# US 10,246,581 B2 · Rubber compositions containing whey protein > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,581 B2 - Document ID: US10246581B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/537,043 - Filed: 2015-06-11 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-18 - Assignees: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC - Applicants: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC - Inventors: Benjamin C. Galizio; Amy M. Randall; Melissa M. Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246581B2 ## CPC - C08L 23/283: Iso-olefin halogenated homopolymers or copolymers - B60C 1/0008: {Compositions of the inner liner} - C08K 3/013: Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives - C08K 3/04: Carbon - C08K 3/346: {Clay} - C08K 3/36: Silica - C08L 9/00: Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons - C08L 21/00: Compositions of unspecified rubbers - C08L 89/00: Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to rubber compositions comprising a butyl rubber or a halogenated butyl rubber, at least one filler, and a whey protein component. The whey protein component is present in an amount sufficient to provide about 0.1 to about 10 phr whey protein in the rubber composition. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of preparing such rubber compositions and to a tire innerliner or innertube containing the rubber compositions disclosed herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rubber composition comprising: a. at least one of a butyl rubber or a halogenated butyl rubber; b. at least one filler in an amount of about 5 to about 200 phr; and c. a whey protein component in an amount sufficient to provide about 0.1 to about 10 phr whey protein, wherein the whey protein meets all of the following: d. a majority of the protein chains in the whey protein have a molecular weight of greater than about 10 kDaltons; e. a majority of the proteins in the whey protein are a combination of alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin; and f. a degree of hydrolysis of less than 50%. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rubber composition of claim 1, wherein the whey protein component is in an amount sufficient to provide about 0.5 to about 5 phr whey protein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rubber composition of claim 1, wherein the whey protein component comprises at least one of acid whey powder, reduced lactose whey, reduced minerals whey, sweet whey powder, whey protein concentrate, and whey protein isolate. ### Claim 4 A rubber composition that has been subjected to curing, the rubber composition comprising: a. at least one of a butyl rubber or a halogenated butyl rubber; b. at least one filler in an amount of about 5 to about 200 phr; c. whey protein in an amount of about 0.1 to about 10 phr; and d. a cure package, wherein the whey protein meets all of the following: e. a majority of the protein chains in the whey protein have a molecular weight of greater than about 10 kDaltons; f. a majority of the proteins in the whey protein are a combination of alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin; and g. a degree of hydrolysis of less than 50%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rubber composition of claim 4, wherein the amount of whey protein comprises about 0.5 to about 5 phr. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rubber composition according to claim 1, comprising at least one halogenated butyl rubber selected from the group consisting of bromobutyl rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the filler comprises at least one of clay filler, mica, talc, and calcium carbonate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filler comprises a reinforcing filler comprising at least one of carbon black and silica. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filler comprises cellulose ester. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The rubber composition according to claim 4, comprising at least one halogenated butyl rubber selected from the group consisting of bromobutyl rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The rubber composition according to claim 4, wherein the filler comprises at least one of clay filler, mica, talc, and calcium carbonate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The rubber composition according to claim 4, wherein the at least one filler comprises a reinforcing filler comprising at least one of carbon black and silica. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The rubber composition according to claim 4, wherein the at least one filler comprises cellulose ester. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) A tire innerliner or innertube comprising the rubber composition of claim 4. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A tire comprising the tire innerliner or innertube of claim 14. ### Claim 16 A method for improving at least one of green strength and air permeability of a vulcanized rubber composition used in a tire innerliner or innertube, the method comprising incorporating about 0.1 to about 10 phr of whey protein powder and at least 50 phr of at least one of butyl rubber or halogenated butyl rubber inlcuding at least 50 phr of bromobutyl rubber into the rubber composition that is used in the innerliner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the rubber composition in the tire innerliner or innertube further comprises at least one filler in an amount of about 10 to about 200 phr. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the rubber composition in the tire innerliner or innertube meets at least one of the following: a. the filler comprises at least one of clay filler, mica, talc, and calcium carbonate; b. the filler comprises reinforcing filler comprising at least one of carbon black and silica; or c. the filler comprises cellulose ester. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The rubber composition of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises at least 50 phr of bromobutyl rubber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) The rubber composition of claim 4, wherein (a) comprises at least 50 phr of bromobutyl rubber.