Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Tyre for vehicle wheels with tread band of cap and base construction |
| Document Number: |
20070006953 |
| Publication Date: |
January 11, 2007 |
| Appl. No: |
10/561866 |
| Application Filed: |
June 24, 2003 |
| Abstract: |
A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and a pair of sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one carcass ply shaped in a substantially toroidal configuration. Opposite lateral edges of the carcass structure are associated with respective bead wires. Each bead wire is enclosed in a respective bead. The belt structure includes at least one belt strip. The tread band includes a radially outer layer designed to contact the ground and a radially inner layer between the belt structure and the radially outer layer. The radially inner layer includes a crosslinked elastomeric composition. The crosslinked elastomeric composition includes at least one diene elastomeric polymer and at least one layered inorganic material comprising an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.01 nm and less than or equal to 30 nm. A process for producing the tyre is also disclosed. |
| Inventors: |
Galimberti, Maurizio (Milano, IT); Fino, Luigi (Masciago, IT); Verona, Marco (Balsamo, IT) |
| Assignees: |
PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.P.A. (Milano, IT) |
| Claim: |
1-43. (canceled) |
| Claim: |
44. A tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising: a carcass structure; a belt structure; a tread band; and a pair of sidewalls; wherein the carcass structure comprises at least one carcass ply shaped in a substantially toroidal configuration, wherein opposite lateral edges of the carcass structure are associated with respective bead wires, wherein each bead wire is enclosed in a respective bead, wherein the belt structure comprises: at least one belt strip; wherein the belt structure is disposed in a circumferentially external position relative to the carcass structure, wherein the tread band is superimposed circumferentially on the belt structure, wherein the tread band comprises: a radially outer layer designed to contact the ground; and a radially inner layer between the belt structure and the radially outer layer; wherein the side walls are applied laterally on opposite sides relative to the carcass structure, wherein the radially inner layer comprises a crosslinked elastomeric composition, and wherein the crosslinked elastomeric composition comprises: at least one diene elastomeric polymer; and at least one layered inorganic material comprising an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.01 nm and less than or equal to 30 nm. |
| Claim: |
45. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.05 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm. |
| Claim: |
46. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the radially inner layer is formed by a crosslinked elastomeric composition having a dynamic elastic modulus (E′) at 23° C. that is greater than or equal to 10 MPa and less than or equal to 30 MPa. |
| Claim: |
47. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the radially inner layer is formed by a crosslinked elastomeric composition having a dynamic elastic modulus (E′) at 23° C. that is greater than or equal to 15 MPa and less than or equal to 20 MPa. |
| Claim: |
48. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the radially inner layer comprises a thickness of at least 10% with respect to a total thickness of the tread band. |
| Claim: |
49. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the radially inner layer comprises a thickness greater than or equal to 20% and less than or equal to 70% with respect to a total thickness of the tread band. |
| Claim: |
50. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises greater than or equal to 1 phr and less than or equal to 120 phr of the at least one layered inorganic material. |
| Claim: |
51. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises greater than or equal to 5 phr and less than or equal to 80 phr of the at least one layered inorganic material. |
| Claim: |
52. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises one or more phyllosilicates. |
| Claim: |
53. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises one or more of smectite, vermiculite, halloysite, and sericite. |
| Claim: |
54. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises one or more of montmorillonite, nontronite, beidellite, volkonskoite, hectorite, saponite, and sauconite. |
| Claim: |
55. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises montmorillonite. |
| Claim: |
56. The tyre of claim 52, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material is surface-treated with a compatibilizer. |
| Claim: |
57. The tyre of claim 56, wherein the compatibilizer is selected from quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts having general formula (I): [chemical expression included] wherein: Y represents nitrogen or phosphorous; R1, R2, R3, and R4, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched C1-C20 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group; a linear or branched C1-C20 alkenyl or hydroxyalkenyl group; a group —R5—SH or —R5—NH, wherein R5 represents a linear or branched Cl-C20 alkylene group; a C6-C18 aryl group; a C7-C20 arylalkyl or alkylaryl group; a C5-C18 cycloalkyl group, the cycloalkyl group possibly containing at least one hetero atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, and/or sulfur; Xn− represents an anion such as the chlorine ion, the sulphate ion, or the phosphate ion; n represents 1, 2, or 3. |
| Claim: |
58. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the at least one diene elastomeric polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) below 20° C. |
| Claim: |
59. The tyre of claim 58, wherein the at least one diene elastomeric polymer comprises one or more of: cis-1,4-polyisoprene; 3,4-polyisoprene; polybutadiene; optionally halogenated isoprene/isobutene copolymers; 1,3-butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymers; styrene/1,3-butadiene copolymers; styrene/isoprene/1,3-butadiene copolymers; and styrene/1,3-butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymers. |
| Claim: |
60. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition comprises at least 10%-by-weight of natural rubber with respect to a total weight of the at least one diene elastomeric polymer. |
| Claim: |
61. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition comprises greater than or equal to 20%-by-weight of natural rubber and less than or equal to 90%-by-weight of natural rubber with respect to a total weight of the at least one diene elastomeric polymer. |
| Claim: |
62. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one elastomeric polymer of one or more monoolefins with an olefinic comonomer or derivatives thereof. |
| Claim: |
63. The tyre of claim 62, wherein the at least one elastomeric polymer of one or more monoolefins comprises one or more of: ethylene/propylene copolymers (EPR) or ethylene/propylene/diene copolymers (EPDM); polyisobutene; butyl rubbers; and halobutyl rubbers. |
| Claim: |
64. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one carbon black filler. |
| Claim: |
65. The tyre of claim 64, wherein the at least one carbon black filler has a surface area of not less than 20 m2/g, as determined by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (“CTAB”) adsorption as described in ISO Standard 6810. |
| Claim: |
66. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one carbon black filler in an amount greater than or equal to 0.1 phr and less than or equal to 120 phr. |
| Claim: |
67. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one carbon black filler in an amount greater than or equal to 20 phr and less than or equal to 90 phr. |
| Claim: |
68. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one silane coupling agent. |
| Claim: |
69. The tyre of claim 68, wherein the at least one silane coupling agent is selected from those having at least one hydrolizable silane group which may be identified by structural formula (II): (R)3Si—CnH2n—X (II) in which the groups R, which may be identical or different, are selected from: alkyl, alkoxy or aryloxy groups or from halogen atoms, on condition that at least one of the groups R is an alkoxy or aryloxy group; n is an integer between 1 and 6 inclusive; X is a group selected from: nitroso, mercapto, amino, epoxide, vinyl, imide, chloro, and —(S)mCnH2n—Si—(R)3, in which m and n are integers between 1 and 6 inclusive and the groups R are defined as above. |
| Claim: |
70. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one silane coupling agent in an amount greater than or equal to 0.01 phr and less than or equal to 10 phr. |
| Claim: |
71. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one silane coupling agent in an amount greater than or equal to 0.5 phr and less than or equal to 5 phr. |
| Claim: |
72. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one additional reinforcing filler in an amount greater than or equal to 0.1 phr and less than or equal to 120 phr. |
| Claim: |
73. The tyre of claim 72, wherein the at least one additional reinforcing filler comprises silica. |
| Claim: |
74. The tyre of claim 73, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one silane coupling agent. |
| Claim: |
75. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the radially outer layer is formed by a crosslinked elastomeric composition having a dynamic elastic modulus (E′) at 0° C. that is greater than or equal to 5 MPa and less than or equal to 15 MPa. |
| Claim: |
76. The tyre of claim 44, wherein the radially outer layer is formed by a crosslinked elastomeric composition having a dynamic elastic modulus (E′) at 0° C. that is greater than or equal to 8 MPa and less than or equal to 10 MPa. |
| Claim: |
77. A process for producing a tyre for a vehicle wheel, the process comprising: manufacturing the tyre by assembling at least one carcass ply, a belt structure, and a tread band; subjecting the tyre to moulding in a cavity formed in a vulcanization mould; and subjecting the tyre to crosslinking by heating; wherein the belt structure is disposed in a circumferentially outer position with respect to the at least one carcass ply, wherein the tread band is disposed in a circumferentially outer position with respect to the belt structure, wherein the tread band comprises: a radially outer layer designed to contact the ground; and a radially inner layer between the belt structure and the radially outer layer; wherein the radially inner layer comprises a crosslinkable elastomeric composition, and wherein the elastomeric composition comprises: at least one diene elastomeric polymer; and at least one layered inorganic material comprising an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.01 nm and less than or equal to 30 nm. |
| Claim: |
78. The process of claim 77, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.05 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm. |
| Claim: |
79. The process of claim 77, wherein the radially inner layer is obtained by winding at least one ribbon strip of the elastomeric composition in side-by-side coils. |
| Claim: |
80. The process of claim 79, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises an individual layer thickness greater than or equal to 0.05 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm. |
| Claim: |
81. The process of claim 77, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises greater than or equal to 1 phr and less than or equal to 120 phr of the at least one layered inorganic material. |
| Claim: |
82. The process of claim 77, wherein the at least one layered inorganic material comprises one or more phyllosilicates. |
| Claim: |
83. The process of claim 77, wherein the at least one diene elastomeric polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) below 20° C. |
| Claim: |
84. The process of claim 77, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one elastomeric polymer of one or more monoolefins with an olefinic comonomer or derivatives thereof. |
| Claim: |
85. The process of claim 77, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one carbon black filler. |
| Claim: |
86. The process of claim 77, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one silane coupling agent. |
| Claim: |
87. The process of claim 77, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one additional reinforcing filler in an amount greater than or equal to 0.1 phr and less than or equal to 120 phr. |
| Claim: |
88. The process of claim 87, wherein the at least one additional reinforcing filler comprises silica. |
| Claim: |
89. The process of claim 88, wherein the elastomeric composition further comprises at least one silane coupling agent. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
152209/500 |
| Current International Class: |
60 |
| Accession Number: |
edspap.20070006953 |
| Database: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
