Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a copolymer useful for the manufacture of tires by coupling the ends of a living polymer obtained from copolymerization of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic monomer in the presence of an organolithium catalyst and a hydrocarbon solvent with a multi-reactive polysiloxane compound and then modifying the remaining uncoupled ends of the polymer with an amine compound. The use of the copolymer thus obtained for the fabrication of tires improves the affinity to silica as well as carbon black used as a reinforcing material and provides enhanced properties required for tires, such as increased wet traction, reduced rolling resistance, and increased tread wear.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a free radical control agent of the structural formula: wherein R1 is a divalent alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and R4 is —OH or —COOH, with the proviso that the total carbon atoms of R1, R2, and R3 is no greater than 12; and wherein Y represents a functional group that is capable of activating a vinylic carbon toward free radical addition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a free radical control agent of the structural formula: wherein R1 is a divalent alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and R4 is —OH or —COOH, with the proviso that the total carbon atoms of R1, R2, and R3 is no greater than 12; and wherein Y represents a functional group that is capable of activating a vinylic carbon toward free radical addition.

Abstract: A rubber composition having improved processability and which provides a vulcanized rubber exhibiting excellent wear resistance and good tensile strength to service temperatures of up to about 150° C. The composition comprises (1) a crosslinked polymer particle having as repeat units (a) up to about 25% of a conjugated diene unit, (b) at least 70% of an aromatic vinyl unit, (c) about 15% to about 30% of a crosslinking monomer, and (d) about 0.

Abstract: A polymer comprises at least two types of monomer units selected from: (1) diethynyl benzene units, (2) triethynyl benzene units, and (3) ester units. After curing, the polymer may form a condensed polyaromatic dielectric having a dielectric constant of at most 2.0 at 1 MHz, an elastic modulus of at least 7.7 GPa, and a hardness of at least 2.0 GPa.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for polymerization of a conjugated diene or copolymerization of a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound, which comprises the following components: (A) a metallocene-type complex of a rare earth metal compound (samarium complex etc.), and (B) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinate anion and a cation (triphenylcarbonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate etc.) and/or an aluminoxane. The catalyst composition is useful for producing a polymer having a high cis-1,4-configuration content in the microstructure and a narrow molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that rubbery polymers having a high vinyl content and a low degree of branching can be synthesized with an initiator system that is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator selected from the group consisting of allylic lithium compounds and benzylic lithium compounds, (b) a Group I metal alkoxide, and (c) a polar modifier; wherein the molar ratio of the Group I metal alkoxide to the polar modifier is within the range of about 0.1:1 to about 10:1; and wherein the molar ratio of the Group I metal alkoxide to the lithium initiator is within the range of about 0.01:1 to about 20:1. These high vinyl polymers offer reduced levels of hysteresis and better functionalization efficiency.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing polymerisates by anionic polymerization in an inert reaction medium using conjugated dienes and vinylaromatic compounds in the presence of a catalyst, co-catalyst, and randomizer. Further, the invention relates to the polymerisates produced thereby and their uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for polymerization of a conjugated diene or the like, which is composed of a metallocene-type cation complex of a gadolinium compound. Examples of such catalyst include a metallocene-type cation complex of a trivalent gadolinium compound represented by the general formula (I): RaGdXb (wherein, Gd represents gadolinium; R represents a cyclopentadienyl group, a substituted cyclopentadienyl group, an indenyl group, a substituted indenyl group, a fluorenyl group, or a substituted fluorenyl group; X represents an anion; “a” represents an integer of 1 or 2; and “b” represents an integer of 1 or 2). The present invention provides a catalyst by which polymerization of a conjugated diene or copolymerization of a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound can be carried out efficiently and inexpensively.

Abstract: A conjugated diene rubber gel comprising 80–99 weight % of conjugated diene monomer units and 20–1 weight % of aromatic vinyl monomer units and having a swelling index of 16 to 70 as measured in toluene. A rubber vulcanizate made from a rubber composition comprising this conjugated diene rubber gel and a rubber capable of being crosslinked with sulfur exhibits good abrasion resistance and low heat-build up without deterioration of mechanical properties, and thus, is suitable for tire materials. This conjugated diene rubber gel can be produced with high efficiency by emulsion-polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising 50–99.9 weight % of a conjugated diene monomer, 0–30 weight % of an aromatic vinyl monomer, 0–20 weight % of a crosslinking monomer.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that rubbery polymers having a high vinyl content and a low degree of branching can be synthesized with an initiator system that is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator selected from the group consisting of allylic lithium compounds and benzylic lithium compounds, (b) a Group I metal alkoxide, and (c) a polar modifier; wherein the molar ratio of the Group I metal alkoxide to the polar modifier is within the range of about 0.1:1 to about 10:1; and wherein the molar ratio of the Group I metal alkoxide to the lithium initiator is within the range of about 0.01:1 to about 20:1. These high vinyl polymers offer reduced levels of hysteresis and better functionalization efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing butadiene-based aqueous dispersions in the presence of at least one azocarboxylic acid ester.

Abstract: The present invention reveals a tire having a tread that is comprised of (1) 30 phr to 80 phr of a non-random styrene-butadiene rubber comprised of polymer chains that are derived from styrene and 1,3-butadiene, wherein from about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the repeat units in the styrene-butadiene rubber are derived from styrene, wherein from about 60 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the repeat units in the styrene-butadiene rubber are derived from 1,3-butadiene, wherein from about 30 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of the styrene repeat units are in sequences containing 5 to 20 styrene repeat units, wherein the bound styrene content found in the first half of the polymer chains differs from the bound styrene content found in the second half of the polymer chains by at least 5 weight percent, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a 1,2-vinyl content which is within the range of about 8 percent to about 20 percent, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a number

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous styrene-butadiene polymer dispersion by free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture M that comprises styrene, butadiene, and if desired up to 30% by weight, per 100% by weight of monomers, of ethylenically unsaturated comonomers other than styrene and butadiene; by a monomer feed technique that includes supplying to the polymerization reaction a regulator system containing, from 0.02 to 0.4% by weight of terpinolene and from 0.5 to 2% by weight of an organic compound S containing at least one SH group.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a free radical control agent of the structural formula: wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of wherein R1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl or phenyl; wherein R2 is an alkoxy group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms or a cycloalkoxy group of 5 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein Alk is a divalent hydrocarbon of 1 to 18 carbon atoms; and wherein Y represents a functional group that is capable of activating a vinylic carbon toward free radical addition; said process comprising the steps of (1) reacting a mercaptosilane of the structural formula: Z-Alk-SH with carbon disulfide in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst and an alkali metal hydroxide to produce a trithiocarbonate salt; and (2) reacting the trithiocarbonate salt with a halogen containing compound of the structural formula X-Y to produce the free radical control agent, wherein X represents a halogen atom.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural formula wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: A diene rubber (A) having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 100,000 to 3,000,000, an Mw/number average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of 1.30 to 2.50, and an Mw/peak top molecular weight (Mp) ratio 0.70 to 1.30. A rubber composition comprising the diene rubber (A) and a diene rubber (B) having an Mw of 2,000 to 90,0000 and/or an oil extender for rubber has good processability and can give a rubber vulcanizate having high tensile strength and good abrasion resistance. The diene rubber (A) is produced by conducting a living polymerization of diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent; adding a polymerization stopper to a polymerization mixture at a conversion of 5 to 98% to deactivate 10 to 90% by mole of active terminals present as of the initiation of polymerization; and finally adding a polymerization stopper to completely terminate the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: An objective of the invention is to provide a rubber composition which has satisfactory processability and dimension stability, and the like, gives a vulcanized rubber exhibiting excellent wearing resistance and tensile strength, and the like, and thus is useful in a belt, a hose and a tire and the like, as well as a crosslinked rubber particle for obtaining such rubber composition. A rubber composition of the invention comprises [1] a crosslinked rubber particle comprising as repeating units (a) 30 to 94.89% by weight of a conjugated diene unit, (b) 5 to 69.89% by weight of an aromatic vinyl unit, (c) 0.01 to 10% by weight of a monomer unit having at least two polymerizable unsaturated group, (d) one polymerizable unsaturated group and an amino group, a hydroxyl group and an epoxy group and (e) 0.

Abstract: A high-molecular gelling agent precursor for an electrolyte comprises a copolymer formed of (A) a hydrophobic monomer having a hydrophobic group, which forms a carboxyl group upon saponification, and (B) a hydrophobic polyfunctional monomer. The saponification product of the copolymer has property to gel the electrolyte. A high-molecular gelling agent for the electrolyte is produced by saponifying the precursor with a saponifying agent selected from the group consisting of acids and alkalis while using a reaction medium selected from the group consisting of water and hydrophobic organic solvents.

Abstract: A method for block copolymerization of a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound, which comprises the steps of carrying out homopolymerization of the conjugated diene in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising the following components: (A) a metallocene type complex of a rare earth metal compound, and (B) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinate anion and a cation and/or an aluminoxane, and then adding the aromatic vinyl compound, and a catalyst composition for polymerization of a conjugated diene or copolymerization of a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound, which comprises the following components: (D) a neodymium complex, and (B) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinate anion and a cation and/or an aluminoxane.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural formula wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural formula wherein R and R? can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: This invention discloses a rubbery polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from (1) at least one conjugated diolefin monomer, and (2) at least one functionalized monomer having of the structural formula: wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, and wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or a moiety of the structural formula: wherein the R3 groups in repeat units and in different repeat units can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, wherein n and x represents integers from 1 to about 10, with the proviso that R1 and R2 can not both be hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: A conjugated diene rubber gel comprising 80-99 weight % of conjugated diene monomer units and 20-1 weight % of aromatic vinyl monomer units and having a swelling index of 16 to 70 as measured in toluene. A rubber vulcanizate made from a rubber composition comprising this conjugated diene rubber gel and a rubber capable of being crosslinked with sulfur exhibits good abrasion resistance and low heat-build up without deterioration of mechanical properties, and thus, is suitable for tire materials. This conjugated diene rubber gel can be produced with high efficiency by emulsion-polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising 50-99.9 weight % of a conjugated diene monomer, 0-30 weight % of an aromatic vinyl monomer, 0-20 weight % of a crosslinking monomer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dispersion of polymer particles in a dispersing medium. The polymer particles each contain an average of more than two living radicals that are not chemically protected. The present invention is also directed to a free radical precipitation process involving combining at least one monomer in at least one solvent; dispersing said monomer solvent mixture in a dispersing medium that is non-miscible with the first solvent, using a surfactant, stabilizer or mixture thereof; initiating polymerization with at least one free-radical generating agent and conversion, to produce polymer particles containing radicals trapped by precipitation by virtue of being above the lower critical solution temperature of the system; and removing the precipitating agent either during or after free-radical generation to form a dispersion polymer in the dispersing medium having living, trapped radicals.

Abstract: Novel polyindanebisphenols or PIBPs for the preparation of new and improved thermosetting polymers having the general formula of are provided. Also disclosed are thermoplastic or thermoset compositions prepared using the novel compounds of the invention, as well as methods of making and using the same. When copolymerized or reactive with other commercial resins such as, e.g., epoxy compounds, PIBP based polymers are characterized by high glass transition temperature (“Tg”), low dielectric constant, low moisture absorption, low coefficient of expansion, low cost, and can be processed on equipment typically used for the production of epoxy based laminates.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the preparation of functionalized telechelics based on vinyl polymers, the telechelics prepared in this way and their use in the plastics, fibers or coating sector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tin-containing organolithium compound which can be used as anionic polymerization initiators, represented by the following formula (1): R4−xSn(Ya—Zm—Yb—Li)x  (1) Wherein R, Z and Y are defined as in the specification; x represents a value of 1 or 2; m represents a value of 0 or 1; a represents a value of 0 to 6, b represents a value of 0 to 6, a+b is from 0 to 6, provided that m=1 when x=1. The tin-containing organolithium compounds according to the present invention can be used as initiators to initiate the polymerization of conjugated dienes and/or monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbons, thereby synthesizing various linear, star or telechelic polymers. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the tin-containing organolithium compounds according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers that are modified along the polymer chain and are based on conjugated dienes or conjugated dienes and vinyl-aromatic compounds having a content of vinyl-aromatic compounds of up to 60 wt. %, a content of cis-position double bonds of ≧92%, a mean molecular weight of 50,000 to 1,500,000 g/mole and a gel content of ≦5%. The polymers according to the invention can be used for the production of all types of molded articles, wherein in particular their technical and physical properties are improved compared with the prior art.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing odor emissions of aqueous aromatic vinyl-1,3-diene-copolymer dispersions which have been stabilized with a protective colloid. The invention also relates to redispersion powders obtained by drying said dispersions. This is achieved by emulsion polymerization of a mixture containing at least one aromatic vinyl and at least one 1,3-diene in the presence of one or more protective colloids and by optionally drying the polymer dispersion obtained thereby. The invention is characterized in that 0.01 to 15.0 wt. % of one or more monomers selected from the group of branched or unbranched alkyl esters containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical of monounsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids are added at the end of the polymerization when the total content of the aqueous polymer dispersion containing free monomers ranges from >0 to ≦20 wt. %, whereby the given wt. % refers to the polymer content of the dispersion.

Abstract: An ethylene styrene copolymer having isolated styrene monomer units separated by 5 or 6 methylene groups as determined by 13C-NMR may be polymerized in the presence of an activator and a transition metal catalyst containing a phosphinimine ligand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing caoutchouc particles (K) by means of emulsion polymerisation in the presence of an emulsifier and a polymerisation initiator. Said particles contain A) 80 to 100 wt. % of one or more conjugated diene monomers (A) in relation to (K) and B) 0 to 20 wt. % of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated comonomers (B) in relation to (K) in the polymerised form. The inventive method is characterised in that 1) a mixture (M1) containing water and an emulsifier is provided, 2) a mixture (M2) containing one or more monomers in the monomer or polymerised form selected from styrole, &agr;-methylstyrole, butadiene, n-butylacrylate, MMA and acrylnitrile and optionally comonomers is added, 3) polymerisation of the obtained mixture starts in the presence of a polymerisation initiator at temperature of 5 to 95° C., 4) a mixture (M3) containing 0 to 100 wt. % of the comonomers (B) in relation to (B) and 0 to 25 wt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the copolymerization of conjugated diolefins with non-conjugated olefins in the presence of rare earth metal catalysts. The advantages of the process according to the invention are in particular the high selectivity, good space-time yield and the possibility of being able to vary the reaction conditions within a wide range.

Abstract: An objective of the invention is to provide a conjugated diene-based rubber having a specific composition and an oil extended rubber using the same, as well as a rubber composition capable of being converted into a vulcanized rubber which has a low rolling resistance, an excellent wearing resistance and the like, and is useful for a tire or the like. A conjugated diene-based rubber in the invention has repeating units consisting of 1 to 30% by mass of an olefinically unsaturated nitrile monomer unit such as acrylonitrile, 10 to 50% by mass of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit such as styrene, 19.9 to 88.9% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer unit such as 1,3-butadiene and 0.1 to 10% by mass of a monomer unit having one polymerizable unsaturated group and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an epoxy group, a carboxyl group and an alkoxysilyl group, and has a specific glass transition point and a Mooney viscosity [ML1+4(100° C.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SIBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SIBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

Abstract: Disclosed is a binder for a lithium-sulfur battery including a butadiene-based copolymer. The binder exhibits chemical resistance to polysulfides, is stable a battery working temperatures, forms an emulsion in organic solvents and exhibits high adherence to positive active materials and electrodes used in the lithium-sulfur battery. The disclosed binder compositions, due to their high adherence to positive active materials allow for higher relative amounts of positive active materials to be used in the battery resulting in a high capacity lithium-sulfur battery.

Abstract: This invention discloses a chewing gum rubber composition (gum base) that utilizes carnosic acid from a Libiatae plant, such as rosemary or sage, as an antioxidant stabilizer. This invention more specifically discloses a chewing gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an elastomer plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural rosin esters and synthetic terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; and (4) carnosic acid, wherein said chewing gum base is void of sweeteners, flavoring agents or colors.

Abstract: A conjugated diene rubber gel comprising 80-99 weight % of conjugated diene monomer units and 20-1 weight % of aromatic vinyl monomer units and having a swelling index of 16 to 70 as measured in toluene. A rubber vulcanizate made from a rubber composition comprising this conjugated diene rubber gel and a rubber capable of being crosslinked with sulfur exhibits good abrasion resistance and low heat-build up without deterioration of mechanical properties, and thus, is suitable for tire materials. This conjugated diene rubber gel can be produced with high efficiency by emulsion-polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising 50-99.9 weight % of a conjugated diene monomer, 0-30 weight % of an aromatic vinyl monomer, 0-20 weight % of other ethylenically unsaturated monomer and 0.1-20 weight % of a crosslinking monomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the preparation of functionalized telechelics based on vinyl polymers, the telechelics prepared in this way and their use in the plastics, fibers or coating sector.

Abstract: This invention relates to statistical copolymers of general formula (I) and their use in organic semiconductor devices: wherein m and j are the average number of repeat units of A and B such that: m=0.1-0.9, j=1−m, Q=10-50000; A and B are independently selected from hole transporting groups and electron transporting groups and are statistically distributed along the polymer chain; X and Z are selected from H, CN, F, Cl, Br, CO2CH3.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing hyperbranched polymers comprising heating a polymerizable reaction charge comprising (a) a monomer mixture comprising 50-99.1% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and 0.1-50% by weight of one or more multiethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) if at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer of the monomer mixture is not a thermally initiating monomer, a free radical polymerization initiator, to a temperature in the range from about 250° C. to about 400° C. in a continuous reactor which allows mixing of the reactor contents for a residence time of from about 2 minutes to about 60 minutes, provided that if the total amount of multiethylenically unsaturated monomer is less than 3% by weight of the monomer mixture than at least one of said one or more multiethylenically unsaturated monomers must be tri- or greater ethylenically unsaturated. The hyperbranched polymers prepared by this process are also described.

Abstract: The group IIa metal containing catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure by solution polymerization. Such rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure content, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) an organolithium compound, including organolithium functionalized compounds, (b) a group IIa metal salt selected from the group consisting of group IIa metal salts of di(alkylene glycol)alkylethers and group IIa metal salts of tri(alkylene glycol) alkylethers, and (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally an organomagnesium compound.

Abstract: This invention discloses a rubbery polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from (1) at least one conjugated diolefin monomer, and (2) at least one functionalized monomer having of the structural formula: wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 15 about 10 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, and wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or a moiety selected from the group consisting of wherein R3 groups can be the same or different and represent alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, aryl groups, allyl groups, and alkyloxy groups of the structural formula —(CH2)y—O—(CH2)z—CH3, wherein Z represents a nitrogen containing heterocyclic compound, wherein R4 represents a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, aryl groups, and allyl groups, and wherein n, x, y and z represents integers from 1 to about 10, with t

Abstract: A block copolymer having narrow molecular weight distribution and excellent symmetrical property or a telechelic polymer having, equally at both terminals thereof, a functional group can be produced by using a polymerization initiator solution which comprises a dilithium polymerization initiator having an average number of functional groups of 1.8 to 2.0/molecule and a solvent selected from aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds and alicyclic compounds and is free of a polar substance.

Abstract: The process and catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize polybutadiene rubber having a high trans content and a low melting point by solution polymerization. The trans-polybutadiene rubber made by the process of this invention can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit outstanding wear characteristics. More importantly, the trans-polybutadiene rubber of this invention can be easily processed because of its low level of crystallinity. In fact, the trans-polybutadiene made by the process of this invention does not need to be heated in a “hot-house” before being used in making rubber compounds. The process and catalyst system of this invention can also be used in the synthesis of trans-styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: A catalyst composition for polymerization of a conjugated diene or copolymerization of a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound, which comprises the following components: (A) a metallocene-type complex of a rare earth metal compound (samarium complex etc.), and (B) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinate anion and a cation (triphenylcarbonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate etc.) and/or an aluminoxane. The catalyst composition producing a polymer having a high cis-1,4-configuration content in the microstructure and a narrow molecular weight distribution.