c12)  United States Patent  Lin et al.  (IO)  Patent No.:  US 7,335,411 B2  Feb.26,2008  (45)  Date of Patent:  I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 lllll lllll 111111111111111 111111111111111111  (54)  METHOD OF PRODUCING A TIRE  COMPOSITION HAVING IMPROVED SILICA  REINFORCEMENT  US007335411B2  (65)  Prior Publication Data  Related U.S. Application Data  (75)  Inventors:  Chenchy Jeffrey Lin,  Hudson, OH  (US);  William L. Hergenrother,  Akron, OH (US)  (73)  Assignee:  Bridgestone Corporation,  Chuo-ku,  Tokyo (JP)  ( *)  Notice:  Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this  patent is extended or adjusted under 35  U.S.C. 154(b) by 263 days.  (21)  Appl. No.:  11/259,505  (22)  Filed:  Oct. 26, 2005  (60)  Provisional application No. 60/622,006, filed on Oct.  26, 2004.  (51)  Int. Cl.  B29D 23100  (2006.01)  (52)  U.S. Cl.  ...................  428/36.3;  428/36.7; 428/36.8;  428/36.91; 524/526; 524/571; 524/572; 524/573;  524/574; 524/575; 524/575.5  US 2006/0089446 Al  Apr. 27, 2006  * cited by examiner  Vulcanizable elastomeric compositions and vulcanizates are  prepared by employing a strong acid. The strong acid is  believed to enhance the reaction between a silica particle  and a silica-reactive compound.  (57)  ABSTRACT  19 Claims, No Drawings  (56)  References Cited  See application file for complete search history.  (58)  Field of Classification Search  ............... 428/36.3,  428/36.7, 36.8, 36.91; 524/526, 571,572,  524/573, 574, 575, 575.5  U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS  5,508,333 A  5,811,479 A  6,008,295 A  6,057,387 A  *  6,780,925 B2  2004/0030027 Al  *  4/1996 Shimizu ..................... 524/424  9/1998 Labauze ..................... 524/188  12/1999 Takeichi et al. ............ 525/105  5/2000 Mahmud et al. ............ 523/215  8/2004 Materne et al. ............. 524/571  2/2004 Konno et al ................ 524/493  Primary Examiner-Bernard  Lipman  (74)  Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur  M.  Reginelli;  Meredith E. Hooker 