Abstract: Hydrogenated copolymers of an unsaturated nitrile, butadiene and isoprene, wherein the molar ratio of butadiene to isoprene is less than 3:1, display valuable low temperature properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymers containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, optionally repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer and optionally further copolymerizable monomers in the presence of a zinc compound and optionally an organic halide activator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composite containing at least one carboxylated nitrile rubber polymer, that is optionally hydrogenated, at least one basic compound, at least one polyhalogenated hydrocarbon, optionally at least one filler and optionally at least one cross-linking agent, a process for preparing said polymer composite wherein at least one carboxylated nitrile rubber polymer, that is optionally hydrogenated, at least one basic compound, at least one polyhalogenated hydrocarbon, optionally at least one filler and optionally at least one cross-linking agent are mixed and a shaped article containing diester bridges formed by reaction of at least one carboxylated nitrile rubber polymer, that is optionally hydrogenated, at least one basic compound and at least one polyhalogenated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a filled halobutyl elastomer, which includes mixing a halobutyl elastomer, particles of filler an additive containing both amino and alcohol functional groups, and one or more hydrated metal halogens and optional curing the filled elastomer with sulfur or other curative systems. The compositions of the present invention have improved properties when compared to known carbon black-filled halobutyl elastomeric compositions combined with an enhanced scorch safety. This present invention has the advantages of (a) not evolving alcohol either during the manufacture or subsequent use of the article manufactured from the compound, and (b) maintaining good processability of the compound.

Abstract: A polymer composition useful to produce a vulcanizate having improved hot air aging properties is described. The polymer composition includes two components. The first component is a polymer having a main polymer chain derived from: (i) at least about 30% by weight of a first monomer which introduces at least one of a secondary carbon and a tertiary carbon to the backbone, and (ii) from 0 to about 70% by weight of at least one other monomer. The second component is a salt of a strong base and a weak acid, the salt comprising a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table of Elements. The polymer compositions may further comprise optional ingredients such as one or more of: a vulcanization system, a polycarbodiimide and a filler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silica-filled halogenated butyl elastomers, such as bromobutyl elastomers (BIIR) wherein the silica is surface-functionalized with a protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shaped article for high purity applications containing at least one peroxide curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a sealing material and a medical device containing at least one peroxide-curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In still another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a fuel cell containing at least one peroxide curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In still another of its aspects, the present invention relates to halogen-free and sulfur-free shaped articles.

Abstract: A halogenated butyl polymer having improved properties, the butyl polymer derived from a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C8 monoolefin monomer, a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer and a styrenic monomer with a catalyst system to produce the butyl polymer. The improved properties include faster cure, higher maximum torque, higher delta torque, relatively stable modulus over time, improved hot air aging properties and improved aged flexure properties. These improved properties are believed to result from direct interaction between the styrenic moieties in the polymer backbone with a crosslinking agent added to vulcanize the halogenated butyl rubber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nitrile polymer vulcanizate having improved hot air aging characteristics. The nitrile polymer vulcanizate may be produced by admixing a composition containing: (i) a nitrile polymer; (ii) a filler; (iii) a metal salt of a secondary amine; (iv) a vulcanization system; and optionally (v) an additive selected from the group consisting of a strong base, a salt of a strong base and a weak acid, a salt of a weak acid, a carbodiimide, a polycarbodiimide and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A butyl polymer composition having improved cold flow properties is described. The composition comprises a butyl polymer (preferably a halogenated butyl polymer) and a styrene monomer. The styrene monomer is a copolymer of ?-methylstyrene and another styrenic monomerer (e.g., styrene and vinyl toluene). Relative to the base butyl polymer, the cold flow properties of the butyl polymer composition are improved along with a number of other properties.

Abstract: The present invention is relates to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, additional copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements. The present invention is related to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer comprising repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, further copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements and said prediction is subsequently used to alter at least one process parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nitrile rubber polymers having lower molecular weights and narrower molecular weight distributions than those known in the art. The present invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of said nitrile rubber and the use of said nitrile rubber for the manufacture of shaped articles.

Abstract: A butyl polymer having improved processability is described, together with a process for production thereof. The butyl polymer derived from a reaction mixture which contains: (i) a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C7 monoolefin monomer (preferably isobutylene) and a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer (preferably isoprene); (ii) a multiolefin cross-linking agent (preferably divinyl benzene); and (iii) a chain transfer agent (preferably diisobutylene (2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentene)). The subject butyl polymer has an improved balance of cold flow, filler dispersion, extrusion rate and die swell.

Abstract: A process has now been discovered that permits the simultaneous crosslinking and derivation of an, optionally hydrogenated, polymer whose backbone is composed of a conjugated diene, an unsaturated nitrile and an unsaturated carboxylic acid in the presence of a coupling/condensing agent. This permits the preparation of a novel polymeric material that is an optionally hydrogenated polymer of a conjugated diene, an unsaturated nitrile and a derived unsaturated acid. It has also been found that this novel polymeric material has unexpected and valuable properties.

Abstract: Polymeric materials that differ from each other in solubility parameters and other properties are covulcanized by reaction with a hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber, a multivalent salt of an organic acid and a curing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogenated nitrile rubber polymers having lower molecular weights and narrower molecular weight distributions than those known in the art. The present invention is also related to shaped articles containing hydrogenated nitrile rubber polymers having lower molecular weights and narrower molecular weight distributions than those known in the art.

Abstract: A brominated butyl rubber and a polymer based on a conjugated diolefin monomer are grafted by mixing the solid polymer at a temperature greater than 50° C. for a time sufficient to cause grafting. The grafted copolymer is useful especially in tire tread compositions.

Abstract: A vulcanizate derived from a polymer composition comprising three components exhibits improved hot air aging properties and is useful, for example, for the manufacture of articles subject to dynamic loading, such as belting applications. The first component is a polymer having a main polymer chain derived from: (i) at least about 30% by weight of a first monomer which introduces at least one of a secondary carbon and a tertiary carbon to the backbone, and (ii) from 0 to about 70% by weight of at least one other monomer. Preferred are ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers. The second component is a salt of a strong base and a weak acid, the salt comprising a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table of Elements. The third component is an antioxidant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a filled halobutyl elastomer, which comprises mixing a halobutyl elastomer, mineral filler and a silazane compound or mixture of a silazane compound and an additive which contains at least one hydroxyl group and at least one substituents which bears a basic amine group, and curing the filled elastomer with sulfur or other curative systems. The present invention has the advantages of (a) not evolving alcohol either during the manufacture or subsequent use of the article manufactured from the compound, (b) improving the scorch safety of filled halobutyl elastomer compounds which employ silica as the mineral filler and a the additive containing at least one hydroxyl group and a functional group containing a basic amine as a dispersing aid and (c) significantly reducing the cost of the compound compared to analogous compounds currently known in the art.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of hydrogenating a nitrile copolymer rubber, which comprises subjecting the copolymer to hydrogenation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, a co-catalyst, and a proton acceptor that is non-coordinating with the metal-complex catalyst.