Abstract: A process for preparing continuously tapered polymers and copolymers having a continuous change in microstructure along the polymer backbone is disclosed. The process produces polymers and copolymers with multiple glass transition temperatures of very small energy absorption, i.e. no definable glass transition temperature. The polymers have a flexible chain end and they progressively become stiffer along the length of the chain.

Abstract: Diene polymer or copolymer compositions having reduced hysteresis are provided. The compositions comprise a mixture of diene polymers or copolymers containing carbon-tin bonds in the main polymer or copolymer chains prepared by coupling polymer or copolymer chains with tin polyhalides and diene polymers or copolymer chains containing terminals derived from substituted imines having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; wherein R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl and aprotic O, N, and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; with the proviso that at least one of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups must be a dialkylaminoaryl group and that not all of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.

Abstract: A portable garden power duster for applying dusting agent to garden plants is provided.

Abstract: A method for improving the aging resistance of the sidewalls of retreaded tires is provided. The method involves the steps of treating the surface of the sidewalls of the worn tire to be retreaded with an aqueous solution or dispersion containing a film-forming polymer and an antiozonant, retreading the treated tire and then curing the treated retreaded tire thereby causing the antioxidant to migrate into the inner portion of the sidewall.The method of the invention is particularly useful for improving the aging resistance of the sidewalls of worn truck and bus tires which are conventionally retreaded several times.

Abstract: A terminally functionalized polymer is prepared by reacting a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer with a fused-ring polynuclear aromatic compound. The resultant terminally functionalized polymers have reduced hysteresis in the carbon black reinforced and cured state and can be utilized to form elastomer compositions for tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.

Abstract: Diene polymers or copolymers having improved raw polymer viscosity and reduced hysteresis in the cured and carbon black reinforced state are provided. These diene polymers or copolymers comprise a mixture of diene polymer or copolymer chains containing carbon-tin bonds in the main polymer or copolymer chains and diene polymer or copolymer chains containing terminals derived from fused-ring polynuclear aromatic compounds.The diene polymer or copolymers are prepared by first coupling a portion of the living diene polymer or copolymer chains obtained by anionic polymerization using a tin polyhalide coupling agent and then terminating the remaining living diene polymer or copolymer chains using fused-ring polynuclear aromatic compounds. The resultant diene polymers or copolymers have improved raw polymer viscosity and when compounded with carbon black and cured have reduced hysteresis properties. The polymers can be utilized to form elastomer compositions for tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.

Abstract: A reinforcing agent for vulcanizable rubber compounds comprises an anhydrous metal salt of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having a crystalline structure consisting essentially of plates and fibers. Vulcanizable rubber compounds containing such reinforcing agents have improved physical properties over rubber compounds containing conventional metal carboxylic acid salts. Methods for the preparation of such anhydrous metal salts and methods for the reinforcement of vulcanizable rubber compounds therewith are also provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing free flowing pellets of thermosetting resin. The process includes the steps of polymerizing in the presence of a polymerization solvent the A forming component of a peroxide curable, tacky, cold flowing block copolymer AB, to form an active block; end capping the active block with a polyisocyanate compound; forming a solution of a non-cold flowing rubber; charging the solution simultaneously with the addition of the B forming component of the block copolymer AB with heat to form a thermosetting resin; removing the polymerization solvent; forming pellets of the resin, free from cold flow; subjecting the pellets to a surface treatment whereby a coating is provided to remove tack; and thereafter separating the pellets to yield a free flowing thermosetting resin comprising from about 55 to 95 parts by weight of the tacky, cold flowing block copolymer and from about 5 to 45 parts by weight of the non-cold flowing rubber and which upon cure has a flexural modulus of from about 1.

Abstract: Volatile additives for vulcanized or unvulcanized rubber can be accurately identified by controlled heating of a test sample in a sealed vial equipped with an overhead collecting headspace, transferring the heated volatiles to a chromatograph column, and analyzing the separated volatile components emerging from the chromatograph column by various selective analytical detectors.

Abstract: A self-adhering heat seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from an uncured polymeric composition of matter which comprises 100 parts by weight of a semi-crystalline polymer having more than about 2 percent by weight crystallinity and selected from the group consisting of polyolefins prepared from monomers containing at least 2 carbon atoms; from about 20 to 300 parts by weight of a filler selected from the group consisting of reinforcing and non-reinforcing materials and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of the polymer; and from about 20 to 150 parts by weight of a processing material and mixtrues thereof, per 100 parts of the polymer.

Abstract: A terminally functionalized polymer is prepared by reacting a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer with an aromatic nitrile compound. Especially useful aromatic nitriles are the unsubstituted and substituted benzonitriles. The resultant terminally functionalized polymers have reduced hysteresis in the carbon black reinforced and cured state and can be utilized to form elastomer compositions for tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.

Abstract: A method of preparing an elastomer having reduced hysteresis properties comprises the steps of reacting an anionic polymer having at least one functional site, with about one equivalent of a sulfoxide compound having the formula ##STR1## to form an adduct, where R1 and R2 are organo groups selected from the group consisting of alkyls and sulfur substituted alkyls having from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, aryls and halogen substituted aryls having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms and aralkyls having from about 7 to about 20 carbon atoms; and, curing the adduct in the presence of a suitable cure catalyst. Articles such as tires, produced with low hysteresis elastomeric polymers have lower rolling resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for positive product identification using tagging materials such as barium sulfate, manganese dioxide or mixtures thereof. Such materials may be employed, for example, in the dusting agent used in roofing materials, and applied to one or both sides of rubber roofing sheeting or admixed with the compounding ingredients during the preparation of the sheeting composition. The tagging materials can be detected and identified in the finished product by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

Abstract: Solid golf balls comprise a vulcanizable rubber and a reinforcing filler comprising an essentially anhydrous metal salt of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. Golf balls containing such reinforcing fillers have improved physical properties over rubber compounds containing conventional metal carboxylic acid salts. Additionally, the rubber compounds have improved processability and shorter curing time.

Abstract: A reinforcing agent for vulcanizable rubber compounds comprises an anhydrous metal salt of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having a crystalline structure consisting essentially of plates and fibers. Vulcanizable rubber compounds containing such reinforcing agents have improved physical properties over rubber compounds containing conventional metal carboxylic acid salts. Methods for the preparation of such anhydrous metal salts and methods for the reinforcement of vulcanizable rubber compounds therewith are also provided.

Abstract: A haloalkoxylated polybutadiene polymer and a composition containing the polymer which is suitable for use in a flat sheet material such as a roofing membrane is disclosed. The polymer has a superior filler capacity, excellent flame resistivity and acceptable heat aged tensile properties. The composition, which includes at least one polymer of the present invention and from about 5 to about 160 parts by weight of a filler material per 100 parts polymer, is self-adhering without the use of an adhesive and is heat seamable to produce seams which are resistant to temperatures as high as 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A substituted polybutadiene polymer and a composition containing the polymer which is suitable for use in a flat sheet material such as a roofing membrane is disclosed. The polymer has a superior filler capacity, excellent flame resistivity and acceptable heat aging properties, especially heat aged elongations. The composition, which includes the polymer of the present invention and from about 5 to about 160 parts by weight of a filler material per 100 parts polymer, is self-adhering without the use of an adhesive and is heat seamable to produce seams which are resistant to temperatures as high as 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A reinforcing agent for vulcanizable rubber compounds comprises an anhydrous metal salt of an .alpha.-.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having a crystalline structure consisting essentially of plates and fibers. Vulcanizable rubber compounds containing such reinforcing agents have improved physical properties over rubber compounds containing conventional metal carboxylic acid salts. Methods for the preparation of such anhydrous metal salts and methods for the reinforcement of vulcanizable rubber compounds therewith are also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a diene polymer or copolymer having increased amounts of 1,2-microstructure is provided. The method involves polymerizing a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst composition comprising: (a) an organolithium initiator and (b) an oxolanyl cyclic acetal having the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and X is 0 or 1.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a terminally functionalized polymer from a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer which comprises reacting the living polymer with a compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; wherein R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; with the proviso that at least one of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups must be a dialkylaminoaryl group and that not all of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups can be aryl groups.