Modified fillers and elastomeric composites comprising same

1. A modified filler comprising a filler having adsorbed thereon a triazole comprising:

or tautomers thereof;

wherein Z b is an alkylene group, where b is 0 or 1;

X, which is the same or different, is H, NH 2 , SH, NHNH 2 , CHO, COOR, COOH, CONR 2 , CN, CH 3 , OH, NDD′, or CF 3 ;

Y is H, or NH 2 ;

A is a functional group that is S k R, SSO 3 H, SO 2 NRR, SO 2 SR, SNRR′, SNQ, SO 2 NQ, CO 2 NQ, S-(1,4-piperazinediyl)-SR, 2-(1,3-dithianyl), or 2-(1,3-dithiolanyl); or a linear, branched, aromatic, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical substituted with one or more of said functional group;

where R and R′, which are the same or different, are hydrogen; branched or unbranched C 1 -C 12 alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; alkylaryl; arylalkyl, arylene, heteroarylene, or alkylarylene;

k is an integer from 1 to 8 when R is H and otherwise k is 2 to 8;

Q is (CH 2 ) w , (CH 2 ) x O(CH 2 ) z , (CH 2 ) x NR(CH 2 ) z , or (CH 2 ) x S(CH 2 ) z , where x is 1 to 6, z is 1 to 6, and w is 2 to 6;

E is S w , where w is 2 to 8, SSO, SSO 2 , SOSO 2 , SO 2 SO 2 ; and

said triazole is optionally N— substituted with an NDD′ substituent, where

D and D′, which are the same or different, are H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

2. The modified filler of claim 1 , wherein said triazole comprises:

or tautomers thereof, and

E is S w , where w is 2 to 8, SSO, SSO 2 , SOSO 2 , SO 2 SO 2 .

3. The modified filler of claim 1 , wherein said filler has adsorbed thereon: 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl disulfide, 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol, or 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl disulfide, or any combination thereof.

4. The modified filler of claim 1 , wherein said triazole comprising:

or tautomers thereof.

5. A modified filler comprising a filler having adsorbed absorbed thereon:

a) at least one triazole;

b) at least one pyrazole; or

any combination thereof, wherein said modified filler improves abrasion resistance when present in an elastomer composition compared to said filler that is not modified.

6. The modified filler of claim 5 , wherein a) or b) include a sulfur-containing substituent that is S w , where w is 2 to 8, SSO, SSO 2 , SOSO 2 , SO 2 SO 2 .

7. The modified filler of claim 1 , further comprising at least one chemical group attached to said filler.

8. The modified filler of claim 7 , wherein said chemical group is at least one organic group, and said organic group comprises:

a) at least one triazole;

b) at least one pyrazole;

c) at least one imidazole; or

any combinations thereof.

9. The modified filler of claim 8 , wherein said triazole is attached to said filler and comprises:

or tautomers thereof;

wherein Z b is an alkylene group, where b is 0 or 1;

at least one X comprises a bond to the filler, and any remaining X comprises a bond to the filler or a functional group that is H, NH 2 , SH, NHNH 2 , CHO, COOR, COOH, CONR 2 , CN, CH 3 , OH, NDD′, or CF 3 , or is A, R or R′;

A is a functional group that is S k R, SSO 3 H, SO 2 NRR′, SO 2 SR, SNRR′, SNQ, SO 2 NQ, CO 2 NQ, S-(1,4-piperazinediyl)-SR, 2-(1,3-dithianyl), or 2-(1,3-dithiolanyl); or a linear, branched, aromatic, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical substituted with one or more of said functional group;

where R and R′, which are the same or different, are hydrogen; branched or unbranched C 1 -C 12 alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; alkylaryl; arylalkyl, arylene, heteroarylene, or alkylarylene;

k is an integer from 1 to 8 when R is H and otherwise k is 2 to 8;

Q is (CH 2 ) w , (CH2) x O(CH 2 ) z , (CH 2 ) x NR(CH 2 ) z , or (CH 2 ) x S(CH 2 ) z , where x is 1 to 6, z is 1 to 6, and w is 2 to 6;

E is S w , where w is 2 to 8, SSO, SSO 2 , SOSO 2 , SO 2 SO 2 ; and

said triazole is optionally N— substituted with an NDD′ substituent, where

D and D′, which are the same or different, are H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

10. The modified filler of claim 8 , wherein said triazole is attached to said filler and is a 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl group, or a 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl group.

11. The modified filler of claim 7 , wherein said chemical group comprises an alkyl group or aromatic group having at least functional group that is R, OR, COR, COOR, OCOR, a carboxylate salt, halogen, CN, NR 2 , SO 3 H, a sulfonate salt, NR(COR), CONR 2 , NO 2 , PO 3 H 2 , a phosphonate salt, a phosphate salt N═NR, NR 3 + X − , PR 3 + X − , S k R, SSO 3 H, a SSO 3 − salt, SO 2 NRR′, SO 2 SR, SNRR′, SNQ, SO 2 NQ, CO 2 NQ, S-(1,4-piperazinediyl)-SR, 2-(1,3-dithianyl) 2-(1,3-dithiolanyl), SOR, or SO 2 R, wherein R and R′, which are the same or different, are independently hydrogen, branched or unbranched C 1 -C 12 , saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, and k is an integer that ranges from 1-8, and X − is a halide or an anion derived from a mineral or organic acid, Q is (CH 2 ) w , (CH 2 ) x O(CH 2 ) z , (CH 2 ) x NR(CH 2 ) z , or (CH 2 ) x S(CH 2 ) z , where w is an integer from 2 to 6 and x and z are independently integers from 1 to 6.

12. The modified filler of claim 7 , wherein said chemical group comprises an aromatic group having a formula AyAr-, wherein Ar is an aromatic radical and A is R, OR, COR, COOR, OCOR, a carboxylate salt, halogen, CN, NR 2 , SO 3 H, a sulfonate salt, NR(COR), CONR 2 , NO 2 , PO 3 H 2 , a phosphonate salt, a phosphate salt N═NR, NR 3 + X − , PR 3 + X − , S k R, SSO 3 H, a SSO 3 − salt, SO 2 NRR′, SO 2 SR, SNRR′, SNQ, SO 2 NQ, CO 2 NQ, S-(1,4-piperazinediyl)-SR, 2-(1,3-dithianyl) 2-(1,3-dithiolanyl), SOR, or SO 2 R, wherein R and R′, which are the same or different, are independently hydrogen, branched or unbranched C 1 -C 100 , saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, and k is an integer that ranges from 1-8, and X − is a halide or an anion derived from a mineral or organic acid, Q is (CH 2 ) w , (CH 2 ) x O(CH 2 ) z , (CH 2 ) x NR(CH 2 ) z , or (CH 2 ) x S(CH 2 ) z , where w is an integer from 2 to 6 and x and z are independently integers from 1 to 6, and y is an integer from 1 to the total number of —CH radicals in the aromatic radical.

13. The modified filler of claim 12 , wherein said Ar comprises a triazole group, a pyrazole group, or an imidazole group.

14. The modified filler of claim 7 , wherein said chemical group is at least one aminomethylphenyl group.

15. The modified filler of claim 7 , wherein said chemical group comprises at least one aromatic sulfide or polysulfide.

16. The modified filler of claim 1 , wherein said modified filler improves abrasion resistance when present in an elastomer composition compared to said filler that is not modified with a chemical group adsorbed or attached to said filler.

17. The modified filler of claim 8 , wherein said modified filler improves abrasion resistance when present in an elastomer composition compared to said filler that is not modified and improves (decreases) hysteresis when present in said elastomer composition compared to said filler that is unmodified.

18. A modified filler comprising a filler having attached thereon a triazole comprising:

or tautomers thereof, wherein

wherein Z b is an alkylene group, where b is 0 or 1;

at least one X comprises a bond to the filler and any remaining X comprises a bond to the filler or a functional group that is H, NH 2 , SH, NHNH 2 , CHO, COOR, COOH, CONR 2 , CN, CH 3 , OH, NDD′, or CF 3 , or is A, R or R′;

A is a functional group that is S k R, SSO 3 H, SO 2 NRR′, SO 2 SR, SNRR′, SNQ, SO 2 NQ, CO 2 NQ, S-(1,4-piperazinediyl)-SR, 2-(1,3-dithianyl), or 2-(1,3-dithiolanyl); or a linear, branched, aromatic, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical substituted with one or more of said functional group;

where R and R′, which can be the same or different, are hydrogen; branched or unbranched C 1 -C 12 alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; alkylaryl; arylalkyl, arylene, heteroarylene, or alkylarylene;

k is an integer from 1 to 8;

Q is (CH2) w , (CH2) x O(CH 2 ) z , (CH 2 ) x NR(CH 2 ) z , or (CH 2 ) x S(CH 2 ) z , where x is 1 to 6, z is 1 to 6, and w is 2 to 6;

E is S w , where w is 2 to 8, SSO, SSO 2 , SOSO 2 , SO 2 SO 2 ; and

said triazole is optionally N— substituted with an NDD′ substituent, where

D and D′, which are the same or different, are H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

19. An elastomeric composition comprising the modified filler of claim 1 and at least one elastomer.

20. An article of manufacture comprising the elastomeric composition of claim 19 .

21. The article of claim 20 , wherein said article is a tire or a component thereof.

22. A method to improve abrasion resistance in an elastomeric composition comprising introducing at least one modified filler of claim 1 into said elastomeric composition prior to curing.

23. A method to improve (decrease) hysteresis in an elastomeric composition comprising introducing at least one modified filler of claim 7 into said elastomeric composition prior to curing.

24. A method to increase abrasion resistance and decrease hysteresis in an elastomeric composition comprising introducing the modified filler of claim 7 into said elastomeric composition prior to curing.