The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Reinforced rubber containing silylated triglyceride oil

Abstract:

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.n--Si(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.