Abstract: A process for the continuous bromination of butyl rubber polymer by contacting the polymer with a brominating agent in a continuous flow device in which means are provided for disengaging reaction by-products and unreacted halogenating agents from the reaction mixture, by deforming and disrupting the brominated polymer surface and injecting a neutralizing agent into the polymer immediately after reaction thereby neutralizing the polymer, comprising contacting a polymer substantially free of acid scavengers, with the brominating agent at elevated temperatures the bromination reaction being carried out in an acid atmosphere, thereby producing a polymer having a substantial fraction of the bromine in the primary allylic position.

Abstract: A process for sulfonating unsaturated elastomers which comprises sulfonating an olefinically unsaturated elastomer using as the sulfonating agent an acyl sulfate. The products produced thereby have improved properties over those sulfonated elastomers prepared by prior art methods. The preferred acyl sulfate is acetyl sulfate. The sulfonated elastomers of this invention are useful as films, adhesives and for other general purpose rubber uses. Especially advantageous properties are obtained when the sulfonic acid polymer is neutralized with ethylamine.

Abstract: Adhesive contact cements of sulfonated olefinically unsaturated elastomers (sulfobutyl rubber) containing from about 0.1 to about 5.0 mol % SO.sub.3 H neutralized, partially neutralized, or unneutralized, are admixed with tackifiers, i.e. phenolformaldehyde resins, polyisobutylene, alkylphenol formaldehyde resins, petroleum resins, etc. in an amount of between about 5 and about 90 phr in between about 10 and about 50 wt. % solids concentration in organic solvents. These cements are used for adhering porous or non-porous materials such as textiles, wood, cloth, sheets or strip of metals, plastics, etc. to each other. High green strength, high tensile strength, high resistance to peel, even at elevated temperatures, water impermeability, etc. characterize such adhesive layers in laminates. A preferred solvent, 90% toluene, 10% isopropyl alcohol is used in compounding the cement and preferably an organic amine, e.g.

Abstract: Improved processes for the dehydrohalogenation of halogenated butyl rubber in order to prepare a butyl rubber having randomly distributed sites of conjugated unsaturation are disclosed. Such processes, which include the contacting of a solution of halogenated butyl rubber with a soluble metal carboxylate, a soluble carboxylic acid, and an oxide or hydroxide of a metal selected from Groups Ia and IIa of the Periodic Table, are carried out in a reaction zone which is maintained substantially free of free water vapor. Preferably, excess amounts of hydrophilic reagents are added to the reaction zone or in the alternative the reaction zone is purged with a drying gas.

Abstract: Volatile polar vehicles such as water or organic solvents, are removed from nonpolar materials by passing said material through at least one pneumatic conveyor resonating cavity operating at a microwave frequency of about 600 to about 50,000 MHZ. For example, a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride may be dried by conveying the polymer through said pneumatic conveyor operating at a frequency of 915 MHZ for a time sufficient to reduce the volatiles content to about 5 wt. % and subsequently conveying the partially dried material through a second pneumatic conveyor resonating cavity operating at a microwave frequency of 2450 MHZ for a time sufficient to reduce the polar vehicle content to below 0.5 wt. %.The resonating cavities may constitute a single pneumatic conveyor having zones operating at different frequencies, said zones being isolated from one another by microwave suppressors such as "eggcrate" type suppressors.

Abstract: A process for preparing latices in ionomeric form from copolymers of an isoolefin containing from 4 to 7 carbon atoms and a conjugated multiolefin containing from 4 to 14 carbon atoms, where a major portion of said conjugated multiolefin has conjugated diene unsaturation, is disclosed. The process principally comprises forming an adduct of conjugated diene butyl rubber with a dienophile capable of implanting carboxylic acid functionality on the polymer such as maleic anhydride, emulsifying the adduct thus formed, and neutralizing the resulting emulsion with a suitable base. Highly improved ionomeric latices are also disclosed, having an average particle size of less than about 1 micron, average solids contents easily adjusted from between about 5 to 70 weight percent solids, and having a pH, depending on the emulsifier used, of from 3 to 12. Films cast from these latices have an improved tensile at break of greater than about 2500 psi.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for preparing copolymers of ethylene with certain alpha olefins and nonconjugated dienes. The novel aspect of this invention relates to a catalyst system comprising a vanadium tetrachloride catalyst in conjunction with a cocatalyst comprising equimolar quantities of ethyl aluminum dichloride and tri-isobutyl aluminum. Isobutyl aluminum dichloride may be substituted for the ethyl aluminum dichloride. The product prepared by this process has a high number average molecular weight and is high in tensile strength when compounded with carbon blacks or mineral fillers and extender oils. Additionally, the polymer of this invention exhibits a rapid cure rate. Since the product further exhibits a narrow molecular weight distribution and low crystallinity, there is a greatly reduced die swell upon extrusion. The combination of the high molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution and low crystallinity produce a vulcanized product of low compression set.

Abstract: Volatile polar vehicles such as water or organic solvents, are removed from nonpolar materials by passing said material through at least one pneumatic conveyor resonating cavity operating at a microwave frequency of about 600 to about 50,000 MHZ. For example, a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride may be dried by conveying the polymer through said pneumatic conveyor operating at a frequency of 915 MHZ for a time sufficient to reduce the volatiles content to about 5 wt. % and subsequently conveying the partially dried material through a second pneumatic conveyor resonating cavity operating at a microwave frequency of 2450 MHZ for a time sufficient to reduce the polar vehicle content to below 0.5 wt. %. The resonating cavities may constitute a single pneumatic conveyor having zones operating at different frequencies, said zones being isolated from one another by microwave suppressors such as "eggcrate" type suppressors.