The disclosure relates to a process for improving the processability,
storage stability and/or cure rate of an uncured silica reinforced rubber
composition where silica comprises the major filler in the reinforced
rubber composition, which comprises combining a mixture comprising,
rubber, silica and at least one organic compound having a low molecular
weight and a functional group wherein said functional group is at least an
epoxy group, such as an epoxy/ether, epoxy/hydroxyl, epoxy/ester,
epoxy/amine, ether/amine, episulfide, episulfide/ether,
episulfide/hydroxyl, episulfide/ester functional group located in a
terminal or sterically unhindered position in the molecule of said organic
compound where the molecular weight of said organic compound having a low
molecular weight is less than 7,000, or the organic compound comprises an
abietyl, styrenated resorcinol formaldehyde, or ester hydroxyl organic
compound having a hydroxyl, ester, and optionally, an ether group, such as
an ester diol.
