Patent ID: 7199175
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: B60C,C08K,C08L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A process for preparing a tread for a tire comprising: forming a mixture by incorporating in at least one diene elastomer more than 50 phr of an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler, between 2 and 15 phr of an inorganic filler-diene elastomer coupling agent, between 1 and 10 phr of a methylene acceptor; and optionally including carbon black, present in an amount less than 20% by weight relative to the quantity of total reinforcing filler, the quantity of total reinforcing filler being the sum of inorganic filler and carbon black; thermomechanically kneading the mixture, in one or more stages until a maximum temperature of between 130° C. and 200° C. is reached; cooling the mixture to a temperature of less than 100° C.; and then incorporating: kneading the mixture having the vulcanization system until a maximum temperature of less than 120° C.; and then extruding or calendaring a rubber composition thus obtained in the form of a sulfur-vulcanizable tire tread, curing the sulfur vulcanizable tire tread; and obtaining a tire tread having a rigidity gradient that increases radially from a surface of the tread towards a inside of the tread after mechanical running-in of the tire.