The present disclosure provides polymeric compositions with balanced electrical and mechanical properties exhibiting reduced hysteresis comprising an electrically insulating polymeric material, a first carbon black material having a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of below 70 m.sup.2/g and an oil absorption number (OAN) in the range from 70 to 150 mL/100 g, and a second carbon black material having a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of at least 100 m.sup.2/g and an oil absorption number (OAN) of at least 150 mL/100 g, wherein both carbon black materials are included in an amount below its respective percolation threshold concentration, with the total amount of the first carbon black material and the second carbon black material being sufficient to render the polymeric composition antistatic or electrically conductive. The polymeric compositions exhibit balanced electrical and mechanical properties and a reduced hysteresis. The disclosure also relates to a process for preparing such antistatic or electrically conductive polymeric compositions and articles produced from such compositions.

Provided are a polymer material that contributes to environmental protection, has biodegradability, has excellent well-balanced mechanical properties, self-adhesion, and the like, is flexible, and has a reduced variation in the properties. The present invention provides a biodegradable rubber composition comprising natural rubber and an inorganic substance powder in a mass ratio of 45:55 to 10:90, and modified cellulose in an amount of 0.5 part by mass to 10.0 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the natural rubber.

A method for preparing a graphene masterbatch by an aqueous phase synergistic aggregating precipitating process and a method for molding a long-lifespan tire for a loading wheel of a heavy-duty vehicle. In this application, a graphene oxide aqueous dispersion and natural rubber latex are taken as raw materials, and subjected to co-precipitating in a water medium to prepare a high-graphene content masterbatch with individual components evenly dispersed. The graphene masterbatch is further subjected to two-stage high-temperature mechanical blending with a natural rubber block to achieve the uniform dispersion of graphene in a rubber composites.

A coating agent for oil seal comprising 10 to 90 parts by weight of a filler and 10 to 40 parts by weight of a wax, based on 100 parts by weight of isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene, and being prepared as an organic solvent solution, wherein as the filler, silicone resin particles having a particle size of 0.5 to 10 μm and fluororesin particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 2 μm are each used at a ratio of 20 to 80 wt. % of the total filler amount. The coating agent for oil seal can exhibit excellent seal performance inherent in oil seal while maintaining excellent dispersibility of the coating agent, and can further achieve low torque characteristics.

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce at least one of six different materials, wherein each type of material may be configured as a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages. The materials may be configured as a leather-like material, a foam material, a molded elastomer, a coating, an adhesive, and/or a rigid or semi-rigid material. Illustrative articles made from any combination of the six materials may be recycled using a mechano-chemical process to de-crosslink the thermosetting elastomer.

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce at least one of six different materials, wherein each type of material may be configured as a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with ß-hydroxyester linkages. The materials may be configured as a leather-like material, a foam material, a molded elastomer, a coating, an adhesive, and/or a rigid or semi-rigid material. Illustrative articles made from any combination of the six materials may be recycled using a mechano-chemical process to de-crosslink the thermosetting elastomer.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a wiper blade element (10) for a wiper blade and/or a wiper blade having a wiper blade element (10), in particular for a windscreen wiper. In order to provide simple and economical wiper blade elements and wiper blades having excellent properties, in particular having high wiping quality, high abrasion resistance, a high degree of friction reduction and miming noise reduction and a long service life, in said method a particle layer (12) is applied to an elastomer substrate (11), the elastomer substrate (11) is vulcanised with the particle layer (12) deposited thereon, and, after vulcanisation, a friction-reducing material (13) is applied to the particle layer (12). The invention further relates to a wiper blade element and wiper blade produced in such a way.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A rubber foam for a shoe sole is composed of a rubber composition for foaming containing a rubber composition and a foaming agent, the rubber foam having (i) a loss factor tan δ (24° C.) at a frequency of 10 Hz and 24° C. that is 0.07 or less and (ii) an absolute value of a slope of a change in loss factor tan δ with temperature between a loss factor tan δ (−15° C.) at the frequency of 10 Hz and −15° C. and the loss factor tan δ (24° C.) at the frequency of 10 Hz and 24° C., as calculated by the following equation, that is 0.002 or less:

the absolute value of the slope of the change in tan δ with temperature=|[tan δ (−15° C.)−tan δ (24° C.)]/39|.

The present invention provides a rubber composition that can exhibit excellent low heat build-up, tear strength, and durability; and a rubber composition having excellent low heat build-up, tear strength, and durability, by incorporating a compound represented by the following formula (1) or (2), or a salt of the compound.

##STR00001##

In the formula (1), R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or the like; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be taken together to form an alkylidene group, and any two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 may be taken together to form an alkylene group; and each of these groups may have one or more substituents.

##STR00002##

In the formula (2), R.sub.5, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom or an amino group; and R.sub.6 represents an alkyl group or an aralkyl group; and each of these groups may have one or more substituents.