Rubber articles subjected to repeated deformation and compositions for making the same

Abstract

An air spring having an airsleeve, wherein at least one layer of said airsleeve includes the vulcanization product of an elastomer and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene.

1 . An air spring having an airsleeve, wherein at least one layer of said airsleeve includes the vulcanization product of
 an elastomer; and   syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene.   
     
     
         2 . The air spring of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer includes polychloroprene or polychloroprene copolymers. 
     
     
         3 . The air spring of  claim 2 , wherein said polychloroprene copolymer is a copolymer of chloroprene and 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene. 
     
     
         4 . The air spring of  claim 3 , wherein said copolymer has a Mooney Viscosity (M 1+4  at 100° C.) of 100-120. 
     
     
         5 . The air spring of  claim 4 , further comprising a second copolymer of chloroprene and 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene having a Mooney Viscosity (M 1+4  at 100° C.) of 41-51. 
     
     
         6 . The air spring of  claim 1 , where said syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene has a melt temperature of at least 60° C., and less than 130° C. 
     
     
         7 . The air spring of  claim 1 , where said syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene has a melt temperature of at least 90° C., and less than 110° C. 
     
     
         8 . The air spring of  claim 1 , where said syndiotactic polybutadiene is characterized by a 1,2-linkage content of at least 70%, and less than 90%. 
     
     
         9 . The air spring of  claim 1 , where said syndiotactic polybutadiene is characterized by syndiotacticity of at least 60%, and less than 90%. 
     
     
         10 . A method for the production of an air spring airsleeve comprising:
 mixing an elastomer, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, and a curative in a masterbatch to form a rubber composition;   forming the rubber composition into the shape of an airsleeve; and   curing the rubber composition.   
     
     
         11 . An air spring having an airsleeve, wherein at least one layer of said airsleeve has a rubber component comprised of:
 an elastomer; and   syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene.   
     
     
         12 . The air spring of  claim 11 , wherein said elastomer contains at least one polymer of chloroprene. 
     
     
         13 . The air spring of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one polymer includes at least one copolymer of chloroprene and 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene. 
     
     
         14 . The air spring of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one copolymer includes a first copolymer of chloroprene and 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene having a Mooney Viscosity (ML 1+4  at 100° C.) of 100-120. 
     
     
         15 . The air spring of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one copolymer includes a second copolymer of chloroprene and 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene having a Mooney Viscosity (ML 1+4  at 100° C.) of 41-51. 
     
     
         16 . The air spring of  claim 11 , where said syndiotactic polybutadiene is characterized by a 1,2-linkage content of at least 70%, and less than 90%. 
     
     
         17 . The air spring of  claim 11 , where said syndiotactic polybutadiene is characterized by syndiotacticity of at least 60%, and less than 90%.