Process for producing tyres, tyres thus obtained and elastomeric compositions used therein

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastomeric material also comprises a reinforcing filler.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the epoxidized liquid organic compound has an epoxide equivalent weight of between 40 and 2,000.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the epoxidized liquid organic compound comprises an epoxidized oil.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the epoxidized liquid organic compound comprises an epoxidized diene oligomer.

Process according to claims from 12 to 14, wherein the epoxidized diene oligomer is an epoxidized oligomer of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene, or mixtures thereof.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastomeric polymer containing carboxylic groups is a homopolymer or copolymer containing at least 0.1 mol% of carboxylic groups, relative to the total number of moles of monomers in the polymer.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carboxylated elastomeric polymer is obtained by (co)polymerization of one or more conjugated diene monomers, optionally in admixture with monovinylarenes and/or polar comonomers, and subsequent carboxylation.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the epoxidized liquid compound is present in an amount of between 5 and 200 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomeric polymer.

Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the crosslinkable elastomeric material comprises an effective amount of a condensation catalyst.

Tyre for vehicle wheels, comprising one or more components made of crosslinked elastomeric material, characterized in that at least one of the said components comprises, as crosslinked elastomeric material, an elastomeric polymer containing carboxylic groups which is crosslinked by reaction with an epoxidized liquid organic compound containing epoxide groups located internally on the molecule, wherein the said carboxylated elastomeric polymer is crosslinked substantially in the absence of additional crosslinking agents.

Tyre for vehicles, comprising a belt structure extended coaxially around a carcass structure and a tread band extended coaxially around the belt structure and having an external rolling surface which is intended to come into contact with the ground, characterized in that the said tread band comprises an elastomeric polymer containing carboxylic groups crosslinked by reaction with an epoxidized liquid organic compound containing epoxide groups located internally on the molecule, and wherein the said carboxylated elastomeric polymer is crosslinked substantially in the absence of additional crosslinking agents.

Crosslinkable elastomeric composition comprising:

• (a) an elastomeric polymer containing carboxylic groups;
• and (b) an epoxidized liquid organic compound containing epoxide groups located internally on the molecule;
• the said composition being crosslinkable substantially in the absence of additional crosslinking agents.

Composition according to claims from 38 to 49, wherein the epoxidized diene oligomer is an epoxidized oligomer of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene, or mixtures thereof.