In a pneumatic tire in which a reinforcing layer including a cord is embedded, a coating rubber covering the cord included in the reinforcing layer uses a rubber composition in which 30 parts by mass to 60 parts by mass of carbon black having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area N.sub.2SA of 100 m.sup.2/g or more and 0 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less of aroma oil is optionally blended, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component containing 70 mass % to 100 mass % of a natural rubber and in which a strength at break TB (unit: MPa) at 100° C. and a stress M100 (unit: MPa) at 100% elongation at 100° C. satisfy a relationship TB.sup.2/M100≥50.0.

Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-polymide (PI) and poly-xylene (PX) nano-composites, in the form of thin films, powder, and mats may be useful as layers in electronic circuits, windows, membranes, and coatings. The processes described chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes for coating the BNNTs with polymeric material, specifically PI and PX. The processes rely on surface adsorption of polymeric material onto BNNTs as to modify their surface properties or create a uniform dispersion of polymer around nanotubes. The resulting functionalized BNNTs have numerous valuable applications.

Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-polymide (PI) and poly-xylene (PX) nano-composites, in the form of thin films, powder, and mats may be useful as layers in electronic circuits, windows, membranes, and coatings. The processes described chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes for coating the BNNTs with polymeric material, specifically PI and PX. The processes rely on surface adsorption of polymeric material onto BNNTs as to modify their surface properties or create a uniform dispersion of polymer around nanotubes. The resulting functionalized BNNTs have numerous valuable applications.

Described are articles including treads and/or other tire components that are formed at least in part by rubber compositions having solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes. Such rubber compositions include a diene rubber component and a solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes that consist of a continuous network of carbon nanotubes that contains 1) voids and 2) aggregates of carbon nanotubes having a mean size d.sub.50 of less than 5 μm, the voids and the aggregates together in an amount that is less than 60% of a predetermined surface area, as determined by electron microscopy imagery analysis, the remainder being the disaggregated carbon nanotubes in the continuous network that do not comprise a clearly defined shape.

Described are articles including treads and/or other tire components that are formed at least in part by rubber compositions having solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes. Such rubber compositions include a diene rubber component and a solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes that consist of a continuous network of carbon nanotubes that contains 1) voids and 2) aggregates of carbon nanotubes having a mean size d.sub.50 of less than 5 μm, the voids and the aggregates together in an amount that is less than 60% of a predetermined surface area, as determined by electron microscopy imagery analysis, the remainder being the disaggregated carbon nanotubes in the continuous network that do not comprise a clearly defined shape.

Described are articles including treads and/or other tire components that are formed at least in part by rubber compositions having solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes. Such rubber compositions include a diene rubber component and a solid agglomerated material comprising disaggregated carbon nanotubes that consist of a continuous network of carbon nanotubes that contains 1) voids and 2) aggregates of carbon nanotubes having a mean size d.sub.50 of less than 5 μm, the voids and the aggregates together in an amount that is less than 60% of a predetermined surface area, as determined by electron microscopy imagery analysis, the remainder being the disaggregated carbon nanotubes in the continuous network that do not comprise a clearly defined shape.

The invention relates to a process for devulcanizing a vulcanized rubber mixture, comprising the following steps: A) providing or producing a vulcanized rubber mixture, B) comminuting the vulcanized rubber mixture into a granulate of vulcanized rubber particles, C) extruding the vulcanized rubber particles produced in step B) in a twin-screw extruder to form a devulcanized rubber mixture, wherein, during the extruding in step C) at least one regeneration reagent is added to the extruded rubber particles, wherein the regeneration reagent comprises at least one silane, at least one plasticizer, at least one aging stabilizer or mixtures thereof. The invention also comprises an apparatus for performing the method and the uses of the apparatus, and a rubber mixture and also a pneumatic vehicle tyre or a technical rubber article comprising a component composed of the rubber mixture.

The invention relates to a process for devulcanizing a vulcanized rubber mixture, comprising the following steps: A) providing or producing a vulcanized rubber mixture, B) comminuting the vulcanized rubber mixture into a granulate of vulcanized rubber particles, C) extruding the vulcanized rubber particles produced in step B) in a twin-screw extruder to form a devulcanized rubber mixture, wherein, during the extruding in step C) at least one regeneration reagent is added to the extruded rubber particles, wherein the regeneration reagent comprises at least one silane, at least one plasticizer, at least one aging stabilizer or mixtures thereof. The invention also comprises an apparatus for performing the method and the uses of the apparatus, and a rubber mixture and also a pneumatic vehicle tyre or a technical rubber article comprising a component composed of the rubber mixture.

Provided are copolymers which provide improved overall performance in terms of fuel economy and wet grip performance, as well as rubber compositions and tires containing the copolymers. Included is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing an aromatic vinyl compound, a conjugated diene compound, and a compound represented by the formula (1) below or by copolymerizing a conjugated diene compound and a compound represented by the formula (1) below, the copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of 1.0×10.sup.3 to 2.5×10.sup.6, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different and each represents a functional group containing at least two selected from the group consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and silicon, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be joined together to form a ring structure.

Provided are copolymers which provide improved overall performance in terms of fuel economy and wet grip performance, as well as rubber compositions and tires containing the copolymers. Included is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing an aromatic vinyl compound, a conjugated diene compound, and a compound represented by the formula (1) below or by copolymerizing a conjugated diene compound and a compound represented by the formula (1) below, the copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of 1.0×10.sup.3 to 2.5×10.sup.6, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different and each represents a functional group containing at least two selected from the group consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and silicon, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be joined together to form a ring structure.