Abstract: A process for producing a halogenated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer cement, the cement comprising an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer dissolved in an organic solvent, under halogenation conditions with a halogenating agent and an aqueous solution of a potassium salt-based oxidant to form a two-phase reaction medium comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the oxidant capable of converting hydrogen halide to free halogen. The process provides improved halogen recovery, is less sensitive to the presence of water, and makes use of more stable and less environmentally damaging oxidants.

Abstract: A process for producing an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer involves: sonicating a solution of an initiator system in an organic solvent, the initiator system comprising a Lewis acid catalyst and a proton source, to produce a sonicated initiator solution, the sonicating performed at an energy input of 100 J/mL or greater, based on volume of the initiator solution; and then, contacting the sonicated initiator solution with a reaction mixture of at least one isoolefin monomer and at least one copolymerizable unsaturated monomer in an organic diluent to produce the unsaturated isoolefin copolymer. Sonication of the initiator solution improves catalyst activity, thereby improving conversion of the monomers during production of the unsaturated isoolefin copolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy efficient, fast and environmentally favourable process for the preparation of chlorinated butyl rubbers, that uses hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and/or dichlorine monoxide (Cl2O) as halogenating agent. The process comprises reacting a copolymer with hypochlorous acid and/or dichlorine oxide. The copolymer comprises units derived from an isoolefin monomer and units derived from a multiolefin monomer. A preferred isoolefin is isobutene and a preferred multiolefin is isoprene.

Abstract: A process for producing an isoolefin homopolymer comprises: sonicating a solution of an initiator system in an organic solvent, the initiator system comprising a Lewis acid catalyst and a proton source selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol, a phenol, a thiol, a carboxylic acid or any mixture thereof, to produce a sonicated initiator solution, the sonicating performed at an energy input of 100 J/mL or greater, based on volume of the initiator solution; and then, contacting the sonicated initiator solution with a reaction mixture of an isoolefin monomer in an organic diluent to produce the isoolefin homopolymer.

Abstract: A process for producing a halogenated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer cement, the cement comprising an unsaturated isoolefin copolymer dissolved in an organic solvent, under halogenation conditions with a halogenating agent and an aqueous solution of a potassium salt-based oxidant to form a two-phase reaction medium comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the oxidant capable of converting hydrogen halide to free halogen. The process provides improved halogen recovery, is less sensitive to the presence of water, and makes use of more stable and less environmentally damaging oxidants.

Abstract: A process for producing a crosslinked polymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A process for producing a hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer having hydroxyl groups in endo configurations may be produced thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy efficient, fast and environmentally favourable process for the preparation of chlorinated butyl rubbers, that uses hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and/or dichlorine monoxide (Cl2O) as halogenating agent. The process comprises reacting a copolymer with hypochlorous acid and/or dichlorine oxide. The copolymer comprises units derived from an isoolefin monomer and units derived from a multiolefin monomer. A preferred isoolefin is isobutene and a preferred multiolefin is isoprene.

Abstract: This invention relates to elastomeric coatings for electronics. Disclosed is a electronic device comprising a substrate layer, a conductive layer and an encapsulant layer. The encapsulant layer comprises at least a butyl rubber material. The butyl rubber encapsulant prevents a change in resistivity of the conductive layer following exposure to nitric acid vapour for 12 hours or hydrochloric acid vapour for 10 hours.

Abstract: A process for producing a crosslinked polymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A process for producing a hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer having hydroxyl groups in endo configurations may be produced thereby.

Abstract: A process for producing a crosslinked polymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A process for producing a hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer having hydroxyl groups in endo configurations may be produced thereby.

Abstract: A polyisoolefin-based polymer composition having a multimodal molecular weight distribution is described, which can be prepared by the late addition of a chain transfer agent to the polymerization process. The polymer composition has a low molecular weight fraction having a peak molecular weight (Mp) of less than about 100,000 g/mol and a high molecular weight fraction having a peak molecular weight (Mp) of greater than about 250,000 g/mol, the low molecular weight fraction present in the composition in an amount less than the high molecular weight fraction. Cured articles produced from the polyisoolefin-based polymer composition exhibit improved processability while maintaining physical properties.

Abstract: A process for producing an allylic alcohol functionalized butyl rubber involves contacting an epoxidized butyl rubber with benzoic acid, an analogue of benzoic acid or a C1-C7 alkanoic acid. The process and a polymer compound comprising the epoxidized butyl rubber and the benzoic acid, analogue of benzoic acid or a C1-C7 alkanoic acid provide a cost effective route to a polar functionalized butyl rubber, particularly to butyl rubber comprising allylic alcohol functional groups.

Abstract: A polymer composition is provided with a multi-modal molecular weight distribution of a halo-containing polymer. The halo-containing polymer is has multi-functional phosphine linkages at less than 10% of halo sites of the halo-containing polymer that were available before multi-functional phosphine linking. A process for producing a polymer composition having a multi-modal molecular weight distribution involves dispersing a multi-functional phosphine compound in a halo-containing polymer, the halo-containing polymer comprising a total number of available halo sites, and reacting the multi-functional phosphine compound with the halo-containing polymer at an elevated temperature to produce the polymer composition in which less than 10% of the total number of available halo sites are reacted with the phosphine compound to provide multi-functional phosphine linkages in the halo-containing compound.

Abstract: A process for epoxidation of an unsaturated polymer involves mixing an unsaturated polymer and a peroxy acid in an absence of solvent to produce an epoxidized polymer. The process may require no solvent, require no catalyst, require no or little applied external heat input, require no applied cooling, require less epoxidation agent, be faster and/or result in more efficient conversion of the unsaturated polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to elastomeric coatings for electronics. Disclosed is a electronic device comprising a substrate layer, a conductive layer and an encapsulant layer. The encapsulant layer comprises at least a butyl rubber material. The butyl rubber encapsulant prevents a change in resistivity of the conductive layer following exposure to nitric acid vapour for 12 hours or hydrochloric acid vapour for 10 hours.

Abstract: A polyisoolefin-based polymer composition having a multimodal molecular weight distribution is described, which can be prepared by the late addition of a chain transfer agent to the polymerization process. The polymer composition has a low molecular weight fraction having a peak molecular weight (Mp) of less than about 100,000 g/mol and a high molecular weight fraction having a peak molecular weight (Mp) of greater than about 250,000 g/mol, the low molecular weight fraction present in the composition in an amount less than the high molecular weight fraction. Cured articles produced from the polyisoolefin-based polymer composition exhibit improved processability while maintaining physical properties.

Abstract: A polymer composition is provided with a multi-modal molecular weight distribution of a halo-containing polymer. The halo-containing polymer is has multi-functional phosphine linkages at less than 10% of halo sites of the halo-containing mer that were available before multi-functional phosphine linking. A process for producing a polymer composition having a multi-modal molecular weight distribution involves dispersing a multi-functional phosphine compound in a halo-containing polymer, the halo-containing polymer comprising a total number of available halo sites, and reacting the multi-functional phosphine compound with the halo-containing polymer at an elevated temperature to produce the polymer composition in which less than 10% of the total number of available halo sites are reacted with the phosphine compound to provide multi-functional phosphine linkages in the halo-containing compound.

Abstract: A process for producing a crosslinked polymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A process for producing a hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer involves contacting an epoxidized unsaturated isoolefin copolymer with a catalytic amount of an acid in an absence of a solvent. A hydroxylated unsaturated isoolefin copolymer having hydroxyl groups in endo configurations may be produced thereby.

Abstract: A process for epoxidation of an unsaturated polymer involves mixing an unsaturated polymer and a peroxy acid in an absence of solvent to produce an epoxidized polymer. The process may require no solvent, require no catalyst, require no or little applied external heat input, require no applied cooling, require less epoxidation agent, be faster and/or result in more efficient conversion of the unsaturated polymer.

Abstract: A process for producing an allylic alcohol functionalized butyl rubber involves contacting an epoxidized butyl rubber with benzoic acid, an analogue of benzoic acid or a C1-C7 alkanoic acid. The process and a polymer compound comprising the epoxidized butyl rubber and the benzoic acid, analogue of benzoic acid or a C1-C7 alkanoic acid provide a cost effective route to a polar functionalized butyl rubber, particularly to butyl rubber comprising allylic alcohol functional groups.