Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane adhesives for adhering steel alloy to rubber

A process for continuously coating a steel alloy wire comprising the steps of:

• wetting the steel alloy wire in a bath of a solution comprising 0.01 to 5% of one or more amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, or a slat thereof;
• and having the formula
• wherein w, x, y and z represent mole fractions, z does not equal zero, at least one of w, x or y must also be present, and w+x+y+z=1.00;
• wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 must be present and be selected from the group consisting of R6Z, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of NH2, HNR7 and NR72;
• and one or more remaining R1, R2, R3 or R4, if present, are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, (iv) R6X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, SaR7, NR72, OR7, CO2H, SCOR7, CO2R7, OH, olefins, epoxides, amino groups, vinyl groups, acrylates and methacrylates, wherein a=1 to about 8, and (v) R6YR8X, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH and NR7;
• wherein R6 and R8 are selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and a single bond;
• and R5 and R7 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• and
• heating the coated steel alloy wire such that the steel alloy wire reaches a minimum temperature of at least 110° C. in at least one step, thereby forming a dry coated steel alloy wire;
• wherein a surface of the steel alloy is directly coated with the coating;
• wherein the steel alloy is an alloy comprising iron and about 8% to about 50% of one or more alloy metals.

A rubber composition comprising:

• a coated steel alloy embedded in a vulcanizable rubber stock;
• wherein the steel alloy is coated with an adhesive comprising one or more amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane, or a salt of one or more thereof;
• and having the formula
• wherein w, x, y and z represent mole fractions, z does not equal zero, at least one of w, x or y must also be present, and w+x+y+z=1.00;
• wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 must be present and be selected from the group consisting of R6Z, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of NH2, HNR7 and NR72;
• and one or more remaining R1, R2, R3 or R4, if present, are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of (i) H or an alkyl groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, (ii) cycloalkyl groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, (iii) alkylaryl groups having 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, (iv) R6X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, SH, SaR7, NR72, OR7, CO2H, SCOR7, CO2R7, OH, olefins, epoxides, amino groups, vinyl groups, acrylates and methacrylates, wherein a=1 to about 8, and (v) R6YR8X, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH and NR7;
• wherein R6 and R8 are selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and a single bond;
• and R5 and R7 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having one to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl groups having 7 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• wherein a surface of the steel alloy is directly coated with the coating;
• wherein the steel alloy is an alloy comprising iron and about 1% to about 50% of one or more alloy metals;
• wherein the steel alloy is an alloy of iron with an alloy metal, and the alloy metal is selected from one or more of the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, silicon, boron, aluminum, cobalt, copper, cerium, niobium, titanium, tungsten, tin, zinc, lead, and zirconium.