Abstract: It is important for rubbery polymers that are used in tires, hoses, power transmission belts and other industrial products to have good compatibility with fillers, such as carbon black, silica, clay (including organoclays), and mixtures thereof. To attain improved interaction with fillers such rubbery polymers can be functionalized with various compounds, such as amines. The present invention discloses a process for synthesizing a rubbery polymer that is functionalized to attain improved compatibility with fillers.

Abstract: This invention discloses an emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) that can be employed in manufacturing tire tread formulations that have rolling resistance and treadwear characteristics that are similar to those made with solution SBR but with improved traction characteristics. Thus, the emulsion SBR of this invention is superior in many respects for use in tire tread compounds to conventional solution SBR and conventional emulsion SBR. This invention more specifically discloses a styrene-butadiene rubber composition which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and a hydroxy alkyl acrylate monomer, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber composition has a number average molecular weight as determined by field flow fractionation which is within the range of about 50,000 to 150,000, and wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a light scattering to refractive index ratio which is within the range of 1.8 to 3.9.

Abstract: This invention relates to a technique for making a high quality natural rubber composition having a dirt content of less than 0.

Abstract: Rubbery polymers made by anionic polymerization can be coupled with tin halides or silicon halides to improve the characteristics of the rubber for use in some applications, such as tire treads. In cases where the rubbery polymer was synthesized utilizing a polar modifier it is difficult to attain a high level of coupling. This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that coupling efficiency can be significantly improved by conducting the coupling reaction in the presence of a lithium salt of a saturated aliphatic alcohol, such as lithium t-amylate. This invention discloses a process for coupling a living rubbery polymer that comprises reacting the living rubbery polymer with coupling agent selected from the group consisting of tin halides and silicon halides in the presence of a lithium salt of a saturated aliphatic alcohol.

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.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that certain catalyst systems which are comprised of (A) a transition metal compound selected from the group consisting of iron (II) compounds, iron (III) compounds, cobalt (II) compounds, cobalt (III) compounds, and nickel (II) compounds; (B) a ligand selected from the group consisting of certain azopyridines and certain iminopyridines; and (C) methylalumoxane can be used to catalyze the polymerization of diene monomers, such as 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, into polymers, such as high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber. Some representative examples of azopyridines that can be utilized in the catalyst systems of this invention include 2-phenylazopyridine, 4-methyl-2-phenylazopyridine, and 2,6-diphenylazopyridine. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a polybutadiene rubber which comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene at a temperature which is within the range of about 10° C. to about 100° C.

Abstract: This invention discloses an emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) that can be employed in manufacturing tire tread formulations that have rolling resistance and treadwear characteristics that are similar to those made with solution SBR but with improved traction characteristics. Thus, the emulsion SBR of this invention is superior in many respects for use in tire tread compounds to conventional solution SBR and conventional emulsion SBR. This invention more specifically discloses a styrene-butadiene rubber composition which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from styrene and 1,3-butadiene, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber composition has a number average molecular weight as determined by thermal field flow fractionation which is within the range of about 50,000 to 150,000, and wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a light scattering to refractive index ratio which is within the range of 1.8 to 3.9.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for devulcanizing the surface of reclaimed rubber crumb into surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb that is suitable for being recompounded and recurred into high performance rubber products, said process comprising the steps of (1) heating the reclaimed rubber crumb to a temperature within the range of about 150° C. to about 300° C. under pressure of at least about 3.4×106 Pascals in the presence of 2-butanol to devulcanized the surface of the rubber crumb thereby producing a slurry of the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb in the 2-butanol, wherein the reclaimed rubber crumb has a particles size which is within the range of about 325 mesh to about 20 mesh, and (2) separating the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb from 2-butanol.

Abstract: This invention discloses an emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) that can be employed in manufacturing tire tread formulations that have rolling resistance and treadwear characteristics that are similar to those made with solution SBR but with improved traction characteristics. Thus, the emulsion SBR of this invention is superior in many respects for use in tire tread compounds to conventional solution SBR and conventional emulsion SBR. This invention more specifically discloses a styrene-butadiene rubber composition which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from styrene and 1,3-butadiene, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber composition has a number average molecular weight as determined by thermal field flow fractionation which is within the range of about 50,000 to 150,000, and wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a light scattering to refractive index ratio which is within the range of 1.8 to 3.9.

Abstract: This invention discloses an emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) that can be employed in manufacturing tire tread formulations that have rolling resistance and treadwear characteristics that are similar to those made with solution SBR but with improved traction characteristics. Thus, the emulsion SBR of this invention is superior in many respects for use in tire tread compounds to conventional solution SBR and conventional emulsion SBR. This invention more specifically discloses a styrene-butadiene rubber composition which is comprised of repeat units which are derived from styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and a hydroxy alkyl acrylate monomer, wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber composition has a number average molecular weight as determined by field flow fractionation which is within the range of about 50,000 to 150,000, and wherein the styrene-butadiene rubber has a light scattering to refractive index ratio which is within the range of 1.8 to 3.9.

Abstract: Tire rubbers which are prepared by anionic polymerization are frequently coupled with a suitable coupling agent, such as a tin halide, to improve desired properties. It has been unexpectedly found that greatly improved properties for tire rubbers, such as lower hysteresis, can be attained by asymmetrically coupling the rubber.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a process for coating aggregate which is particularly useful in making asphalt concrete to provide the aggregate with a high level of resistance to stripping by water, which comprises: (1) mixing the aggregate with latex to form a latex/aggregate mixture, wherein said latex is comprised of water, an emulsifier, a polymer and a water-soluble divalent metal salt; (2) heating the latex/aggregate mixture to a temperature which is within the range of about 66° C. to about 232° C.; (3) maintaining the latex/aggregate mixture at said elevated temperature for a time which is sufficient to reduce the moisture content of the latex/aggregate mixture below about 0.7 weight percent and to allow the polymer in the latex to crosslink on the surface of the aggregate to produce the coated aggregate.

Abstract: Conventional SBR does not have the soft and smooth chew characteristics needed in chewing gum base for soft chew applications. Conventional SBR typically also has undesirable odor and taste characteristics that have generally limited its use in chewing gum base formulations. However, there is a desire to use SBR in such applications because it is relatively inexpensive. The present invention also specifically discloses a process for synthesizing styrene-butadiene rubber that is particularly useful in manufacturing chewing gum base for soft chew applications which comprises copolymerizing about 1 phm to about 12 phm styrene and about 88 phm to about 99 phm of 1,3-butadiene in an aqueous emulsion, wherein said copolymerization is conducted at a temperature which is within the range of about 1° C. to about 20° C.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that the physical properties of rubber products made with styrene-butadiene rubber can be significantly improved by synthesizing the styrene-butadiene rubber by a process which comprises (1) charging water, a soap system, a free radical generator, 1,3-butadiene monomer and styrene monomer into a first polymerization zone; (2) allowing the 1,3-butadiene monomer and the styrene monomer to copolymerize in the first polymerization zone to a monomer conversion which is within the range of about 15 percent to about 40 percent to produce a low conversion polymerization medium; (3) charging the low conversion polymerization medium into a second polymerization zone; (4) charging an additional quantity of 1,3-butadiene monomer and an additional quantity of styrene monomer into the second polymerization zone; (5) allowing the copolymerization to continue until a monomer conversion of at least about 50 percent is attained to produce the latex of styrene-butadiene rubb

Abstract: The subject invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that tires having outstanding dry and wet traction characteristics, including wet skid resistance, can be made by incorporating certain blends of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and isoprene-butadiene rubber (IBR) into the treads thereof without greatly sacrificing rolling resistance and tread wear characteristics.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for devulcanizing the surface of reclaimed rubber crumb into surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb that is suitable for being recompounded and recured into high performance rubber products, said process comprising the steps of (1) heating the reclaimed rubber crumb to a temperature which is within the range of about 150° C. to about 300° C. under a pressure of at least about 3.4×106 Pascals in the presence of a solvent selected from the group consisting of alcohols and ketones, wherein said solvent has a critical temperature, which is within the range of about 200° C. to about 350° C., to devulcanize the surface of the rubber crumb thereby producing a slurry of the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb in the solvent, wherein the reclaimed rubber crumb has a particle size which is within the range of about 325 mesh to about 20 mesh, and (2) separating the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb from the solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire tread compound that is highly loaded with silica. This compound offers the advantages of silica compounding without the need for solution SBR. More specifically, the tire tread rubber formulations of this invention offer an excellent combination of traction, treadwear and rolling resistance characteristics. The subject invention discloses a tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads; wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting; wherein the tread is comprised of (1) 10 phr to 35 phr of high vinyl polybutadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature which is within the range of −40° C. to 10° C., (2) 65 phr to 90 phr of tin-coupled isoprene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature which is within the range of −90° C.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for devulcanizing the surface of reclaimed rubber crumb into surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb that is suitable for being recompounded and recurred into high performance rubber products, said process comprising the steps of (1) heating the reclaimed rubber crumb to a temperature which is within the range of about 150° C. to about 300° C. under a pressure of at least about 3.4×106 Pascals in the presence of 2-butanol to devulcanize the surface of the rubber crumb thereby producing a slurry of the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb in the 2-butanol, wherein the reclaimed rubber crumb has a particle size which is within the range of about 325 mesh to about 20 mesh, and (2) separating the surface devulcanized reclaimed rubber crumb from the 2-butanol.

Abstract: This invention relates to blends of a specific type of cis-l,4-polybutadiene rubber with other rubbery polymers, such as natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber and/or styrene-isoprene- butadiene rubber. The cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber utilized in the blends of this invention is synthesized by polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in the presence of (a) an organonickel compound, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine containing compound and (d) para-styrenated diphenylamine; wherein the organoaluminum compound and the fluorine containing compound are brought together in the presence of the para-styrenated diphenylamine. The cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber blends of this invention offer improved processability and enhanced physical properties. For instance, improved mixing which results in better incorporation of pigments and fillers, such as carbon black and silica, at lower levels of power consumption is realized.

Abstract: Aqueous liquids, such as water, can normally penetrate through conventional carpet. Thus, in cases where water is spilled on conventional carpet, it typically seeps through and ultimately reaches the flooring below. This trapped water can lead to bacterial or fungal growth which can further cause odors and/or deterioration of the carpet backing or flooring. This invention relates to a technique for treating carpet to render it impervious to aqueous liquids.