The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, in particular for rubber-coating reinforcements in elastomer products, especially in vehicle tires, or inner components of vehicle tires, as well as to a vehicle tire. The rubber mixture comprises a diene rubber, an adhesive system, 10 to 200 phr silica, and 2 to 20 phr of a silane of the formula [(R.sup.1).sub.3Si—X].sub.mS.sub.n(R.sup.2).sub.2-m, where residues R.sup.1 are identical or different alkoxy groups, cyclic dialkoxy groups, cycloalkoxy groups, phenoxy groups, aryl groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, aralkyl groups, or halides, and where X is a polar organic group containing urea, m represents the value 1 or 2, n is an integer between 1 and 8, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an acyl group comprising 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

A method for controlling an extruder for kneading and extruding a powdery raw material fed into a casing by rotating a screw to form a kneaded product that is a source of granules. The control method includes a load measurement step that measures the thrust load of the rotating screw and a feed control step that controls the feed of the raw material into the casing based on the thrust load measured in the load measurement step.

Use of twin screw extrusion to further enhance the uniformity of crosslinked rubber dispersion in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) to improve elastic properties of TPVs is disclosed. Most specifically, this invention employs intermeshing twin screw extruders to further homogenize dynamically vulcanized rubber dispersions in TPVs so that their particle size dispersion index (PSDI), or the ratio of weight average equivalent dispersion particle diameter to number average equivalent dispersion particle diameter, can be lowered to less than 1.6 or 1.57 with corresponding elastic property improvements by having lower hysteresis, higher elongation to break, and higher retractive force. TPV products having lower PSDI and improved elastic properties, and apparatus for conducting the disclosed method, are also provided.

A process for manufacturing rubber crumb comprises the following steps: (a) suspending rubber granules having a given size in an autoclave (1) containing a supercritical fluid; (b) agitating the mixture for a predetermined time at constant pressure and constant temperature; (c) carrying out an isenthalpic expansion of the mixture from step (b) by spraying it through a nozzle (20).

A method for producing a tire sidewall rubber member according to an embodiment comprises: a first kneading step of preparing a first kneaded product by kneading a diene rubber, carbon black, a compound represented by formula (I) (wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or an alkynyl group, and M.sup.+ is Na.sup.+, K.sup.+ or Li.sup.+), and zinc oxide; and a second kneading step of adding wax and/or stearic acid to the first kneaded product, followed by kneading. Thus, low heat generation properties are improved while suppressing the deterioration of tear resistance. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, to a vulcanizate thereof and to a vehicle tire. The sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture contains at least the following constituents: at least one diene rubber; and 10 to 300 phr of at least one silica; and 1 to 30 phf of at least one silane A having general empirical formula A-I)
(R.sup.1).sub.oSiR.sup.2(SR.sup.3).sub.qSX; andA-I) 0.5 to 30 phf of at least one silane B having general empirical formula B-I)
(R.sup.1).sub.oSiR.sup.2(SR.sup.3).sub.uSR.sup.2Si(R.sup.1).sub.oB-I) wherein q is 1, 2 or 3; and u is 1, 2 or 3; and X is a hydrogen atom or a C(O)R.sup.8 group wherein R.sup.8 is selected from hydrogen C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkyl groups, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.17, C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl groups, preferably phenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.20-alkenyl groups and C.sub.7-C.sub.20-aralkyl groups.

A conveyance unit mounted to a machine for initial processing of natural raw rubber into aged rubber product, includes: a discharge delivery belt connected with the machine to receive the aged rubber product; a vibration delivery device connected to the discharge delivery belt to selectively delivery the aged rubber product from the discharge delivery belt; a drying and cooling device, comprising an elongated channel body and a circulation system mounted therein, wherein the rubber product is entered from one end of the elongated channel body while being dewatered and left from the other end of the elongated channel body, wherein the circulation system is operated to provide wind inside the elongated channel body for drying and cooling the rubber product; and a cutting device connected to the elongated channel body of the drying and cooling device to cut the dried rubber product into aged product.

A method of performing preventative maintenance on an auger in a tire filling mixing machine, by: (a) mixing a polyurethane isocyanate and a catalyst in a first mixer to form a virgin polyurethane; (b) grinding polyurethane core bits in a grinder, the grinder having an auger and a motor; (c) mixing the virgin polyurethane and the ground core bits in a second mixer thereby forming a mixed flatproofing material; (d) injecting the mixed flatproofing material into a tire; (e) measuring vibration of the auger; and (f) comparing the measured vibration of the auger to a predefined maximum vibration; and (g) removing the auger from the grinder if the measured vibration exceeds the pre-defined maximum vibration for a predefined period of time, or removing the auger from the grinder if the measured temperature of the auger exceeds the pre-defined maximum temperature for a predefined period of time.

A method of continuously manufacturing a cured membrane includes continuously compounding and mixing a vulcanizable rubber composition in a mixing extruder while continuously removing gasses from the vulcanizable rubber composition during mixing with a vacuum. The vulcanizable rubber composition may be continuously extruded to form an extrudate, which may be continuously calendered to form a green membrane. The green membrane may be continuously cured, such as by a hot air conveyor curing system, to form a cured membrane.

The invention relates to a device assembly and methods useful for producing molded silicone rubber products from liquid silicone rubber compositions (LSR) via injection molding. The methods provide a flexible process to produce faster cured silicone rubber products from LSR and allow for use of low curing temperature in the molding cavities without drastically lowering cure speed of the LSR and the physical properties of the produced molded silicone rubber material, therefore allowing liquid silicone rubber overmolding on or over heat sensitive substrates. The device assembly of the invention allows a faster cycle and the use of precise dosing and mixing units thus creating a flexible process to produce cured silicone rubber products faster from liquid silicone rubber (LSR).