Patent attributes
The subject invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that the use of a very specific combination of hydrophobating silanes and sulfur crosslinkable silanes can be used to attain outstanding performance characteristics in silica reinforced rubber formulations. More specifically, these rubber formulations provide a highly desirable combination of both improved abrasion characteristics and reduced hysteresis without compromising other important rubber characteristics. The present invention more specifically discloses a sulfur cured rubber formulation which is the reaction product of (1) at least one rubbery polymer, (2) sulfur, (3) silica, (4) 2 phf to 12 phf of a hydrophobating silane, and (5) 0.5 phf to 3 phf of a crosslinkable silane. The weight ratio of the hydrophobating silane to the crosslinkable silane will typically be within the range of about 2:1 to about 20:1.
