Rubber compositions and articles thereof having improved metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention with bright steel

Abstract

A vulcanizable rubber composition having improved metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention properties with bright steel, the improvement wherein from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and mercaptosilanes and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition is incorporated into the rubber composition prior to curing. Structural components for a pneumatic tire contain a cured rubber composition, having from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and mercaptosilanes and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition, incorporated into the rubber compounds prior to curing. A method for improving metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention properties between a vulcanizable rubber composition and bright steel comprises the step of incorporating from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and mercaptosilanes and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the rubber component in the rubber composition into the rubber composition prior to curing.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a composite comprising steel reinforcement adhered to rubber stock, comprising: 
 a) providing a blended composition from ingredients that comprise at least one rubber, particulate filler, a sulfur curing agent, and a silane component comprising at least one of an aminosilane and a mercaptosilane;    b) forming a layer of rubber stock from said blended composition; and    c) incorporating steel reinforcement into said rubber stock to provide a reinforced composite, said steel reinforcement having at least some of its surface area being untreated, wherein said silane component acts to bond said at least one rubber to said steel reinforcement in at least the untreated surface area.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, from 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of said silane component.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, from 0.5 to about 5 parts by weight of said silane component.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, up to about 2 parts by weight of said silane component.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, from about 5 to about 100 parts by weight carbon black.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that further comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, up to about 80 parts by weight of at least one additional filler.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said steel reinforcement is in the form of at least one of wire, cable, cord, and filament.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said silane component is added to said blended composition after the other ingredients have been mixed.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said steel reinforcement comprises low carbon steel.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising curing said reinforced composite so as to provide a vulcanized rubber stock article.  
     
     
         20 . A reinforced composite comprising steel reinforcement embedded in a rubber stock, said steel reinforcement comprising at least a portion of its surface area that is not treated and said rubber stock being derived from a blended composition that comprises at least one rubber, reinforcing filler, a sulfur curing agent, and a silane component comprising at least one of an aminosilane and a mercaptosilane, said silane component acting to bond said at least one rubber to said steel reinforcement in at least its untreated surface area.  
     
     
         21 . The reinforced composite of  claim 20  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, from 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight of said silane component.  
     
     
         22 . The reinforced composite of  claim 21  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, from 0.5 to about 5 parts by weight of said silane component.  
     
     
         23 . The reinforced composite of  claim 22  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, up to about 2 parts by weight of said silane component.  
     
     
         24 . The reinforced composite of  claim 20  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, from about 5 to about 100 parts by weight carbon black.  
     
     
         25 . The reinforced composite of  claim 24  wherein said blended composition is provided from ingredients that further comprise, per 100 parts of said at least one rubber, up to about 80 parts by weight of at least one additional filler.  
     
     
         26 . The reinforced composite of  claim 25  wherein said at least one additional filler comprises silica.  
     
     
         27 . The reinforced composite of  claim 20  wherein said steel reinforcement is in the form of at least one of wire, cable, cord, and filament.  
     
     
         28 . The reinforced composite of  claim 20  wherein said steel reinforcement comprises low carbon steel.  
     
     
         29 . The reinforced composite of  claim 20  wherein said rubber stock is vulcanized.