FATTY ACID-MODIFIED VEGETABLE OILS IN RUBBER COMPOSITIONS AND TIRES

In a first aspect of the invention, a vulcanizable rubber composition is disclosed comprising a vegetable oil derivative comprising the structure:where R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from a C15 to C20 alkenyl or a C15 to C20 alkyl, and optionally contain aromatic groups; R is - O - C(=O) - R4 where R4 is a C15 to C20 alkenyl; wherein each R is covalently bonded to a first carbon atom of one of R1, R2 or R3; wherein a second carbon atom is adjacent to the first carbon atom and the second carbon atom is substituted with an -OH group; and wherein m is the number of R groups. In a second aspect of the invention, vulcanizable rubber composition is disclosed comprising the reaction product of an unsaturated fatty acid and an epoxidized vegetable oil.