Crosslinkable polymeric materials, crosslinked polymeric materials, articles containing the crosslinkable polymeric materials or crosslinked polymeric materials, and methods of making the articles and various compositions are provided. More particularly, the crosslinkable composition contains a) a first polymeric material, which has terminal dithiocarbamate or dithiocarbonate groups, b) a crosslinking composition containing a chlorinated triazine crosslinking agent and/or a crosslinking monomer having two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups, and c) a thixotropic agent containing metal oxide particles. The crosslinkable composition may be printable or dispensed. In some embodiments, the crosslinked composition is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

A water/oil repellent layer-provided article, containing a substrate, a water/oil repellent layer containing a hydrolyzed condensate of a fluorinated compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group, and a silicon oxide layer containing alkali metal atoms, present between the substrate and the water/oil repellent layer, where in the silicon oxide layer, the average concentration of the alkali metal atoms in a region with a depth from the surface in contact with the water/oil repellent layer of at least 0.1 nm and at most 0.3 nm, is at least 2.010.sup.19 atoms/cm.sup.3.

A water/oil repellent layer-provided article, containing a substrate, a water/oil repellent layer containing a hydrolyzed condensate of a fluorinated compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group, and a silicon oxide layer containing alkali metal atoms, present between the substrate and the water/oil repellent layer, where in the silicon oxide layer, the average concentration of the alkali metal atoms in a region with a depth from the surface in contact with the water/oil repellent layer of at least 0.1 nm and at most 0.3 nm, is at least 2.010.sup.19 atoms/cm.sup.3.

A flame-retardant electric cable has a core including an electric conductor and an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer includes a flame-retardant polyolefin-based composition which includes, as base polymer, a mixture of at least two polyolefin homopolymers and/or copolymer wherein at least one is a low-density polyethylene copolymer having a density lower than 0.915 g/cm3. The flame-retardant polyolefin-based composition also includes calcinated kaolin in an amount greater than 3 phr, a metal hydroxide in an amount greater than 10 phr, and an alkyl or alkenyl alkoxy siloxane. The alkyl or alkenyl alkoxy siloxane is in an amount ratio of from 1:25 to 1:50 with respect to the sum of the amounts of calcinated kaolin and of the metal hydroxide.

An elastomeric article is provided that includes a composition having a silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer with a density less than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3. The elastomeric article can exhibit a compression set of from about 5.0% to about 35.0%, as measured according to ASTM D 395 (22 hrs @ 70 C.). The silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer can include a first polyolefin having a density less than 0.86 g/cm.sup.3, a second polyolefin having a crystallinity less than 40%, a silane crosslinker, a grafting initiator, and a condensation catalyst.

An elastomeric article is provided that includes a composition having a silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer with a density less than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3. The elastomeric article can exhibit a compression set of from about 5.0% to about 35.0%, as measured according to ASTM D 395 (22 hrs @ 70 C.). The silane-crosslinked polyolefin elastomer can include a first polyolefin having a density less than 0.86 g/cm.sup.3, a second polyolefin having a crystallinity less than 40%, a silane crosslinker, a grafting initiator, and a condensation catalyst.

A method of adhering a substantially cured or fully cured silicone based material to a substrate surface is provided. The silicone based material is obtained by curing a condensation curable composition. The condensation curable composition comprises: (I) at least one condensation curable silyl terminated polymer having at least one hydrolysable and/or hydroxyl functional group(s) per molecule; (II) a cross-linker selected from the group of silanes having at least two hydrolysable groups per molecule; and/or silyl functional molecules having at least two silyl groups, each silyl group containing at least one hydrolysable group; and (III) a condensation catalyst selected from the group of titanates and zirconates. The method includes applying a reactive interlayer to the substrate surface and applying pressure to sandwich the reactive interlayer between a surface of the silicone based material and the substrate surface, thereby causing chemical bonding of the silicone based material to the substrate.

A method of adhering a substantially cured or fully cured silicone based material to a substrate surface is provided. The silicone based material is obtained by curing a condensation curable composition. The condensation curable composition comprises: (I) at least one condensation curable silyl terminated polymer having at least one hydrolysable and/or hydroxyl functional group(s) per molecule; (II) a cross-linker selected from the group of silanes having at least two hydrolysable groups per molecule; and/or silyl functional molecules having at least two silyl groups, each silyl group containing at least one hydrolysable group; and (III) a condensation catalyst selected from the group of titanates and zirconates. The method includes applying a reactive interlayer to the substrate surface and applying pressure to sandwich the reactive interlayer between a surface of the silicone based material and the substrate surface, thereby causing chemical bonding of the silicone based material to the substrate.

A method of adhering a substantially cured or fully cured silicone based material to a substrate surface is provided. The silicone based material is obtained by curing a condensation curable composition. The condensation curable composition comprises: (I) at least one condensation curable silyl terminated polymer having at least one hydrolysable and/or hydroxyl functional group(s) per molecule; (II) a cross-linker selected from the group of silanes having at least two hydrolysable groups per molecule; and/or silyl functional molecules having at least two silyl groups, each silyl group containing at least one hydrolysable group; and (III) a condensation catalyst selected from the group of titanates and zirconates. The method includes applying a reactive interlayer to the substrate surface and applying pressure to sandwich the reactive interlayer between a surface of the silicone based material and the substrate surface, thereby causing chemical bonding of the silicone based material to the substrate.

It has been unexpected found that silylated triglyceride oils can be incorporated into tire tread rubber formulations that include reinforcing fillers to provide improved wet traction characteristic, rolling resistance, and tread-wear without compromising cured stiffness (dry traction) and ultimate properties (chip/chunk resistance). The level of silica coupling agent needed in such formulation can also typically reduced. The present invention more specifically discloses a rubber formulation which is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer; (2) a reinforcing filler, such as silica or carbon black; and (3) a silylated triglyceride oil. The silylated triglyceride oil will include silyl groups of the structural formula: (CH.sub.2).sub.nSi(OR).sub.3, wherein n represents an integer within the range of 1 to 8, and wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.