Abstract: Hydrophobic surfaces with water contact angles greater than 120 degrees are created by the deposition of nano-particles. A process for the synthesis of suitable nano-particles is described as well as a process for the deposition of the particles.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymer product, the method comprising polymerizing conjugated diene monomer, optionally together with vinyl aromatic monomer, within a hydrocarbon solvent by employing a lithium-containing initiator, thereby forming a living polymer cement, where about 0.04 to about 0.

Abstract: A method comprising: (a) forming a living liquid polymer, wherein said living liquid polymer is anionically initiated and comprises a cation; (b) adding a functional initiator precursor of the formula FI-H, wherein H is hydrogen and FI is a functional group, said H terminates said living liquid polymer resulting in said liquid polymer having a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 (g/mole) to about 100,000 (g/mole), and said FI and said cation form a functional initiator; (c) adding monomer, wherein said functional initiator initiates anionic polymerization of said monomer; and (d) terminating the polymerization reaction initiated in step (c). Steps (a) through (c) may be conducted in a single reactor, allowing a liquid polymer to be dispersed in a functionalized polymer in a single polymerization step. Thus, the liquid polymer does not have to be handled separately and processing efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A method for forming a vulcanizable composition of matter, the method comprising providing a polymer cement or latex comprising at least one rubber, adding at least one processing aid to the cement or latex to form a modified rubber cement or latex, isolating the rubber and at least one processing aid to form a premix, and mixing the premix with carbon black.

Abstract: Particular embodiments are directed toward a rubber mixture comprising (i) a rubber; and (ii) a filler component, where the filler component includes a filler selected from the group consisting of amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate, where said amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate are characterized by a BET specific surface area of less than 40 m2/g.

Abstract: A multi-functional polymer defined by the formula (Q-R¦n—Z—P2—Y where (Q-R)n is a functionality cluster, Q is a functional group, R is a multi-valent organic group, P2 is a long-chain polymer, n is an integer from about 2 to about 10, Y is a proton, a weak functional group, or a selective functional group, and Z is a branch point where the functionality clusters join the long-chain polymer.

Abstract: A vulcanized rubber composition comprising the vulcanization product of a functional polymer, where the functional polymer is defined by the formula where R is selected from C1 to C6 trialkyl-silyl groups, C1 to C20 alkyl groups, C4 to C20 cycloalkyl groups, C6 to C20 aryl groups, thienyl, furyl, and pyridyl groups; and R may optionally have attached thereto any of the following functional groups: C1 to C10 alkyl groups, C6 to C20 aryl groups, C2 to C10 alkenyl groups, C3 to C10 non-terminal alkynyl groups, ethers, tert-amines, oxazolines, thiazolines, phosphines, sulfides, silyls, and mixtures thereof; where R1 is selected from C2 to C8 alkylene groups, where X is NR, and where ? is a polymer chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing an imidazolium surfactant using a mixing apparatus. The present invention also provides a nano-composite comprising a clay and the imidazolium surfactant, and a composition comprising a polymer and the nano-composite. The nano-composite is practically useful in formulating compositions such as rubber and tire products with improved and well-balanced properties including gas permeability, cure properties, and/or mechanical properties etc.

Abstract: A process for providing interaction between particulate filler and a functionalized polymer involves a composition that includes at least three components: (1) a polymer that includes a functional group including an acidic cation of a primary or secondary amine functionality, (2) a material including a functionality capable of reacting with the acidic cation, and (3) particulate filler. The amine functionality from (1) is allowed to interact with (3) after being neutralized by the action of the acid-reactive functionality from (2). The process is useful in the formation of vulcanizates and articles made therefrom.

Abstract: A nanoporous material is provided. The pores of the nanoporous material are formed between nanoparticles that have a polymeric surface layer. The nanoporous material is produced by (a) suspending the nanoparticles in a medium material, wherein the nanoparticles are phase separated from the medium material, (b) heating the suspension to a temperature above the melting point of the nanoparticle surface layer, and (c) cooling the suspension. Alternatively, the nanoporous material may be produced by dissolving nanoparticles having a polymeric surface layer in a solvent, and then adding a medium material that causes the nanoparticles to phase separate from the solution.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to unsaturated metathesis interpolymers having at least one or more specified terminal functional groups. The interpolymers are prepared by metathesis polymerization, and are selected from 1,5-cyclooctadiene and cyclopentene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene and cyclooctene, and cyclooctene and cyclopentene interpolymers.

Abstract: A method is presented for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (AMS) or co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (co-AMS,) comprising the steps of (a) combining as a reaction mixture (i) water, (ii) an acid-stable solvent for the water, (iii) a solid strong cationic hydrolysis and condensation catalyst, and (iv) a trialkoxysilane compound, (b) allowing the reaction mixture to react for about 0.5 hours to about 200 hours to form the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes; and (c) recovering the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes from the reaction mixture. The use of solid strong cationic catalysts in this reaction system is advantageous because they remain as solids throughout the reaction, allowing simplified separation of the solid catalyst from the soluble AMS or co-AMS products, resulting in total or near total recovery of the AMS or co-AMS products, the products being free of, or substantially free of residual acid catalyst, as well as virtual total recovery of the catalyst for recycling.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer and reacting the reactive polymer with an imide compound containing a protected amino group.

Abstract: Compositions and polydiene production processes involving catalyst systems comprising at least one lanthanide-containing compound, at least one alkylating agent, at least one halogen source, and at least one N,N-dihydrocarbylhydroxylamine.

Abstract: The inventive composition includes a block copolymer which includes four blocks and has the following block arrangement: B-S-B-S. The two polymer blocks B comprise conjugated diene monomer constitutional units; and the two polymer blocks S comprise vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer constitutional units. The invention also includes methods of making such inventive compositions as well as asphalt compositions and/or thermoplastic elastomers which include such block copolymer.

Abstract: A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. Applications of use as additives for rubber, including the rubber compositions, are also provided.

Abstract: It has been discovered that the use of a silica dispersing aid, a polymerized (substituted) imidazolium liquid ionomer (PSI), in vulcanizable rubber compositions, provides an increase in the compound modulus and satisfactory processing of silica-containing rubber compounds, especially for tire components, without sacrificing other beneficial rubber properties or increasing hysteresis.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric nanoparticles comprising triblock and optionally diblock copolymer chains. The architecture of the polymeric nanoparticles may be controlled, resulting in nanoparticles having non-spherical shapes. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the polymeric nanoparticles and a rubber article such as a tire manufactured from a formulation comprising the polymer nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with an azine compound.

Abstract: A method for quenching an active polymerization mixture, the method comprising introducing a polyhydroxy compound to an active polymerization mixture.