Abstract: A co-polymer of isobutene and 4-bromo-3-methyl-1-butene formed by direct co-polymerization in a single-step process. A continuous process for forming the co-polymer preferably comprises periodic or semi-continuous addition of catalyst to a mixed monomer solution. Semi-continuous reverse addition of the mixed monomer solution to a pre-provided catalyst solution may also be employed. The co-polymer exhibits allylic bromide functionality and is advantageously curable by either ZnO curing systems or sulfur-based curing systems.

Abstract: High molecular weight disulfide polymers are synthesized in aqueous media by exposing dithiol compounds to a mild oxidizing environment in the presence of a tertiary amine catalyst. The unique oxidizing system polymerizes monomers through the formation of sulfur-sulfur bonds between dithiol compounds. The same oxidizing system may be used to make disulfide-crosslinked gels from compounds containing multiple thiol groups. The oxidizing system is comprised of oxygen at atmospheric concentration and dilute hydrogen peroxide. A filler such as carbon black may be incorporated into the polymer or cross-linked gel during polymerization. A polydisulfide polymer is provided having a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 100,000 g/mol and a polydispersity index of about 2 or less. A tetrathiol composition results from a reaction of a diacrylate with a trithiol.

Abstract: The synthetic production of cis-1,4-polyisoprene and other cis-1,4-polydienes is achieved by adding isoprene or other diene monomers to a natural rubber latex or washed rubber particles and utilizing various allylic pyrophosphate compounds. The natural rubber latex or washed rubber particles inherently contain an enzyme catalyst and desirably divalent metal cofactors therein and the polymerization can occur over a relatively wide temperature range. The process is believed to be a living carbocationic polymerization. The in vitro produced natural rubber polymers can contain from about 5 to about 30,000 repeat units and are essentially free of non-enzyme catalysts. The invention can be utilized to synthesize polyisoprenoids and precursors to form terpenes, vitamins, steroids, alkaloids, and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to functionalized, telechelic polymers synthesized by enzymatic catalysis and methods, and the functionalization of polymers via Michael addition with a lipase catalyst, and the crosslinking of mono- or difunctional (telechelic) polymers made by enzymatic catalysis, such as by using multifunctional coupling agents and enzyme catalysts. Quantitative transesterification of vinyl methacrylate with poly(ethylene glycol), poly(isobutylene) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) was achieved using Candida antarctica lipase B. In addition, methacrylate-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether has been successfully coupled to aminoethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether via Michael addition using Candida antarctica lipase B. Amine-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)s have also been used for the preparation of poly(ethylene glycol)-based dendrimers and gels through Michael addition of the polymer onto triacryloyl hexahydro-triazine using the same enzyme.

Abstract: A high-density composite material and its use in the manufacture of less-lethal ammunition projectile is disclosed. The composite ammunition projectile material is produced from a compact mixture of fine iron powder, a highly damping, inert, non-toxic elastomer and an inert non-toxic thermoplastic elastomer. The composite ammunition projectile material is first blended, then the projectile is injection molded or compression molded. The density of the composite ammunition projectile material is adjustable in terms of ratio of iron powder to elastomer to thermoplastic elastomer block co-polymer, but a minimum density of 2.4 gcm?3 is preferred. A blend comprising an elastomer and a thermoplastic elastomer with low creep is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to block polymers, for example, arborescent copolymer compounds, and to methods of making and purifying such compounds. In one embodiment, the invention relates to arborescent polymer compounds that contain one or more styrene polymeric blocks in combination with one or more isobutylene polymeric blocks. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods for purifying arborescent polymer compounds that contain at least one styrene polymeric block in combination with at least one isobutylene polymeric block.

Abstract: A process for coupling a living carbocationic polymer by reacting two molecules of a living carbocationic polymer with a coupling agent, the coupling agent having the formula I: CR1R2?CR3-Zn—CR4?CR5R6 ??(I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are, independently from one another, hydrogen, alkyl, or alkenyl, or two of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, together are alkylene or alkenylene, Z is CR7R8, R7 and R8 are, independently from one another, hydrogen or alkyl, and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, with the proviso that, when R3 is hydrogen, both R1 and R2 are different from hydrogen, and, when R4 is hydrogen, both R5 and R6 are different from hydrogen. The process allows for the convenient preparation of ABA-type block copolymers and of telechelic polymers.

Abstract: A co-polymer of isobutene and 4-bromo-3-methyl-1-butene formed by direct co-polymerization in a single-step process. A continuous process for forming the co-polymer preferably comprises periodic or semi-continuous addition of catalyst to a mixed monomer solution. Semi-continuous reverse addition of the mixed monomer solution to a pre-provided catalyst solution may also be employed. The co-polymer exhibits allylic bromide functionality and is advantageously curable by either ZnO curing systems or sulfur-based curing systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides highly branched block copolymers comprising branched soft segments with a low glass-transition temperature (Tg) and hard segments with a high Tg or crystalline melting point that exhibit thermoplastic elastomeric properties. More particularly the invention provides a highly branched block copolymer of a polyisoolefin and a polymonovinylidene arene characterized by having thermoplastic elastomeric properties wherein the aforesaid block copolymer comprises a highly branched polyisoolefin block and some of the branches of the aforesaid polyisoolefin block terminate in polymonovinylidene arene endblocks.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of determining the degree of saturation of a decontamination-removing substance or adsorbent such as an alumina absorbent or activated charcoal. The method and apparatus is sufficiently sensitive to detect changes in the bulk specific electrical conductivity of the adsorbent.

Abstract: The present invention provides highly branched block copolymers comprising branched soft segments with a low glass-transition temperature (Tg) and hard segments with a high Tg or crystalline melting point that exhibit thermoplastic elastomeric properties. More particularly the invention provides a highly branched block copolymer of a polyisoolefin and a polymonovinylidene arene characterized by having thermoplastic elastomeric properties wherein the aforesaid block copolymer comprises a highly branched polyisoolefin block and some of the branches of the aforesaid polyisoolefin block terminate in polymonovinylidene arene endblocks.

Abstract: A new class of initiators for inducing the cationic polymerization of olefins was discovered. These initiators, in conjunction with Lewis acids as coinitiators, effectively initiate the carbocationic polymerization of olefins. The new initiators are epoxides with the general formula where R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl groups, and can be the same or different, and i is a positive whole number. The Lewis acid has the general formula of MtXn where M is titanium, aluminum, boron or tin, X is a halogen, an alkyl or an alcoxy or a mixture thereof. The process is a carbocationic process, which can be living or non-living, at a temperature of from about 0 to −80 C. The polymer produced can be a homo- or copolymer (random or block) carrying hydroxy functional groups.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining the degree of saturation of a decontamination-removing substance or adsorbent such as an alumina absorbent or activated charcoal. The method is sufficiently sensitive to detect changes in the bulk specific electrical conductivity of the adsorbent.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of monitoring the relative activity of various heterogeneous catalysts by analyzing their bulk electrical properties such as specific conductivity or resistance. The difference between the resistance of fresh and spent catalysts is to be large (as high as four orders of magnitude). These large differences make this invention a very sensitive indicator of changes that may happen at the surface and/or in the bulk of the catalyst. The simplicity of this new invention renders it to be a sensitive potential on-line testing method of catalyst activity.

Abstract: A new class of initiators for inducing the cationic polymerization of olefins was discovered. These initiators, in conjunction with Lewis acids as coinitiators, effectively initiate the carbocationic polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: A new class of initiators for inducing the cationic polymerization of olefins was discovered. These initiators, in conjunction with Lewis acids as coinitiators, effectively initiate the carbocationic polymerization of olefins. The new initiators are epoxides with the general formula where R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl groups, and can be the same or different, and i is a positive whole number. The Lewis acid has the general formula of MtXn, where M is titanium, aluminum, boron or tin, X is a halogen, an alkyl or an alcoxy or a mixture thereof. The process is a carbocationic process, which can be living or non-living, at a temperature of from about 0 to −80 C. The polymer produced can be a homo- or copolymer (random or block) carrying hydroxy functional groups.

Abstract: An elastomeric polymer composition that exhibits improved processability and green strength comprises: from about 95 to about 70 parts by weight of one rubbery polymer selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber and brominated butyl rubber and from about 5 to about 30 parts by weight of a block copolymer having an elastomeric polyisobutylene midblock and two plastomeric endblocks of polymerized monovinylidene aromatic monomers and star-shaped block copolymers having from three to six arms wherein the inner elastomeric blocks are polyisobutylene and the outer plastomeric blocs are polymerized monovinylidene aromatic monmers for a total of 100 parts by weight of the rubbery polymer and the block copolymer. Vulcanizates of the composition that exhibit reduced permeability to gases and improved tear strength are provided together with a process for their production.

Abstract: A polymerization process is provided for producing a butyl rubber with a bimodal molecular weight distribution which comprises introducing isobutylene, a conjugated diolefin monomer having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, from about 1.times.10.sup.-5 to about 1.times.10.sup.-3 moles of an initiator component per mole of isobutylene, said initiator component being selected from the group consisting of an initiator component having the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups and can be the same or different and i is a positive whole number from 2 to 6, and an initiator component having an adamantyl nucleus bearing from 2 to 4 hydroxyl groups an inert organic solvent and from about 1.times.10.sup.-4 to about 1.times.10.sup.-3 moles of water per liter of inert organic solvent into a suitable reaction vessel at a temperature of from about -120.degree. C. to about -50.degree. C., adding a solution of from about 5.times.10.sup.

Abstract: A cross-linked composition produced by exposing a mixture including a telechelic polyisobutylene-containing base polymer which carries multiple terminal acrylate groups as a part thereof, a reactive diluent, and in some cases, a high-energy sensitizer, to high-energy radiation. The base polymer may also comprise a block copolymer which has polyisobutylene, and polydiene blocks as, for example, polyisoprene, and in which the polydiene blocks, advantageously partially cyclized, carry multiple acrylate groups as a part thereof. Among other things, the compositions have particular application in the formation of films useful in the electronic, biomedical, specialty adhesive, sealant, and other fields.

Abstract: Block copolymers compose a polyisobutylene rubbery soft segment of M.sub.n of about 5,000 to above 500,000 and glassy hard segments of M.sub.n of about 5,000 or higher and usually about 10,000 to 35,000 or more, are made by preparing a living polymer block of the polyisobutylene and then polymerizing on said living polyisobutylene block the glassy hard segments by adding thereto an electron donor having a donor number of 15 to 50 and then adding and polymerizing the monomers for the glassy hard segments. The monomers for the glassy hard segments are styrene and its derivatives and indene and its derivatives and mixtures thereof.