RUBBER COMPOSITION, ARTICLE THEREOF AND METHOD OF MIXING RUBBER

A composition is disclosed comprising at least one elastomer; 10 phr to 150 phr of a silica selected from a conventional silica and a pretreated silica; 0.5 phr to 15 phr of a reinforcing agent, wherein the reinforcing agent is a bismaleimide compound or a derivative thereof; and 0.5 phr to 25 phr of a coupling agent, wherein the coupling agent comprises an organosilane compound or a derivative thereof. The composition may be used in a tire as a vulcanized composition. Also disclosed is a method for mixing rubber, the method comprising a nonproductive stage and a productive stage, wherein the nonproductive stage comprises: combining together at least one elastomer, 10 phr to 150 phr of a conventional silica, 0.5 phr to 25 phr of a coupling agent comprising an organosilane compound, and 0.5 phr to 15 phr of an alkoxysilane, thereby forming an initial mixture; and mixing the initial mixture at a temperature of 100 °C to 170 °C, thereby forming a nonproductive mixture; and wherein the productive stage comprises: combining together the nonproductive mixture with 0.5 phr to 15 phr of a reinforcing agent, wherein the reinforcing agent is a bismaleimide compound or a derivative thereof, and a curing agent, thereby forming an intermediate mixture; and mixing the intermediate mixture at a temperature of 70 °C to 120 °C, thereby forming a productive mixture.