Rubber blend for tire tread compounds

摘要

This invention relates to a rubber blend that is easily processable and that can be beneficially used in tire tread rubber compositions. This blend offers particular advantages in cases where silica is used as a filler in the blend. This is because it is possible to attain a given level of modulus while employing a much lower level of silica coupling agent. The blends of this invention can also be easily mixed while utilizing a mixing cycle of reduced duration. These rubber blends also offer excellent tire performance characteristics such as good traction, treadwear and rolling resistance. This invention more specifically discloses a rubber blend which is particularly suitable for utilization in making tire tread compounds which is comprised of: (1) from about 1 phr to about 70 phr of a vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer, wherein said vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer contains from about 0.5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent vinylpyridine and wherein said vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer has a Mooney ML 1+4 viscosity of less than about 25, (2) from about 30 phr to about 99 phr of a styrene-butadiene rubber, wherein said styrene-butadiene rubber has a Mooney ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the range of about 40 to about 150, (3) a silica filler and (4) a silica coupling agent.