: Yokohama Rubber
Key statement: A pneumatic tire includes an innerliner and a tie rubber. A
rubber composition for an innerliner constituting the innerliner includes
from 25 to 75 parts by mass of a carbon black having a nitrogen adsorption
specific surface area from 25 to 95 m2/g, from 1 to 13 parts by mass of a
resin and from 0.1 to 1.8 parts by mass of zinc oxide, per 100 parts by mass
of a diene rubber containing from 50 to 100 parts by mass of halogenated
butyl rubber and the dynamic storage modulus at −45°C of the rubber
composition is not greater than 600 Mpa.

Curable composition, especially as crystallizing rubber to substrate bonding primer
U.S. patent: 11,767,452
Issued: September 26, 2023
Inventors: Anna Ryzhova, Christian Beirich, Wolfgang Weimar and Martin
Hornung
Assigned: Henkel AG
Key statement: The subject matter is a new composition comprising at least
one hydroxyl group-containing resin, at least one nitroso-containing
compound or at least one nitroso precursor compound, at least one blocked
isocyanate and at least one crystallization germ suitable as primer or
coating for rubber to substrate bonding, which provides a scratch resistant
surface when applied, and excellent adhesion and steam resistance for
rubber to substrate bonds. These compositions can especially be used as
one coat systems.

Thermoplastic elastomer with adhesion to crosslinked ethylene propylene diene rubbers
U.S. patent: 11,773,250
Issued: October 3, 2023
Inventors: Jae Hyeuk Jeong, Sehyun Kim and Yaw Boateng
Assigned: Kraiburg TPE
Key statement: The invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer with an
excellent adhesion to crosslinked ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM)
or rubber mixtures containing crosslinked EPDM. The invention also relates
to the use of the thermoplastic elastomer according to the invention for
producing a composite material with crosslinked EPDM or rubber mixtures
containing crosslinked EPDM, as well as an article that comprises a
thermoplastic elastomer according to the invention and crosslinked EPDM
or rubber mixtures containing crosslinked EPDM. The present invention also
relates to a process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer.

System for detection of non-pneumatic tire loading
U.S. patent: 11,772,416
Issued: October 3, 2023
Inventors: Wesley Glenn Sigler and Joseph Carmine Lettieri
Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Key statement: A system for detection of non-pneumatic tire loading
includes a non-pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire includes a groundcontacting annular tread, a central rim and at least one spoke disk disposed
between the rim and the tread. The spoke disk includes an inner ring
mounted on the central rim, an outer ring and spokes extending radially
between the inner ring and the outer ring. A shear band is disposed
between the outer ring of the spoke disk and the tread. A flange is disposed
on an outboard surface of the spokes of the spoke disk. Indicating means
are formed on the outboard surface of the plurality of spokes of the spoke
disk radially outwardly of the flange. The flange interfaces with the
indicating means when the tire is in an overloaded state or is in need of
replacement.

Tire rubber composition and tire
U.S. patent: 11,772,422
Issued: October 3, 2023
Inventor: Ryoji Matsui
Assigned: Sumitomo Rubber
Key statement: The present disclosure aims to provide a tire rubber
composition and a tire which have an excellent ability to reduce
deterioration of fuel economy and abrasion resistance over time. The
present disclosure relates to a tire rubber composition which contains one
or more rubber components having a combined content of styrenebutadiene rubber and polybutadiene of 90% by mass or more, one or more
fillers and one or more vulcanizing agents, the rubber composition as a
whole having a vinyl content of 53 mol % or higher based on 100 mol % of
the combined amount of the butadiene- based structural units in the
butadiene portion of the styrene butadiene rubber and the polybutadiene.