Patent ID: 9034962
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: C08J,C08K,C08L

Abstract:
1. A method for preparing a tire tread, the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing within a mixer, an elastomer having a silica-interactive functional group, silica, and a catalyst, to form an initial composition having a surface temperature of about 135 to 195° C., where said step of mixing takes place in the substantial absence of zinc oxide, sulfur, or cure agents; and where said initial composition comprises less than about 0.5 parts by weight of any of silica processing aids, silica coupling agents, and other polar compounds per hundred parts by weight rubber; (b) discharging the initial composition from the mixer; (c) allowing the initial composition discharged in step (b) to cool to a surface temperature below a surface temperature intended for a second mixing step; (d) mixing, within a second mixing step, the initial composition cooled in step (c), optionally with a silica coupling agent, a silica processing aid and additional filler, to an intended temperature of 135 to 155° C. to form an intermediate composition; (e) mixing the intermediate composition obtained in step (d), at a surface temperature lower than a vulcanization temperature, with a cure agent, zinc oxide and, optionally, a cure accelerator, to form a vulcanizable elastomer composition; (f) extruding the vulcanizable elastomeric composition obtained in step (e) to form an extruded composition; (g) constructing a green tire from the extruded composition; and (h) curing the green tire.