Patents for September
Patents for September as compiled by the editors of Rubber World Magazine.
Plant derived polyamide based elastomer foam molded body, method for manufacturing same and foam particles thereof
U.S. patent: 12,221,521
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventors: Daisuke Shimizu and Yuichi Gondoh
Assigned: Sekisui Plastics
Key statement: A foam molded body having a rebound resilience coefficient equivalent to that of a petroleum-derived polyamide based elastomer foam molded body, and excellent moldability during in-mold foaming; foam particles; and a method for producing the foam molded body. A polyamide based elastomer foam molded body comprising 50 to 100 mass % of a block copolymer resin containing a polyamide block as a hard segment and a polyether block as a soft segment, wherein the copolymer resin has a biobased product content as measured by ASTM D6866 of 30% or more.
Addition curable silicone rubber composition and method for producing same
U.S. patent: 12,221,542
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventor: Nobu Kato
Assigned: Shin-Etsu Chemical
Key statement: An addition-curable silicone rubber composition which contains: 100 parts by mass of (A) an organopolysiloxane that has at least two alkenyl groups, each of which is bonded to a silicon atom, in each molecule and wherein an alkenyl group is bonded to a silicon atom at one end or both ends of the molecular chain; 1-80 parts by mass of (B) γ-cyclodextrin; (C) an organohydrogen polysiloxane that has at least two hydrogen atoms, each of which is bonded to a silicon atom, in each molecule in such an amount that the molar ratio of the hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atoms (Si—H groups) to the total amount of the alkenyl groups bonded to silicon atoms in the entire composition, namely (Si—H groups)/(Si-alkenyl groups) is from 0.5 to 5.0; and a catalytic amount of (D) an addition reaction catalyst.
Process for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive based on acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and adhesive tape comprising said adhesive
U.S. patent: 12,221,570
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventors: Julia Schönrock, CaiRong Lim and Yeliz Tepe
Assigned: Tesa SE
Key statement: A process for producing a cured pressure-sensitive adhesive that comprises a composition including at least one solid acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, at least one tackifier resin and optionally at least one liquid acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, comprises subjecting the composition to electron-beam irradiation (EBC) with an acceleration voltage of 1.8 to 2.38 kV per 1 pm layer thickness of the composition and with a total beam dose of 5 to 50 kGy. Also disclosed is a cured pressure-sensitive adhesive obtained or obtainable by the process. Further disclosed is a double-sidedly adhering, especially carrierless, adhesive tape and also single- or double-sidedly adhering adhesive tape comprising, on a carrier layer, the cured pressure-sensitive adhesive. Disclosed finally is the use of the pressure-sensitive adhesive or of an adhesive tape made therefrom for bonding components in electronic devices, especially in mobile electronic devices, preferably tablets, mobile phones or smart watches.
Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber composition and laminate having layer of the composition
U.S. patent: 12,221,544
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventors: Yoshiharu Kikuchi and Kotaro Ichino
Assigned: Mitsui Chemicals
Key statement: An object of the present invention is to develop an NBR composition excellent in an adhesive strength with a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer layer and a laminate excellent in an adhesive strength of an NBR layer with a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer layer; and the present invention relates to an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber composition comprising an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and a silane-modified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of 0 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and a laminate comprising an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber layer comprising the composition and the saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer layer through an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer layer.
Tire replacement forecasting system and method
U.S. patent: 12,220,946
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh and Mustafa Ali Arat
Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Key statement: A tire replacement forecasting system includes a tire supporting a vehicle. A sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor and a pressure sensor. A processor is in electronic communication with the sensor unit and receives the measured centerline length and the measured pressure. An electronic vehicle network transmits selected vehicle parameters to the processor. A wear state predictor is stored on the processor and receives the measured centerline length, the measured pressure and the selected vehicle parameters to generate an estimated wear state of the tire. A forecasting model is stored on the processor and receives multiple estimated wear states of the tire and predicts future wear states of the tire. A forecast tire replacement date is generated by the forecasting model when the predicted future wear states of the tire are estimated to pass a predetermined wear threshold.
Tire
U.S. patent: 12,220,947
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventors: Yoshifumi Kawagoe and Koichi Nakajima
Assigned: Sumitomo Rubber Industries
Key statement: A tire includes a pair of sidewall portions. An outer surface of at least one of the sidewall portions includes at least one concave mark recessed from a reference surface. The or each concave mark includes a bottom surface and an inner wall surface. The bottom surface includes a peripheral region and a main region. The peripheral region includes a shadow region and a non-shadow region. The shadow region and the non-shadow region are each formed with an uneven surface provided with minute protuberances. A width of the uneven surface of the non-shadow region measured in a direction perpendicular to a contour of the or each concave mark is smaller than a width of the uneven surface of the shadow region measured in a direction perpendicular to the contour.
Conductive rubber compositions and articles composed of the same
U.S. patent: 12,234,341
Issued: February 25, 2025
Inventors: Robert Vincent, Dennis-Pelcher, Junling Zhao and Aaron Patrick Murray
Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Key statement: Described herein are conductive rubber compositions including a rubber component and one or more electrically conductive carbon compounds. In another aspect, the conductive rubber compositions can be prepared by first adding the one or more conductive carbon components into the polymer phase, thereby creating a filler network in the continuous polymer phase in the finished product. In a further aspect, the conductive carbon component can be or include one or more of the following: carbon black, a short carbon fiber, graphite powder or graphene powder. Following mixing, the conductive rubber compositions can optionally be vulcanized. The conductive rubber compositions have good mechanical properties and electrical resistivity and can be processed using existing equipment.
Silicone elastomers by free radical mediated cure
U.S. patent: 12,234,389
Issued: February 25, 2025
Inventors: Michele A. Craton, Rajdeep S. Kalgutkar, Kim M. Vogel and Dennis E. Vogel
Assigned: 3M Innovative Properties
Key statement: Curable compositions of this disclosure comprise a mixture of: a silanol, a free radical initiator, an iodonium salt; and optionally an alkoxysilane and/or an MQ resin and/or (meth)acrylate monomer(s). In another aspect, cured compositions of this disclosure comprise: a cured silicone, a free radical initiator or residue thereof, an iodonium salt or residue thereof; and optionally a poly(meth)acrylate and/or an MQ resin, which may comprise the cured silicone. In another aspect, cured compositions of this disclosure comprise: a continuous phase of cured silicone, a discontinuous phase of poly(meth)acrylate inclusions and optionally an MQ resin, which may comprise the cured silicone. The poly(meth)acrylate inclusions may have an average diameter of less than 1.0 micrometer or smaller. The compositions may be pressure sensitive adhesives. The curable and cured compositions may be solvent-free.
Cable bead, tire using cable bead, cable bead manufacturing method and cable bead manufacturing device
U.S. patent: 12,227,034
Issued: February 18, 2025
Inventor: Shoichi Ohashi
Assigned: Towaron Trading
Key statement: A cable bead comprising an annular core and a side wire spirally wrapped up around the annular core, wherein the annular core is made up of a round steel wire made to circle once or made, without being stranded, to circle 2 to 10 times side by side and wherein the side wire is a round steel wire consecutive from the annular core. This provides a high strength cable bead that can press a tire main body against a wheel without fail even if a tire is charged with a high load.
Olefin based elastomer composite resin composition for airbag chute, comprising dendrimer
U.S. patent: 12,234,350
Issued: February 25, 2025
Inventors: Chang Won Chae, Sung Yeon Lee, Chang Min Hong, Jong Soo Park, Jae Myung Rhee, Jin Young Huh, Kyu Haeng Cho, Dae Keun Kim, Gwang Ho Go and Poong Hyun Choi
Assigned: Cepla
Key statement: A polyolefin thermoplastic elastomer composition for an airbag chute includes a polypropylene, an olefin block copolymer and a dendrimer as a material applied to a raw material of a passenger airbag chute. An olefin elastomer composite resin composition for an airbag chute includes 30-80 parts by weight of a polypropylene resin, 30-70 parts by weight of an olefin block copolymer and 0.1-5 parts by weight of a dendrimer based on 100 parts by weight of the olefin elastomer composite resin composition. The olefin elastomer composite resin composition for an airbag chute improves the dispersion of the elastomer by applying a high-flow elastomer and a low-flow polypropylene and improves flowability and meltability characteristics without deteriorating physical properties by applying the dendrimer.
Recycled rubber barrier
U.S. patent: 12,221,754
Issued: February 11, 2025
Inventors: Eric Davis and Richard K. Welle, IV
Assigned: Pretred
Key statement: A barrier includes recycled rubber portions molded around a core infrastructure. The core infrastructure may itself include recycled rubber in a containment body. The containment body may include baled recycled or other waste material. The barriers may be stacked or connected to form a barrier structure useful in environmental control and other applications. The method for making the barriers includes molding rubber portions and a binder around a core infrastructure.
Functionalized rubbers
U.S. patent: 12,234,346
Issued: February 25, 2025
Inventors: Sergio Corona Galván, Pedro José Pérez Romero, María del Mar Díaz Requejo and Álvaro Beltrán Martín
Assigned: Dynasol Elastomeros
Key statement: The present invention relates to a process for the functionalization of a rubber polymer comprising reacting the rubber polymer with at least one source of nitrene or carbene, in the presence of a catalyst of formula TpxAg, wherein Tpx represents a hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand. This process leads to selective rubber functionalization without secondary reactions such as chain scission or crosslinking and produces functionalized rubbers with improved compatibilization properties. The invention also refers to the polymer produced therefrom and to uses of said polymer.
Reinforced rubber composition
U.S. patent: 12,240,979
Issued: March 4, 2025
Inventors: Li Jia and Yu Sun
Assigned: The University of Akron
Key statement: A curable rubber composition including a rubber, a plurality of ground particles and a reactive surfactant represented by the formula: X—Y—Z where X is a reactive group capable of forming covalent links with the rubber during compounding or vulcanization, Y is a hydrophobic linkage and Z is a polar group capable of forming self-assemblies via intermolecular interactions and wherein the reactive surfactant is incompatible with the rubber and a method of making the same.
Aqueous silicone elastomers as roof coatings
U.S. patent: 12,240,992
Issued: March 4, 2025
Inventor: Timothy Krytenberg
Assigned: Industrial Control Development
Key statement: A method including coating a liquid aqueous silicone elastomer-containing composition onto a surface of a building roof substrate, wherein the building roof substrate is an element of a standing building roofing system and then drying the liquid aqueous silicone elastomer-containing composition resulting in forming a topcoat on the building roof substrate.
Method for manufacturing nitrile based rubber, nitrile based rubber manufactured thereby and rubber composition comprising same rubber coatings
U.S. patent: 12,240,931
Issued: March 4, 2025
Inventors: Jae Min Lee, Byoung Yun Kim, Sung Min Son, Se Eun Lee and Woo Seok Choi
Assigned: LG Chem
Key statement: Provided are a preparation method of a nitrile based rubber, a nitrile based rubber prepared therefrom and a rubber composition including the nitrile based rubber and the nitrile based rubber has a low content of a residual emulsifier and excellent mechanical physical properties by using an emulsifier mixture including a first emulsifier including a sulfosuccinate ester based compound and a second emulsifier including a fatty acid or a metal salt thereof, or a rosin acid or a metal salt thereof, each of which has 12 to 18 carbon atoms and a monocarboxyl group, wherein the first emulsifier and the second emulsifier are included at a weight ratio of 2:1 to 6:1.
Mechanotropic elastomers
U.S. patent: 12,241,013
Issued: March 4, 2025
Inventors: Timothy White and Brian Richard Donovan
Assigned: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
Key statement: Isotropic (amorphous) elastomers and methods of preparation are described. The isotropic elastomer may include a first monomer having an alkene functionality and a second monomer having a thiol functionality. The first monomer may be a liquid crystal monomer and the second monomer may be an isotropic monomer. Unlike polydomain LCEs, the isotropic elastomers may rapidly recover after deformation and have increased toughness relative to conventional elastomers prepared from wholly isotropic precursors.
Tires and wheels comprising adjustable stiffening lines and machines having same
U.S. patent: 12,240,278
Issued: March 4, 2025
Inventor: Erich Freytag
Assigned: AGCO International GmbH
Key statement: A tire has a carcass with a tread, a bead, a shoulder and a sidewall. The bead, shoulder and sidewall partially define a first internal cavity. At least one stiffening line for a pressurized fluid with a second cavity is within the carcass. The second cavity is aligned in an approximately transverse direction relative to the periphery of the tire. The second cavity is connectable to pressurized fluid supply system and can be inflated or deflated to adjust the stiffness of the tire. The stiffening lines may be inflated using a hydraulic fluid to increase the stiffness of the tire. Related wheels, vehicles and methods are also disclosed.
Method for producing a rubber-plastic composite
U.S. patent: 12,247,118
Issued: March 11, 2025
Inventors: Konstantin Efimov, Anna-Lena Dreier, Klaus Hülsmann, Andreas Pawlik, Marco Kormann and Maximilian Drexler
Assigned: Continental
Key statement: A method for producing a rubber-plastic composite, including the steps of (a) shaping an unvulcanized elastomer, (b) partially vulcanizing the shaped elastomer at a temperature of at least 140°C up to a degree of vulcanization in the range from 10% to 40%, (c) cooling the partially vulcanized elastomer to a temperature of less than 100°C within less than 20 minutes, (d) overmolding the partially vulcanized elastomer with a plastic and (e) heat treating the partially vulcanized elastomer overmolded with a plastic at a temperature in the range from 100°C to 170°C for a duration of from 5 minutes to 5 hours to complete the vulcanization and form a rubber-plastic composite. The method further relates to a rubber-plastic composite obtainable by the method according to the invention and also to a shoe comprising the rubber-plastic composite obtainable by the method according to the invention.
Tire cord, manufacturing method thereof and tire comprising same
U.S. patent: 12,252,816
Issued: March 18, 2025
Inventors: Sung Gyu Lee, Ok Hwa Jeon and Min-ho Lee
Assigned: Kolon Industries
Key statement: The present invention relates to a tire cord having excellent durability while being thin in thickness, a manufacturing method thereof and a tire comprising the same.
Tire tread rubber composition
U.S. patent: 12,251,965
Issued: March 18, 2025
Inventors: Anthony M. Unger, Adrian C. Stalnaker, Jessica L. Placke and Benjamin C. Galizio
Assigned: Bridgestone American Tire Operations
Key statement: Disclosed herein are tire tread rubber compositions comprising a specified elastomer component, reinforcing silica filler, a specified hydrocarbon resin, oil and a cure package. The elastomer component includes styrene-butadiene rubber; polybutadiene; and guayule natural rubber.
Method for the additive manufacturing of a silicone elastomer article
U.S. patent: 12,258,483
Issued: March 25, 2025
Inventors: Jean-Marc Frances, Marco Del Torto, Damien Djian, Emmanuel Pouget, Raphael Mirgalet and Remi Thiria
Assigned: Elkem
Key statement: The invention relates to a method for the additive manufacturing of a silicone elastomer article using a 3D printer. The invention also relates to a crosslinkable silicone composition for the additive manufacturing of a silicone elastomer article.
Processes for increasing the molecular weight of guayule natural rubber
U.S. patent: 12,258,427
Issued: March 25, 2025
Inventors: Robert W. White and Michael R. Hartzell
Assigned: Bridgestone
Key statement: Disclosed herein are processes for increasing the molecular weight of guayule natural rubber that is solubilized in an organic solvent solution. The processes utilize shear desolventizing to achieve the increase in molecular weight.
Rubber compositions containing polyorganosiloxanes as plasticizers
U.S. patent: 12,258,450
Issued: March 25, 2025
Inventors: Volker Börger, Dörte Becker, Theresia Klose and Uwe Dittrich
Assigned: Schill + Seilacher Struktol GmbH
Key statement: The invention relates to rubber compositions that are provided with polyorganosiloxanes as plasticizers. The rubber compositions can be vulcanized by means of a crosslinking resin and they are particularly suitable for use as curing bladders in the production of tires. The invention further relates to the use of polyorganosiloxanes as corresponding plasticizers.
Modified high-cis polybutadiene polymer, related methods and tire components
U.S. patent: 12,264,232
Issued: April 1, 2025
Inventors: Ryan J. Hue, Laura S. Kocsis, Terrence E. Hogan and Jeffrey A. Cicerchi
Assigned: Bridgestone American Tire Operations
Key statement: Disclosed herein are a process for preparing a modified high-cis polybutadiene polymer, a modified high-cis polybutadiene polymer and tires having a component made using the modified high-cis polybutadiene polymer. The processes make use of a functionalizing compound of formula (I) to prepare the modified high-cis polybutadiene from a quantity of 1,3-butadiene monomer using a specified catalyst system.
Rubber compositions for pneumatic tires
U.S. patent: 12,264,245
Issued: April 1, 2025
Inventor: Erin Sheepwash
Assigned: Bridgestone
Key statement: A vulcanizable rubber composition comprising (i) a rubber component including a polyisoprene elastomer, (ii) a sulfur based curative, (iii) zinc oxide and (iv) a eutectic composition.
Rubber composition for sealing material and sealing material using the same
U.S. patent: 12,264,236
Issued: April 1, 2025
Inventors: Akira Ueda, Sayaka Yoshida and Ryohei Nishihara
Assigned: Valqua
Key statement: Provided is a rubber composition for sealing material which contains 100 parts by mass of a rubber component, 50 to 140 parts by mass of silica, 1 to 20 parts by mass of a silane coupling agent and 15 to 35 parts by mass of carbon black. The rubber component is preferably an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber.
Rubber formulation
U.S. patent: 12,269,194
Issued: April 8, 2025
Inventors: Christopher Michael Twigg, Wim Migchels, Jeroen Claessens, Robert Jan Zootjes and Jan Gijsbertus Driessen
Assigned: Atlantis Rubber Powders
Key statement: A method for manufacturing micronized rubber powders including grinding of a rubber granulated feedstock, size classification and storage of the micronized rubber powders thus obtained. A rubber formulation including at least one natural or synthetic rubber, a micronized rubber composition and optionally one or more of processing aids, antidegradants, fillers, accelerators and curatives. A method for manufacturing a rubber product, as well as to a solid rubber product.
Fluorinated copolymer composition, crosslinked rubber and method for its production
U.S. patent: 12,264,238
Issued: April 1, 2025
Inventors: Yukiko Hattori, Tsuyoshi Kawai, Takeshi Yamada, and Takehiro Kose
Assigned: AGC
Key statement: To provide a method for producing crosslinked rubber excellent in hardness and transparency. The method for producing crosslinked rubber of the present invention is a method for producing crosslinked rubber, which comprises crosslinking a fluorinated copolymer in a composition comprising the fluorinated copolymer, a crosslinking agent and a crosslinking co-agent, wherein the fluorinated copolymer is a copolymer having units based on tetrafluoroethylene and units based on a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether), the content of the units based on tetrafluoroethylene is from 65 to 90 mol % to all units of the fluorinated copolymer, in the composition, the content of the crosslinking agent is from 0.03 to 0.7 part by mass to 100 parts by mass of the fluorinated copolymer, the content of the crosslinking co-agent is from 0.1 to 2.5 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the fluorinated copolymer, and the hardness is from 65 to 100.
Fully bio-based, highly filled lignin-rubber masterbatch, method for preparing same and use thereof
U.S. patent: 12,269,952
Issued: April 8, 2025
Inventors: Chenjie Zhu, Haifeng Liu, Ming Li, Lei Ji, Zhiwei Chang, Yixin Feng, Zhuotao Tan, Tao Shen and Hanjie Ying
Assigned: Nanjin Tech University
Key statement: The present invention discloses a fully bio-based, highly filled lignin-rubber masterbatch, a method for preparing same, and use thereof. The lignin-rubber masterbatch is prepared by a method comprising: (1) reacting a lignin, acetic acid, and oleic acid in the presence of a catalyst to give a modified lignin; and (2) blending the modified lignin and a rubber, and granulating to give the lignin-rubber masterbatch. The highly filled lignin-rubber masterbatch prepared by the present invention can replace the conventional reinforcing agent carbon black and provide a better reinforcing effect and higher mechanical properties for rubber materials. The present invention can also reduce the rubber content of the rubber composite materials while retaining the mechanical properties, thus featuring cost-efficiency.
Sulfur modified chloroprene rubber and method for producing same, sulfur modified chloroprene rubber composition, vulcanizate and molded article
U.S. patent: 12,269,904
Issued: April 8, 2025
Inventors: Atsunori Kondo and Takashi Sunada
Assigned: Denka
Key statement: A sulfur-modified chloroprene rubber having a functional group A represented by specific General Formula (A) and positioned at a molecular terminal and a functional group B represented by specific General Formula (B) and positioned at a molecular terminal, in which a mass ratio B/A of a content of the functional group B with respect to a content of the functional group A is more than 0 and 6.00 or less, and a total amount of the functional group A and the functional group B is 0.10 to 0.60% by mass.