JP2009067929A - Rubber composition and pneumatic tire using the composition - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rubber composition which can be suitably used for forming a tire material having low rolling resistance and excellent in dry road surface-driving stability and a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition. <P>SOLUTION: The rubber composition comprises (A) 100 pts.mass rubber component, (B) 2-70 pts.mass aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer having 5,000-500,000 mass average molecular weight (expressed in terms of polystyrene and measured by gel permeation chromatography) and (C) 0.5-20 pts.mass phenolic resin and (D) a curing agent composed of a methylene donor in an amount of 3-20 pts.mass based on 100 pts.mass resin (C). The pneumatic tire is produced by using the rubber composition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rubber composition and a pneumatic tire. In detail, it is related with the pneumatic tire which improved the physical property of the rubber composition used for tire members, such as a tread rubber part and a base rubber part, and improved tire performance.

  In general, as shown in FIG. 1, a pneumatic tire includes a pair of bead portions 3, a pair of sidewall portions 4, and a tread portion 1, a carcass layer 6 that extends in a toroid shape and is locked to the bead core 2, It has a belt layer 7 located on the outer periphery of the crown portion, and a tread rubber layer (including a base rubber layer on the belt layer side) 8 located on the outer side in the tire radial direction. In a pneumatic tire, the characteristics of the rubber composition of the tread portion 1 are extremely important for reducing the rolling resistance of the tire, for providing wear resistance, and for improving the maneuverability on the dry road surface. It has become.

In recent years, automobile tires have been required to improve tire performance, for example, advanced low rolling resistance characteristics and maneuverability on dry road surfaces, due to demands for carbon dioxide reduction and driving safety.
By the way, it has been conventionally known that rolling resistance is lowered by lowering the glass transition temperature of a rubber component. However, at the same time, there was a problem that the braking performance on a wet road surface also deteriorated.
Conventionally, it is known to improve the braking performance on the road surface by using a softening agent such as aromatic process oil (hereinafter referred to as aroma oil) (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). . However, when a large amount of aroma oil is added, low rolling resistance is deteriorated and steering stability is deteriorated due to a decrease in elastic modulus in a high temperature range.
For this reason, by adding an aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer having a specific mass average molecular weight as a softening agent, the hysteresis loss at low to medium temperatures is increased while the hysteresis loss at high temperature is reduced. Thus, it is possible to improve the temperature dependency on the wet road surface while reducing the rolling resistance.
On the other hand, in the all-season / snow-based compounded rubber composition, the smaller the temperature dependency of the elastic modulus, the better the balance between the steering stability / low temperature property. However, there is still room for improvement in order to sufficiently satisfy both the low rolling resistance and the dry road surface handling stability only by using the copolymer as a softening agent.
JP-A-11-209515 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-20542 JP 2002-155165 A

  In view of the above problems, the present invention is to provide a rubber composition that is a tire material that has low rolling resistance and is excellent in dry road surface handling stability, and a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition.

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventor blended a low molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer (B) with the rubber component (A), and further phenolic By including a resin (C) and a curing agent (D) composed of a methylene donor that reacts with the resin, the rubber composition is a tire material having low rolling resistance and dry road surface handling stability. The headline and the present invention have been completed.
Further, the aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer (B) is modified with a tin-containing compound or a silicon-containing compound to introduce tin and a silicon functional group, and (B) an aromatic vinyl compound. -It discovered that the performance was improved further by introduce | transducing a nitrogen-containing functional group into a diene compound copolymer, and it came to this invention.
That is, the present invention is characterized by the following configuration or structure.

(1) An aromatic vinyl compound / conjugated diene compound having a mass average molecular weight (in terms of polystyrene measured by gel permeation chromatography) in the range of 5,000 to 500,000 with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A). A rubber composition containing the polymer (B) in the range of 2 to 70 parts by mass and the phenolic resin (C) in the range of 0.5 to 20 parts by mass, the resin (C) being 100 parts by mass. A rubber composition in which a curing agent (D) comprising a methylene donor is added in an amount of 3 to 20 parts by mass per part.
(2) The rubber composition according to the above (1), wherein the copolymer (B) comprises 5 to 80% by mass of an aromatic vinyl compound, and the vinyl bond content of the diene compound portion is 10 to 80% by mass. object.
(3) The copolymer (B) is at least one functional group-containing copolymer selected from tin-containing functional groups, silicon-containing functional groups, and nitrogen-containing functional groups. Rubber composition.
(4) The rubber composition according to the above (1), wherein the phenol resin (C) is a novolak type alkyl-substituted phenol resin.
(5) The rubber composition as described in (1) above, wherein the phenol resin (C) is a novolac type oil-based phenol resin.
(6) The rubber composition as described in (1) above, wherein a filler containing 20 to 90% by mass of silica is added.
(7) A pneumatic tire using the rubber composition according to any one of (1) to (3) as a tire member.

  According to the present invention, a curing agent comprising an aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene compound copolymer (B) having a predetermined molecular structure instead of a softening agent, a phenolic resin (C) and a specific methylene donor. By including (D), the hysteresis loss in the high temperature range can be reduced, the increase in the hysteresis loss in the low to medium temperature range can be suppressed, and the rubber composition for tire material having dry road surface handling stability can be obtained. . And when such a rubber composition is used for a tread, a base, or other tire materials, it becomes excellent in low rolling resistance and dry road surface handling stability.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
The rubber composition according to the present invention is an aromatic vinyl having a mass average molecular weight (in terms of polystyrene measured by gel permeation chromatography) in the range of 5,000 to 500,000 with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A). -A rubber composition containing the conjugated diene compound copolymer (B) in the range of 2 to 70 parts by mass and the phenolic resin (C) in the range of 0.5 to 20 parts by mass, The curing agent (D) comprising a methylene donor is added to C) in an amount of 3 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass.

<Rubber component (A)>
The rubber component (A) comprises at least one of natural rubber (NR) and synthetic diene rubber, and any of unmodified rubber and modified rubber may be used as the rubber component. Here, as the synthetic diene rubber, those synthesized by emulsion polymerization or solution polymerization are preferable.
Specific examples of the synthetic diene rubber include polyisoprene rubber (IR), styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), chloroprene rubber ( CR), halogenated butyl rubber, attarylone butadiene rubber (NBR) and the like. Particularly preferred are natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber (IR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), halogenated (Br) butyl rubber, polyisoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber and the like.
In addition, the said rubber component may be used individually by 1 type, and may blend and use 2 or more types. Further, from the viewpoints of wear resistance and heat resistance of the rubber composition, the rubber component preferably has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of −60 ° C. or higher.

<Aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene compound copolymer (B)>
The aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene compound copolymer (B) has a mass average molecular weight (in terms of polystyrene measured by gel permeation chromatography) in the range of 5,000 to 500,000.
A copolymer (B) is contained in 2-70 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of rubber components (A). Preferably, it contains in the range of 5-50 mass parts, More preferably, it contains in the range of 10-40 mass parts. When the blending amount of the aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer is less than 2 parts by mass, the braking performance improving effect is insufficient as a rubber composition for a tread. Moreover, when it exceeds 70 mass parts, abrasion resistance will deteriorate and the fracture | rupture characteristic of vulcanized rubber will fall.

  The aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer has a mass average molecular weight (polystyrene conversion by gel permeation chromatography) obtained by copolymerizing an aromatic vinyl compound as a monomer and a conjugated diene compound. Copolymer in ˜500,000. More preferably, it is 50,000 to 400,000. Higher molecular weight materials are superior in storage elastic modulus and loss coefficient, but workability is lowered at 500,000 or more. The molecular weight distribution is preferably narrow. If it is wide, the loss factor tends to be inferior.

Moreover, it is preferable that a copolymer consists of 5-80 mass% aromatic vinyl compounds. Moreover, it is preferable that the vinyl bond amount of the part of a conjugated diene compound is 10-80 mass%.
A copolymer comprising a conjugated diene compound having a vinyl content ratio of less than 5% by mass or greater than 80% by mass and less than 10% or greater than 80% deteriorates workability. Further, durability and rolling resistance in the tire are not sufficiently improved. In addition, the vinyl amount prescribed | regulated here shows the vinyl amount in the structural unit derived from a diene compound, and shows the ratio of all the vinyl amounts represented by a cis bond and a trans bond.

Examples of the aromatic vinyl compound include styrene, p-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, chloromethylstyrene, vinyltoluene and the like. Preferable examples include styrene, p-methylstyrene, and α-methylstyrene. In particular, styrene is preferable.
As the diene compound, butadiene, isoprene, pentadiene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene or the like is used, and 1,3-butadiene is particularly preferable.
The copolymer can be obtained by various production methods as long as a predetermined molecular structure is given. As the copolymer, various liquid or low molecular weight polymers or rubbers can be applied. Preferably, the copolymer is suitably produced by solution polymerization of styrene and butadiene. Particularly preferably, the copolymer is a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber.
An example of an industrial method is a method in which a predetermined monomer is copolymerized in a hydrocarbon solvent using an organolithium compound as an initiator. For example, the copolymer can be prepared in a tank or tower reactor using a small amount of 1,2-butadiene in a hydrocarbon solvent using an organolithium compound initiator in the presence of ether or tertiary amine. It can be obtained by copolymerizing a diene compound such as 1,3-butadiene and an aromatic vinyl compound.

In the present invention, the aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer is modified, the copolymer has at least one functional group, and the contained functional group of the copolymer is tin. Any of a functional group containing silicon, a silicon-containing functional group, a nitrogen-containing functional group, or two or more of these can be used, which is preferable in improving heat generation durability.
The aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer having such a functional group is modified with a tin-containing compound, a silicon-containing compound, or a nitrogen-containing compound.
The aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound compound copolymer having a functional group preferably has a polystyrene-reduced mass average molecular weight of 5,000 to 200,000 measured by gel permeation chromatography before introducing the functional group. 20,000 to 150,000 is more preferable, and 50,000 to 150,000 is even more preferable. In this case, the storage average modulus (G ′) of the rubber composition is improved by setting the mass average molecular weight after introduction of the functional group to a range of 5,000 to 500,000, particularly preferably in the range of 50,000 to 400,000. It is easy to reduce loss tangent (tan ∂) and secure workability.

  The aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated jun compound copolymer having the above functional group is obtained by copolymerizing (1) a monomeric aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene compound using a polymerization initiator, And a method of modifying the polymerization active site with various modifiers, and (2) a monomeric aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene compound. It can be obtained by a method of copolymerization using a polymerization initiator having a functional group.

Here, the aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer having a polymerization active site may be produced by anionic polymerization or may be produced by coordination polymerization.
When producing an aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound compound copolymer having a polymerization active site by anionic polymerization, an organic alkali metal compound is preferably used as a polymerization initiator, and a lithium compound is more preferably used.

In the rubber composition, the low molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound compound copolymer having a nitrogen functional group includes a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, amide group, imino group, imidazole group, nitrile group, and biridyl group. And is represented by the formula (I): (R ¹ ) ₂ N— [wherein R ¹ is each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, or an aralkyl group]. Substituted amino group and formula (II): R ² = N— [where, = is ylene, R ² is an alkylene group having 3 to 16 methylene groups, substituted alkylene group, oxyalkylene A cyclic amino group represented by the formula: or a N-alkylamino-alkylene group]. These nitrogen-containing functional groups have a high filler dispersion effect in rubber compositions containing various fillers such as carbon black, silica, and aluminum hydroxide, and greatly improve the storage elastic modulus of rubber compositions of all kinds. Loss tangent (tan ∂) is greatly reduced.

Examples of lithium compounds include hydrocarbyl lithium and lithium amide compounds.
When hydrocarbyl lithium is used as the polymerization initiator, a copolymer having a hydrocarbyl group at the polymerization initiation terminal and the other terminal being a polymerization active site is obtained.
On the other hand, when a lithium amide compound is used as a polymerization initiator, a copolymer having a nitrogen-containing functional group at the polymerization start terminal and the other terminal being a polymerization active site is obtained, and the copolymer is a modifier. Even if not modified, it can be used as a copolymer in the present invention. In addition, the usage-amount of the organic alkali metal compound as a polymerization initiator has the preferable range of 2-20 mmol per 100g of monomers.

  Examples of the hydrocarbyl lithium include ethyl lithium, n-propyl lithium, isopropyl lithium, n-butyl lithium, sec-butyl lithium, tert-octyl lithium, n-decyl lithium, phenyl lithium, 2-naphthyl lithium, and 2-butyl-phenyl. Examples include lithium, 4-phenyl-butyllithium, cyclohexyllithium, cyclopentyllithium, reaction products of diisopropenylbenzene and butyllithium, and among these, ethyllithium, n-propyllithium, isopropyllithium, n Alkyllithium such as -butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, tert-octyllithium and n-decyllithium is preferable, and n-butyllithium is particularly preferable.

  On the other hand, the lithium amide compounds include lithium hexamethylene imide, lithium pyrrolidide, lithium piperidide, lithium heptamethylene imide, lithium dodecamethylene imide, lithium dimethylamide, lithium diethylamide, lithium dipropylamide, lithium dibutylamide, lithium Dihexylamide, lithium diheptylamide, lithium dioctylamide, lythym-2-ethylhexylamide, lithium didecylamide, lithium-N-methylpiperazide, lithium ethylpropylamide, lithium ethylbutyramide, lithium methylbutyramide, lithium ethylbenzylamide, Lithium methyl phenethyl amide, etc., among which lithium hexamethylene imide, lithium pyrrolidide, lithium Umupiperijido, lithium heptamethylene imide, preferably lithium amide compound of the cyclic such as lithium dodecamethylene imide, lithium hexamethylene imide and lithium pyrrolidide are particularly preferable.

As the lithium amide compound, lithium represented by the formula: Li-AM [wherein AM is a substituted amino group represented by the above formula (I) or a cyclic amino group represented by the formula (II)] Low molecular weight in which at least one nitrogen-containing functional group selected from the group consisting of a substituted amino group represented by formula (I) and a cyclic amino group represented by formula (II) is introduced by using an amide compound An aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound compound copolymer (B) is obtained.
In the formula (I), R ¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group or an aralkyl group, specifically, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a butyl group, an octyl group, a cyclohexyl group, Preferable examples include 3-phenyl-1-propyl group and isobutyl group. R ¹ may be the same or different.

In the formula (II), R ² is an alkylene group having 3 to 16 methylene groups, a substituted alkylene group, an oxyalkylene group or an N-alkylamino-alkylene group. Here, the substituted alkylene group includes a 1- to 8-substituted alkylene group, and examples of the substituent include a chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, a bicycloalkyl group, and an aryl group. Groups and aralkyl groups. R ² is specifically preferably a trimethylene group, a tetramethylene group, a hexamethylene group, an oxydiethylene group, an N-alkylazadiethylene group, a dodecamethylene group, a hexadecamethylene group, or the like.

  The lithium amide compound may be preliminarily prepared from a secondary amine and a lithium compound and used for the polymerization reaction, but may be generated in a polymerization system. Here, examples of the secondary amine include dimethylamine, diethylamine, dibutylamine, dioctylamine, dicyclohexylamine, diisobutylamine and the like, azacycloheptane (ie, hexamethyleneimine), 2- (2-ethylhexyl) pyrrolidine, 3- (2-propyl) pyrrolidine, 3,5-bis (2-ethylhexyl) piperidine, 4-phenylpiperidine, 7-decyl-1-azacyclotridecane, 3,3-dimethyl-1-azacyclotetradecane, 4-dodecyl-1-azacyclooctane, 4- (2-phenylbutyl) -1-azacyclooctane, 3-ethyl-5-cyclohexyl-1-azacycloheptane, 4-hexyl-1-azacycloheptane, 9-isoamyl-1-azacycloheptadecane, 2-methyl-1-aza Chloheptade-9-ene, 3-isoptyruteazacyclododecane, 2-methyl-7-tert-butyl-1-azacyclododecane, 5-nonyl-toazacyclododecane, 8- (4′-methylphenyl)- 5-pentyl-3-azabicyclo [5,4.0] undecane, 1-butyl-6-azabicyclo [3.2.1] octane, 8-ethyl-3-azabicyclo [3.2.1] octane, Propyl-3-azabicyclo [3.2.2] nonane, 3- (t-butyl) -7-azabicyclo [4.3.0] nonane, 1,5,5-trimethyl-3-azabicyclo [4.4. 0] cyclic amines such as decane. On the other hand, as the lithium compound, the above hydrocarbyl lithium can be used.

  The method for producing an aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated Jun compound copolymer by anionic polymerization using the above organic alkali metal compound or the like as a polymerization initiator is not particularly limited. For example, in a hydrocarbon solvent inert to the polymerization reaction. Thus, a copolymer can be produced by polymerizing a mixture of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound. Here, as the hydrocarbon solvent inert to the polymerization reaction, propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, n-hexane, cyclohexane, propene, tobutene, isobutene, trans-2-butene, cis-2- Examples include butene, 1-pentene, 2-pentene, 1-hexene, 2-hexene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The anionic polymerization may be performed in the presence of a randomizer. The randomizer can control the microstructure of the conjugated diene compound portion of the copolymer. More specifically, the randomizer can control the vinyl bond amount of the conjugated diene compound portion of the copolymer, The conjugated Jun compound unit and the aromatic vinyl compound unit are randomized. Examples of the randomizer include dimethoxybenzene, tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane, diethylene glycol dibutyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, bistetrahydrofurylpropane, triethylamine, pyridine, N-methylmorpholine, N, N, N ′, N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, 1 , 2-dipiperidinoethane, potassium t-amylate, potassium t-butoxide, sodium t-amylate and the like. The amount of these randomizers used is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 100 molar equivalents per mole of polymerization initiator.

The anionic polymerization is preferably performed by solution polymerization, and the concentration of the monomer in the polymerization reaction solution is preferably in the range of 5 to 50% by mass, and more preferably in the range of 10 to 30% by mass. In addition, the content rate of the aromatic vinyl compound in the mixture of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound is the range of 5-80 mass% as above-mentioned. Therefore, it can be appropriately selected according to the amount of the aromatic vinyl compound of the target copolymer. Further, the polymerization mode is not particularly limited, and may be batch type or continuous type.
The polymerization temperature of the anionic polymerization is preferably in the range of 0 to 150 ° C, more preferably in the range of 20 to 130 ° C. The polymerization can be carried out under a generated pressure, but it is usually preferred to carry out the polymerization under a pressure sufficient to keep the monomer used in a substantially liquid phase. Here, when the polymerization reaction is carried out under a pressure higher than the generated pressure, it is preferable to pressurize the reaction system with an inert gas. Moreover, it is preferable to use what removed reaction-inhibiting substances, such as water, oxygen, a carbon dioxide, and a protic compound, as raw materials, such as a monomer used for superposition | polymerization, a polymerization initiator, and a solvent.

On the other hand, when producing an aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound compound copolymer having a polymerization active site by coordination polymerization, a rare earth metal compound is preferably used as the polymerization initiator, and the following component (a), ( More preferably, the component (b) and the component (c) are used in combination.
The component (a) used for the coordination polymerization is selected from a rare earth metal compound, a complex compound of a rare earth metal compound and a Lewis base, and the like. Here, examples of rare earth metal compounds include rare earth element carboxylates, alkoxides, β-diketone complexes, phosphates and phosphites, and Lewis bases include acetylacetone, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, N, N. -Dimethylformamide, thiophene, diphenyl ether, triethylamine, an organic phosphorus compound, monovalent or divalent alcohol, etc. are mentioned. As the rare earth element of the rare earth metal compound, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium and gadolinium are preferable, and among these, neodymium is particularly preferable. Specific examples of the component (a) include neodymium tri-2-ethylhexanoate, a complex compound thereof with acetylacetone, neodymium trineodecanoate, a complex compound thereof with acetylacetone, neodymium tri-n-butoxide, and the like. It is done. These (a) components may be used individually by 1 type, or 2 or more types may be mixed and used for them.

The component (b) used for the coordination polymerization is selected from organoaluminum compounds. Specifically, as the organoaluminum compound, a trihydrocarbyl aluminum compound represented by the formula: R ₃ Al, a hydrocarbyl aluminum hydride represented by the formula: R ₂ AIH or RAIH ₂ (wherein R is independently And a hydrocarbylaluminoxane compound having a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Specific examples of the organoaluminum compound include trialkylaluminum, dialkylaluminum hydride, alkylaluminum dihydride, alkylaluminoxane, and the like. These compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition, as (b) component, it is preferable to use aluminoxane and another organoaluminum compound together.

  The component (c) used in the coordination polymerization is a compound having a hydrolyzable halogen or a complex compound thereof with a Lewis base; an organic halide having a tertiary alkyl halide, benzyl halide or allyl halide; a non-coordinating anion And an ionic compound comprising a counter cation. Specific examples of the component (c) include alkylaluminum dichloride, dialkylaluminum chloride, silicon tetrachloride, tin tetrachloride, complexes of zinc chloride with Lewis bases such as alcohol, magnesium chloride and Lewis such as alcohol. Examples include complexes with bases, benzyl chloride, t-butyl chloride, benzyl bromide, t-butyl bromide, triphenylcarbonium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) borate and the like. These (c) components may be used individually by 1 type, or 2 or more types may be mixed and used for them.

In addition to the components (a), (b), and (c), the polymerization initiator is preliminarily used, if necessary, using the same conjugated diene compound and / or aromatic vinyl compound as the polymerization monomer. May be prepared. Further, part or all of the component (a) or the component (c) may be supported on an inert solid. Although the usage-amount of said each component can be set suitably, (a) component is 0.001-0.5 mol normally per 100g of monomers. The molar ratio (b) component / (a) component is preferably 5 to 1000, and (c) component / (a) component is preferably 0.5 to 10.
The polymerization temperature in the coordination polymerization is preferably in the range of −80 to 150 ° C., and more preferably in the range of −20 to 120 ° C. Moreover, as a solvent used for coordination polymerization, a hydrocarbon solvent inert to the reaction exemplified in the above-mentioned anionic polymerization can be used, and the concentration of the monomer in the reaction solution is the same as in the case of anionic polymerization. . Furthermore, the reaction pressure in coordination polymerization is the same as that in the case of anionic polymerization, and it is desirable that the raw material used for the reaction substantially removes reaction inhibitors such as water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and protic compounds.

  In modifying the polymerization active site of the copolymer having a polymerization active site with a modifier, the modifier used is preferably a nitrogen-containing compound, a silicon-containing compound or a tin-containing compound. In this case, a nitrogen-containing functional group, a silicon-containing functional group, or a tin-containing functional group can be introduced by a modification reaction.

  The nitrogen-containing compound that can be used as the modifier preferably has a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, amide group, imino group, imidazole group, nitrile group, or biridyl group. Suitable nitrogen-containing compounds as the modifier include isocyanate compounds such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate, crude MDI, trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate, tolylene diisocyanate, 4- (dimethylamino) benzophenone, 4- (diethylamino) benzophenone, 4-dimethylamino. Examples include benzylideneaniline, 4-dimethylaminobenzylidenebutylamine, dimethylimidazolidinone, N-methylpyrrolidone and the like.

Examples of the silicon-containing compound that can be used as the modifier include the following formula (III):
_{^{A-R 3 (R 4)}} n -Si- (OR 5) 3-n ··· (III)
[Wherein A is (thio) epoxy, (thio) inocyanate, (thio) ketone, (thio) aldehyde, imine, amide, isocyanuric acid triester, (thio) carponic acid hydrocarbyl ester, (thio) carboxylic acid One having at least one functional group selected from metal salts, carboxylic anhydrides, carboxylic acid halides, dihydrocarbyl carbonates, cyclic tertiary amines, acyclic tertiary amines, nitriles, pyridines, sulfides and multisulfides. R ³ is a single bond or a divalent inert hydrocarbon group; R ⁴ and R ⁵ are each independently a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or 6 to 6 carbon atoms. 18 monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group; n is an integer from 0 to 2; if OR ⁵ there is a plurality, the plurality of OR ⁵ are the same with or different from each other Well; The hydrocarbyloxy silane compound in the molecule represented by is not included in the active proton and an onium salt] and partial condensates thereof, and the following formula (IV):
_{^{R 6 p -Si- (OR 7)}} 4-p ··· (IV)
Wherein R ⁶ and R ⁷ are each independently a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms; p is 0 be ~ 2 integer; If oR ⁷ there are a plurality, a plurality of oR ⁷ will be or different from each other the same; hydrocarbyloxy represented by not included active proton and onium salt is also in the molecule) Silane compounds and partial condensates thereof are also preferred.

In formula (III), among the functional groups in A, imine includes ketimine, aldimine and amidine, (thio) carboxylic acid ester includes unsaturated carboxylic acid ester such as acrylate and methacrylate, Tertiary amines include N, N-disubstituted aromatic amines such as N, N-disubstituted anilines, and cyclic tertiary amines can include (thio) ethers as part of the ring. Examples of the metal of the metal salt of (thio) carboxylic acid include alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Al, Sn, Zn and the like.
The divalent inert hydrocarbon group in R ³ is preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The alkylene group may be linear, branched or cyclic, but is particularly preferably linear. Examples of the linear alkylene group include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a trimethylene group, a tetramethylene group, a pentamethylene group, a hexamethylene group, an octamethylene group, a decamethylene group, and a dodecamethylene group.

Examples of R ⁴ and R ⁵ include an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group having 7 to 18 carbon atoms. Here, the alkyl group and alkenyl group may be linear, branched, or cyclic, for example, methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl group, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, vinyl, propenyl, allyl, hexenyl, octenyl Group, cyclopentynyl group, cyclohexenyl group and the like. The aryl group may have a substituent such as a lower alkyl group on the aromatic ring, and examples thereof include a phenyl group, a tolyl group, a xylyl group, and a naphthyl group. Furthermore, the aralkyl group may have a substituent such as a lower alkyl group on the aromatic ring, and examples thereof include a benzyl group, a phenethyl group, and a naphthylmethyl group.

In the formula (III), n is an integer of 0 to 2, but 0 is preferable, and it is necessary that this molecule does not have active protons and onium salts.
Examples of the hydrocarbyloxysilane compound represented by formula (III) include (thio) epoxy group-containing hydrocarbyloxysilane compounds such as 2-glycidoxyethyltrimethoxysilane, 2-glycidoxyethyltriethoxysilane, (2 -Glycidoxyethyl) methyldimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane, (3-glycidoxypropyl) methyldimethoxysilane, 2- (3,4-epoxy Cyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, 2- (3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltriethoxysilane, 2- (3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyl (methyl) dimethoxysilane and epoxies in these compounds Replace the group with a thioepoxy group Can be exemplified ones, among them, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-glycidoxypropyl triethoxysilane are particularly preferred.

  Further, as imine group-containing hydrocarbyloxysilane compounds, N- (1,3-dimethylbutylidene 3- (triethoxysilyl) -1-propanamine, N- (tomethylethylident 3- (triethoxysilyl) -1 -Propanamine, N-ethylidene-3- (triethoxysilyl) -1-propanamine, N- (tomethylpropylidene) -3- (triethoxysilyl) -1-propanamine, N- (4-N, Corresponding to N-dimethylaminobenzylidene) -3- (triethoxysilyl) -1-propanamine, N- (cyclohexylidene) -3- (triethoxysilyl) -1-propanamine and their triethoxysilyl compounds Trimethoxysilyl compound, methyldiethoxysilyl compound, ethyldiethoxysilyl compound, methyldi Toxisilyl compounds, ethyldimethoxysilyl compounds and the like can be mentioned. Among these, N- (1-methylprovident 3- (triethoxysilyl) -1-propanamine and N- (1,3- Dimethylpropylidene) -3- (triethoxysilylto 1-propanamine is particularly preferred.

  Furthermore, imine (amidine) group-containing compounds include 1- [3- (triethoxysilyl) propyl] -4,5-dihydroimidazole, 1- [3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyl] -4,5-dihydro. Imidazole, N- (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) -4,5-dihydroimidazole, N- (3-isopropoxysilylpropyl) -4,5-dihydroimigzole, N- (3-methyldiethoxysilylpropyl) ) -4,5-dihydroimidazole and the like. Among these, N- (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) -4,5-dihydroimidazole is preferable.

  Furthermore, as the carboxylic acid ester group-containing compound, 3-methacryloyloxypropyltriethoxysilane, 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloyloxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, 3-methacryloyloxypropyltri Examples thereof include isopropoxysilane, and among these, 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane is preferable.

  Examples of the isocyanate group-containing compound include 3-isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-isocyanatopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, and 3-isocyanatopropyltriisopropoxysilane. Of these, 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane is preferred.

Furthermore, examples of the carboxylic acid anhydride-containing compound include 3-triethoxysilylpropyl succinic anhydride, 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl succinic anhydride, 3-methyldiethoxysilylpropyl succinic anhydride, and the like. Among these, 3-triethoxysilylpropyl succinic anhydride is preferable.
Examples of the cyclic tertiary amine group-containing hydrocarbyloxysilane compound include 3- (1-hexamethyleneimino) propyl (triethoxy) silane, 3- (1-hexamethyleneimino) propyl (trimethoxy) silane, and (1-hexamethylene). Imino) methyl (trimethoxy) silane, (1-hexamethyleneimino) methyl (triethoxy) silane, 2- (1-hexamethyleneimino) ethyl (triethoxy) silane, 2- (1-hexamethyleneimino) ethyl (trimethoxy) silane 3- (1-pyrrolidinyl) propyl (triethoxy) silane, 3- (1-pyrrolidinyl) propyl (trimethoxy) silane, 3- (1-heptamethyleneimino) propyl (triethoxy) silane, 3- (1-dodecamethylene) Imino) propyl (triethoxy Silane, 3- (1-hexamethyleneimino) propyl (diethoxy) methylsilane, 3- (1-hexamethyleneimino) propyl (diethoxy) ethylsilane, 3- [10- (triethoxysilyl) decyl] -4-oxazoline, etc. Among these, 3- (1-hexamethyleneimino) prochyl (triethoxy) silane and (1-hexamethyleneimino) methyl (trimethoxy) silane are preferable.

  Further, examples of the acyclic tertiary amine group-containing hydrocarbyloxysilane compound include 3-dimethylaminopropyl (triethoxy) silane, 3-dimethylaminopropyl (trimethoxy) silane, 3-diethylaminopropyl (triethoxy) silane, 3-diethylaminopropyl ( Trimethoxy) silane, 2-dimethylaminoethyl (triethoxy) silane, 2-dimethylaminoethyl (trimethoxy) silane, 3-dimethylaminopropyl (diethoxy) methylsilane, 3-dibutylaminopropyl (triethoxy) silane, and the like. Of these, 3-diethylaminopropyl (triethoxy) silane and 3-dimethylaminopropyl (triethoxy) silane are preferable.

  Still other hydrocarbyloxysilane compounds include 2- (trimethoxysilylethyl) pyridine, 2- (triethoxysilylethyl) pyridine, 2-cyanoethyltriethoxysilane and the like.

  The hydrocarbyloxysilane compound of the above formula (III) may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Moreover, the partial condensate of the said hydrocarbyl oxysilane compound can also be used.

In the formula (IV), R ⁶ and R ⁷ are as described for R ⁴ and R ⁵ in the formula (III), respectively.

Examples of the hydrocarbyloxysilane compound represented by the formula (IV) include tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, tetra-n-propoxysilane, tetraisopropoxysilane, tetra-n-butoxysilane, tetraisobutoxysilane, tetra -Sec-butoxysilane, tetra-tert-butoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, methyltripropoxysilane, methyltriisopropoxysilane, ethyltrimethoxysilane, ethyltriethoxysilane, propyltriethoxysilane, butyl Trimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, methylphenyldimethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxy Silane, divinyl dimethoxysilane, divinyl diethoxy silane and the like, and among them, tetraethoxysilane is particularly preferred.
The hydrocarbyloxysilane compound of the formula (IV) may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Moreover, the partial condensate of these hydrocarbyl oxysilane compounds can also be used.
As the modifier, the following formula (V):
R ⁸ _a ZX ··· (V)
[Wherein, R ⁸ each independently comprises an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms. Selected from the group; Z is tin or silicon; X is each independently chlorine or bromine; a is 0-3, b is 1-4, provided that a + b = 4. The coupling agent represented is also preferred.
By modifying with the coupling agent of the formula (V), the cold flow resistance of the copolymer can be improved. The copolymer obtained by modification with the coupling agent of the formula (V) has at least one tin-carbon bond or silicon-carbon bond.

Specific examples of R ^{8 in the} formula (V) include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-butyl group, a neophyll group, a cyclohexyl group, an n-octyl group, and a 2-ethylhexyl group. As the coupling agent of formula M, specifically, SnCl ₄ , R ⁸ SnCl ₃ , R ⁸ ₂ SnCl ₂ , R ⁸ ₃ SnCl, SiCl ₄ , R ⁸ SiCl ₃ , R ⁸ ₂ SiCl ₂ , R ⁸ ₃ SiCl, SiCl ₄ , etc. are preferred, and SnCl ₄ and SiCl ₄ are particularly preferred.

The modification reaction of the polymerization active site by the modifying agent is preferably performed by a solution reaction, and the solution may contain a monomer used at the time of polymerization. The reaction mode of the modification reaction is not particularly limited, and may be a batch type or a continuous type. Furthermore, the reaction temperature of the modification reaction is not particularly limited as long as the reaction proceeds, and the reaction temperature of the polymerization reaction may be employed as it is. In addition, the usage-amount of modifier | denaturant has the preferable range of 0.25-3.0 mol with respect to 1 mol of polymerization initiators used for manufacture of a copolymer, and the range of 0.5-1.5 mol is still more preferable.
In the present invention, after drying the reaction solution containing the copolymer and separating the copolymer, the obtained copolymer may be blended with the rubber component, or the reaction containing the copolymer. The solution may be mixed with the rubber cement of the rubber component in a solution state and then dried to obtain a mixture of the rubber component and the copolymer.

<Phenolic resin (C)>
The phenyl resin used in the rubber composition of the present invention is compounded in order to obtain a rubber composition having desired physical properties. Specifically, the dynamic elastic modulus E ′ is improved while maintaining tan δ downward. , M300 is added in order not to make it higher than necessary. An example is a thermoplastic (novolak-type) phenolic resin.
The thermoplastic (novolak type) phenolic resin used in the present invention is phenol or modified phenol and formaldehyde, and the molar ratio (F / P) of the latter (F) to the former (P) is usually 0.6 to 1.0. It is a solid resin having a melting point in the range of 50 to 120 ° C., obtained by condensation polymerization in the above range. Specific thermoplastic (novolak type) phenolic resins include, for example, straight phenol resins, alkyl-substituted phenol resins, oil-modified phenol resins, and the like.
In the case of an alkyl-substituted phenol resin, it is a phenol resin in which an alkyl group is substituted on at least a part of the aromatic ring of the following general formula (I). The oil-modified phenolic resin is a phenolic resin in which an oil component is introduced as a modified species in order to improve the compatibility of the phenolic resin with respect to a rubber composition, particularly a non-polar diene rubber composition.

Examples of the modified species include resorcin, cresol, alkylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, phenylphenol, butylphenol, cashew oil, aromatic hydrocarbon resin, alkylbenzene, melamines, terpenes, and furans.
Examples of the modification method include substitution of an aromatic ring of a phenol-based resin, co-condensation polymerization of formalin, phenol, and oil-modified phenol, or co-condensation polymerization or condensation reaction of an oil-modified species and phenol.
Therefore, as a preferable thermoplastic (novolak type) phenolic resin, an alkyl-substituted phenolic resin and an oil-modified phenolic resin are desirable in terms of compatibility with the diene rubber.
Particularly preferred oil-modified phenol resins include cashew-modified phenol resins represented by the following general formula (II), phenol resins modified with aromatic hydrocarbons represented by the following general formula (III), and the following general formula ( The terpene modified phenol resin represented by IV) is exemplified.

Specific examples of the straight phenol resin include Sumilite resin product number PR-50731 (melting point: 95 ° C.) (manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., the same shall apply hereinafter). C), cashew modified phenolic resin, Sumilite resin product number PR-12686 (melting point 70 ° C), and oil modified phenolic resin product, Sumilite resin product number PR-133491 (melting point 73 ° C).
The compounding quantity of the said thermoplastic phenol resin is 0.5-20 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of said rubber components, Preferably, it is 2-5 mass parts. When the blending amount of the resin is less than 0.5 parts by mass, it is difficult to obtain a rubber composition having a desired physical property because the elastic modulus is not improved, and when it exceeds 20 parts by mass, heat is generated. It deteriorates the nature and affects the rolling resistance.

The above novolac resins (also referred to as “two-stage resins”) are thermoplastic, for example, unlike thermosetting resols, it requires the use of a curing agent (methylene donor) to crosslink, Has sufficient plasticity and does not interfere with the processing of the rubber composition. After crosslinking with methylene donors (referred to as “thermosetting” novolac resins), they are characterized by a three-dimensional lattice that is particularly stiffer than the three-dimensional lattice of resole.
That is, when the composition is cured, it represents a reactant that reacts with the methylene donor compound by formation of a methylene bridge (—CH ₂ —), resulting in in-situ formation of a three-dimensional resin lattice. For this reason, when the rubber composition is cured, such a methylene acceptor is preferably dispersible simultaneously with the reinforcing inorganic filler and its coupling agent in the rubber matrix.
Moreover, it can mention below as a hardening | curing agent (D) with respect to a methylene bridge.

<Curing agent (D)>
Curing agents capable of crosslinking or curing the methylene acceptor described above are also commonly referred to as “methylene donors” and must be used in conjunction with the acceptor. Crosslinking of the resin occurs during the curing of the rubber matrix due to the formation of (—CH ₂ —) bridges.
Preferably, the methylene donor is a formaldehyde polymer such as hexamethylenetetramine (abbreviated as HMT), hexamethoxymethylmelamine (abbreviated as HMMM or H3M), hexaethoxymethylmelamine, p-formaldehyde, N-methylolmelamine derivatives, or Selected from the group consisting of mixtures of these compounds. More preferably, a methylene donor selected from HMT, H3M or a mixture of these compounds is used.
That is, in the present invention, when hexamethylenetetramine that can cure the resin and achieve the desired physical properties is used, the blending amount of the hexamethylenetetramine is 3 to 20 masses per 100 mass parts of the resin. Part, preferably 7.5 to 12.3 parts by weight. If the blending amount of hexamethylenetetramine is less than 3 parts by mass, the degree of curing will be insufficient, and if it exceeds 20 parts by mass, the effect of curing will not be obtained, and only the downside due to the cost increase of raw materials will be undesirable. .

<Other additives>
In addition to the copolymer (B), other naphthenic and aromatic process oils (aromatic oils) and softeners such as spindle oil can be added to the rubber composition of the present invention.
The softener is supplementarily added to the copolymer (B), and the total amount of the copolymer (B) and the softener is in the range of 5 to 80 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A). Especially preferably, it is good to add in the range of 10-60 mass parts. If it is less than 5, the effect of the said copolymer (B) will also reduce, and when it exceeds 80 mass parts, abrasion resistance will deteriorate.

A filler such as silica and / or carbon black (C / B) is added to the rubber composition of the present invention.
The silica mass ratio in the filler is preferably in the range of 20 to 90 mass%, particularly preferably in the range of 50 to 90 mass%. When the silica mass ratio in the filler is less than 30% by mass, it becomes difficult to achieve both braking performance, particularly wet braking performance and low rolling resistance.
The filler carbon black (C / B) is preferably a carbon black such as HAF, ISAF, or SAF.
The total content of the filler in the rubber composition is preferably 40 to 100 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and if it is less than 40 parts by mass, the elastic modulus decreases and the steering stability of the tire decreases. If it exceeds 100 parts by mass, the heat build-up will deteriorate and the durability of the tire will decrease.
Further, in the rubber composition of the present invention, fatty acids such as stearic acid conventionally used may be used in addition to the above copolymer. The composition of the present invention can contain a silane coupling agent, an anti-aging agent, a vulcanization accelerator, zinc white, sulfur and the like in addition to the above-described composition.

  The pneumatic tire of the present invention is produced by a usual method using the rubber composition of the present invention. That is, if necessary, the rubber composition of the present invention containing various chemicals as described above is extruded into a tread member at an unvulcanized stage, and pasted and molded by a usual method on a tire molding machine. A green tire is formed. The green tire is heated and pressed in a vulcanizer to obtain a tire. The pneumatic tire of the present invention thus obtained is excellent in low rolling resistance (low heat generation) and dry road surface handling stability. An inert gas such as nitrogen may be introduced into the pneumatic tire.

EXAMPLES Next, although an Example demonstrates this invention further in detail, this invention is not limited at all by these examples. The performance of the test tire was measured according to the following method.
(1) Rolling resistance The rolling resistance was rotated at a speed of 80 km / h using a rotating drum having an outer diameter of 1707.6 mm having a smooth steel surface and a width of 350 mm under a load of 4500 N (460 kg). Measured and evaluated with the time lameness method. The measured values were indexed with the value of Comparative Example 1 as 100. Larger values indicate better rolling resistance (low fuel consumption).
(2) Dry road surface handling stability (DRY performance test)
Based on feelings by professional test drivers, the cornering performance and braking / driving performance on the asphalt road surface of the test course were evaluated as a comprehensive index. In addition, about a value, the tire of the comparative example 1 is set to 100, and it shows that DRY performance is excellent, so that a numerical value is large.

Production Example of Copolymer (B) To an 800 mL pressure-resistant glass container dried and purged with nitrogen, 300 g of cyclohexane, 40 g of 1,3-butadiene, 13 g of styrene, 0.90 mmol of ditetrahydrofurylpropane were added, and n- After adding 0.90 mmol of butyl lithium (n-BuLi), a polymerization reaction was performed at 50 ° C. for 2 hours. The polymerization conversion rate at this time was almost 100%. Next, the modifier shown in Table 1 as a modifier was quickly added to the polymerization reaction system in the amount shown in Table 1, followed by a modification reaction at 50 ° C. for 30 minutes. Thereafter, 0.5 mL of an isopropanol solution (BHT concentration: 5% by mass) of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol (BHT) was added to the polymerization reaction system to stop the polymerization reaction. To obtain copolymers 2 to 5.

In the production example of copolymer 1, a polymerization reaction is carried out in the same manner as in the production examples of copolymers 2 to 5, and after completion of the polymerization reaction, a modification reaction is not carried out. 0.5 mL of an isopropanol solution (BHT concentration: 5% by mass) of t-butyl-p-cresol (BHT) was added to terminate the polymerization reaction, and further dried according to a conventional method to obtain a copolymer 1.
The weight average molecular weight (Mw), microstructure, and bound styrene content of the copolymers 1 to 5 produced as described above were measured by the following methods. The results are shown in Table 1.

(1) Mass average molecular weight (Mw)
Gel permeation chromatography [GPC: Tosoh HLC-8020, column: Tosoh GMH-XL (two in series), detector: differential refractometer (RI)], based on monodisperse polystyrene, The weight average molecular weight (Mw) in terms of polystyrene was determined.
(2) Vinyl content The vinyl content of the polymer was determined by the infrared method (Morero method).
(3) Bound styrene content The bound styrene content of the polymer was determined by 270 MHz ¹ H-NMR.

The following are used for the copolymer rubber (A).
SBR JSR # 1500 is # 1500 [(Emulsion polymerization SBR mass average molecular weight 450,000) (styrene content (St) / vinyl bond content (Vi) = 23.5 mass% / 18%)] manufactured by JSR Corporation It is.
SBR JSR SL563 is # SL583 (solution polymerization S styrene content (St) / vinyl bond content (Vi) = 20 mass% / 62%) manufactured by JSR Corporation.
BR is butadiene rubber.

  Next, using the above-mentioned copolymers (B) 1 to 5 and / or aroma oil, the rubber component (A) is used to prepare a rubber composition having the formulation shown in Tables 2 and 3, and this is used for the tire. The tire was used for tread and vulcanized to produce a test tire, and the rolling resistance test and the DRY steering stability test were conducted. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

  The present invention improves the properties of the rubber composition used for the rubber member such as the tread portion, and is excellent in low rolling resistance (low heat generation) and dry road surface stability without impairing contradictory performance such as steering stability. It is a pneumatic tire with high industrial applicability.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a general pneumatic tire.

Claims (7)

  An aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer having a mass average molecular weight (polystyrene conversion measured by gel permeation chromatography) in the range of 5,000 to 500,000 with respect to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A) ( A rubber composition containing B) in a range of 2 to 70 parts by mass and a phenolic resin (C) in a range of 0.5 to 20 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin (C) A rubber composition to which a curing agent (D) comprising a methylene donor is added in an amount of 3 to 20 parts by mass.   The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer (B) is composed of 5 to 80% by mass of an aromatic vinyl compound, and the vinyl bond content of the diene compound portion is 10 to 80% by mass.   The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the copolymer (B) is at least one functional group-containing copolymer selected from a tin-containing functional group, a silicon-containing functional group, and a nitrogen-containing functional group.   The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the phenolic resin (C) is a novolak-type alkyl-substituted phenolic resin.   The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the phenolic resin (C) is a novolac type oil-modified phenolic resin.   The rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein a filler containing 20 to 90% by mass of silica is added.   A pneumatic tire using the rubber composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 as a tire member.

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