Abstract: A tire having improved tear strength including at least one component comprising a vulcanized elastomer from about 5 to about 50 parts by weight polypropylene per one hundred parts by weight elastomer, and from about 0.05 to about 2.0 parts by weight of an anhydride compatibilizing agent per one hundred parts by weight elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polymers near their gelation point as additives to hydrogenated block copolymers to form thermoreversible gels. More particularly, the compositions of this invention are elastomeric and exhibit improved damping capabilities over a wide temperature range and frequency range due to the addition of a novel near-gelation polymer damping additive.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping compound. The method includes: reacting a poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleic acid anhydride) polymer with a primary amine under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleimide) polymer plasticizer; and, dispersing the poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleimide) polymer plasticizer within a rubber formulation to form a relatively high damping compound.

Abstract: The instant invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping, soft polymer gel. The method includes: reacting a poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleimide) polymer with a maleated polyalkylene and an alkyl diamine under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a polyalkylene grafted poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleimide) polymer product; and, dispersing the polyalkylene grafted poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleimide) polymer product with an extender oil sufficient to form the gel. The instant invention also contemplates a polymer gel composition, a polymer composition and an article manufactured from the polymer gel composition.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping, soft polymer gel. The method includes: reacting a poly(alkyl vinylether-co-maleimide) polymer with a maleated polyalkylene and an alkyl diamine under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a polyalkylene grafted poly(alkyl vinylether-co-maleimide) polymer product; and, dispersing the polyalkylene grafted poly(alkyl vinylether-co-maleimide) polymer product with an extender oil sufficient to form the gel. The present invention also contemplates a polymer gel composition, a polymer composition and an article manufactured from the polymer gel composition.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) a cyclic hydrogen phosphite, and (c) an organoaluminum compound is disclosed for polymerizing 1,3-butadiene into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. The use of the catalyst composition of this disclosure avoids the use of environmentally detrimental components such as carbon disulfide and halogenated solvents. The melting temperature of the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be varied from about 125 to about 175° C. by variations in the catalyst components and the component ratios. The ability to vary the melting temperature over such a broad range with a single catalyst composition is very desirable. The syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be used as a plastic or as an additive for rubber compositions wherein it can crosslink with conventional rubbers using conventional crosslinking agents.

Abstract: Incorporation of neutral water soluble inorganic salts into a precipitated silica improves the filler dispersion in a compounded rubber, reduces rolling resistance (hysteresis), and improves processability. These properties are achieved without loss of the expected reinforcement effect due to the substitution of inorganic salt for SiO2 in the silica. The properties are seen when a variety of silanes and processing aids are added to the silica.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping composition. The method includes mixing a centipede polymer, i.e., a poly(disubstituted ethylene-co-maleimide) polymer, and plasticizers or extenders within a non-vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer to form a relatively high damping gel composition.

Abstract: High durometer, polymeric roofing shingles with varying colors and shades of color may be prepared from a composition of matter comprising 100 parts by weight of a ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymer; from 25 to about 400 parts by weight of at least one non-combustible filler per 100 parts of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymer; from 0 to about 125 parts by weight of at least one combustible filler, per 100 parts of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymer; from 0 to about 135 parts by weight of a thermoplastic modifying polymer; from 0 to about 10 parts by weight of reinforcing fibers, per 100 parts of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymer; from about 20 to about 75 parts by weight of a processing oil per 100 parts of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymer; and from about 1 to about 6 parts by weight of a sulfur cure package having at least two curing accelerators.

Abstract: An insulation board (10) insulation board comprising a foam core (11) selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanurate and polyurethane materials and mixtures thereof; the board being devoid of facers. A method of covering roofs comprises applying insulation boards to a roof deck, the insulation boards comprising a foam core selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanurate and polyurethane materials and mixtures thereof, the boards being devoid of facers; and, applying a weather protective layer over the insulation boards.

Abstract: The instant invention teaches a method for forming a syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene product having a higher syndiotacticity and a higher melting temperature than syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene produced using chromium catalysts known in the prior art. The method includes polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in solution with a solvent, in the presence of catalytically effective amounts of: (a) a chromium compound; (b) an organomagnesium compound; and, (c) a cyclic hydrogen phosphite.

Abstract: An improved method for achieving enhanced bond strength between components of unvulcanized and at least partially vulcanized rubber the improvement comprising the steps of selecting first and second initially unvulcanized rubber components (10, 12) for the manufacture of a vulcanized rubber article (21); applying an interphase layer (11) of rubber material, essentially devoid of crosslinking agents and containing from about 0.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping, soft polymer gel. The method includes: reacting in a suitable solvent a poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleic anhydride) and a primary amine to form a poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer. The poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer while remaining in solvent is grafted with a maleated polyalkylene through the use of a grafting agent such as an alkyl diamine to form a polyalkylene grafted poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer product. The solvent is then removed from the polyalkylene grafted poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer product and the polymer is mixed with extender such as oil sufficient to form the gel. During oil extension the graft copolymer is further crosslinked due to the presence of additional alkyl diamine.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a solution of a cyclic amine compound, an organolithium compound, and from 3 to about 300 equivalents, based upon one equivalent of lithium, of a monomer selected from the group including diene monomers, vinyl aromatic monomers, and mixtures thereof, where the cyclic amine compound is defined by the formula where R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene, substituted alkylene, oxy- or N-alkylamino-alkylene group having from about 3 to about 16 methylene groups, N is a nitrogen atom, and H is a hydrogen atom, thereby forming a polymerization initiator having the formula where Li is a lithium atom, SOL is a divalent hydrocarbon group having from 3 to about 300 polymerized monomeric units, y is from 0.5 to about 3, and A is a cyclic amine radical derived from the cyclic amine, charging the solution containing (A)Li(SOL)y with from about 0.

Abstract: A functionialized polymer according to the invention includes a polymer molecule having the general formula AYLi where A is a cyclic amine-containing radical having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a divalent alkylene, an oxy- or amino-alkylene, or substituted alkylene having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is a linear-, branched-, or cyclo-alkylene having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms; and Y is a divalent polymer radical and Li is a lithium atom bonded to a carbon atom of Y.

Abstract: A self-adhering walkway pad (20) comprises an elastomeric pad having upper and lower surfaces (21, 22) and a 100 percent solids tape (25) pre-applied to the lower surface of the pad, prior to use in the field. A method for applying walkway pads to roofing membranes comprises affixing a 100 percent solids tape to one flat surface of a walkway pad, prior to use in the field, the opposite side of the tape carrying a protective layer of release paper; stripping the release paper from the tape immediately prior to use; subsequently placing the exposed surface of the tape directly onto the upper surface of the roofing membrane and, applying force directly to the walkway pad to enhance the bond between the pad and the membrane, created by the tape.

Abstract: A walkway pad composition comprises 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer; from about 60 to 700 parts by weight of a filler selected from the group consisting of reinforcing and non-reinforcing materials and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of the terpolymer; from about 40 to 175 parts by weight of a processing material and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of the terpolymer; and from about 2 to 10 parts by weight of a cure package, per 100 parts of the EPDM terpolymer, the composition being devoid of any additional polymeric components. The 100 percent EPDM walkway pad composition has better low temperature properties and superior weathering resistance, and heat aging resistance compared to other walkway pad compositions which may include other polymeric components such as natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene, and butyl (IR) rubber. Up to about 25 parts by weight of ethylene-propylene copolymers may be substituted for the EPDM terpolymers.

Abstract: A rubber tread stock comprising a vulcanizable composition of matter, and a triazine, wherein said triazine is defined by the formula ##STR1## where X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, amines, and organic groups having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, Y is selected from the group consisting of halides, alkoxy derivatives, amine derivatives, aryloxy derivatives, and urea derivatives, with the proviso that the substituent Y is displacable by a reaction with a secondary amine, and Z is selected from the group consisting of alkoxy derivatives, amino derivatives, aryloxy derivatives, and urea derivatives, with the proviso that the substituent Z is displacable by a reaction with a secondary amine.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping, soft polymer gel. The method includes: reacting a poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer with a maleated polyalkylene and a maleated hydrogenated block copolymer and an alkyl diamine grafting agent under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a hydrogenated block copolymer-polyalkylene grafted poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer product; and, dispersing the hydrogenated block copolymer-polyalkylene grafted poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer product with an extender oil sufficient to form the gel. The present invention also contemplates a polymer gel composition, a polymer composition and an article manufactured from the polymer gel composition.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping compound. The method includes: reacting a poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer with a maleated polyalkylene and an alkyl diamine under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a polyalkylene grafted poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer product; and, dispersing the polyalkylene grafted poly(alkenyl benzene-co-maleimide) polymer product within a rubber formulation to form a relatively high damping compound. The present invention also contemplates a rubber compound composition and an article manufactured from the composition.