Abstract: Substituted 7- to 12-membered cycloalkanes which have leaving groups, in particular chlorine atoms, on tertiary ring carbons, a process for preparing them and their use as initiators for cationic polymerization, in particular the cationic polymerization of isobutene are described. Preferred compounds are 1,4-dichloro-1,4-dimethylcyclooctane, 1,5-dichloro-1,5-dimethylcyclooctane and mixtures thereof. They are prepared by addition of hydrogen chloride onto appropriately substituted cycloalkapolyenes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component comprised of a rubber composition which contains a hydrophobated, pre-silanized silica, namely a pre-silanized silica hydrophobated with an epoxidized soybean oil and/or epoxidized rubber tree seed oil in situ within said rubber composition. Such tire component may be, for example although not limited to, a tire tread, sidewall and/or sidewall insert.

Abstract: A polymer consisting mainly of structural units represented by the general formula (1), wherein the total molar amount of terminal aldehyde groups and acetal groups is 0.6 mol % or smaller based on the total molar amount of the structural units represented by the general formula (1). —[—(—CHR1—)n—CX1R2—CX2R3-]— (1) (In the formula, n is an integer of 2 to 10; X1 and X2 each represents —H, —OH, or a functional group capable of being converted into —OH, provided that at least one of X1 and X2 is hydroxy or a functional group capable of being converted into hydroxy; and R1, R2, and R3 each represents —H or C1-5 alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or heteroaryl and the two or more R1's may be different).

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polyolefin compositions having variable hardness and/or toughness properties. The polyolefin compositions include: a polyolefin prepared by the metathesis of an olefin monomer using a ruthenium or osmium carbene catalyst; and one or more hardness and/or toughness modulators. The polyolefin is preferably poly(dicyclopentadiene), or poly-DCPD. Also provided are articles of manufacture, such as molded parts, produced from the polyolefin compositions. The disclosed compositions are useful in marine, recreational and sports products.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a batch process for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, having a high trans microstructure. In one embodiment, the batch process involves mixing a catalyst system with styrene and butadiene monomers in a single reactor, with additional butadiene monomer being added after a desired period of time to further drive styrene conversion and, thus, provide a desirable high trans rubbery polymer, e.g., styrene-butadiene rubber. The copolymerization process can be conducted at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 180° and over a period of about 1 to about 4 hours. The catalyst system can include (a) an organolithium compound, (b) a group IIa metal salt, and (c) an organoaluminum compound. The catalyst system may further optionally include an amine compound and/or an organomagnesium compound.

Abstract: Radical polymerization process for the preparation of halogenated polymers employing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, at least one of which is chosen from halogenated monomers, molecular iodine and one or more radical-generating agents chosen from diazo compounds, peroxides and dialkyl diphenylalkanes Radical polymerization process for the preparation, starting from the halogenated polymers prepared by the process as described above, of block copolymers, at least one block of which is a halogenated polymer block. Halogenated polymers which have a number-average molecular mass Mn of greater than 1.0×104 and an Mz/Mw ratio of less than 1.65. Block copolymers, at least one block of which is a block of halogenated polymer identical to the halogenated polymers described above. Block copolymers comprising at least one halogenated polymer block which have a number-average molecular mass Mn of greater than 1.5×104 and a polydispersity index Mw/Mn of less than 1.60.

Abstract: A styrene copolymer composition comprising at least one alkyl acrylate and/or at least one alkyl methacrylate wherein the styrene copolymer composition has a bimodal molecular weight distribution. A method of producing a styrene copolymer comprising reacting styrene and at least one alkyl acrylate and/or at least one alkyl methacrylate, wherein the alkyl acrylate comprises an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and the alkyl methacrylate comprises an alkyl group having equal to or greater than 10 carbon atoms. A method of increasing the molecular weight distribution in a styrene copolymer comprising incorporating at least one alkyl acrylate and/or at least one alkyl methacrylate wherein the styrene copolymer has a polydispersity index equal to or greater than 3.

Abstract: A propylene polymerisation process carried out in the presence of an anti-fouling agent; characterised in that the anti-fouling agent comprises an anti-fouling polymer containing: (1) one or more blocks —(CH2—CH2—O)k— where each k is in the range from 1 to 50; and (2) one or more blocks —(CH2—CH(R)—O)n— where R comprises an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and each n is in the range from 1 to 50; and terminated by a R? and a R? end groups wherein R? is OH or an alkoxy having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R? is H or an alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and the anti-fouling polymer is solvated in a solvent comprising cyclohexane when added to the polymerisation medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for producing polymers at conversions ranging from 50% to 95% having a Mooney viscosity of at least 25 Mooney-units and a gel content of less than 15 wt. % containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, more than 4.1 mol % of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer and optionally further copolymerizable monomers in the presence of AlCl3 and a suitable proton source (e.g. water) or cationogen and at least one multiolefin cross-linking agent wherein the process is conducted in the absence of transition metal compounds and organic nitro compounds.

Abstract: A main object of the invention is to provide a polar-group-containing cyclized rubber making it possible to improve remarkable the adhesiveness between paint and a molded product made of a nonpolar polymer such as polypropylene or polyethylene, and a process for producing the same. In order to attain the object, the invention provides a polar-group-containing cyclized rubber which has a polar group at a terminal of a polymer chain thereof, has a weight-average molecular weight of 1000 to 1,000,000, and is obtained by cyclizing a conjugated diene polymer having the polar group at a terminal of a polymer chain thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rubbery polymers, such as polybutadiene rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber, that contain tin coupling agents and provide desirable dispersion of carbon black in rubber compounds, such as for use in tire treads. The tin coupling agents are defined by the general formulas (I) (X3Sn)2O or (II) (X3Sn)O—(CH2)n—O(X3Sn), wherein X is a halogen and n is 1 to 20. A method of rubbery polymer synthesis, in one embodiment, involves mixing anionically polymerizable conjugated diene monomers with optional vinyl aromatic and an anionic-polymerization initiator, i.e., an organolithium compound, to form a mixture of living polymers. A tin coupling agent is added to the mixture of living polymers effecting polymerization conditions to form the tin coupled rubbery polymer. Such tin coupled rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the start up of polymerization or copolymerization of ethylene in a gas phase reactor, preferably a fluidised bed gas phase reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a vinyl polymer including the steps of polymerizing a vinyl monomer by atom transfer radical polymerization with a transition metal complex as a polymerization catalyst, and bringing the resultant vinyl polymer into contact with an adsorbent in the presence of an oxidizing agent; the vinyl polymer produced by the method; and a reactive composition susceptible to hydrosilylation containing the vinyl polymer produced by the method and having at least one alkenyl group per molecule.

Abstract: A crosslinkable resin composition is provided which can be a forming material having excellent adhesion to metals and excellent heat resistance. The crosslinkable resin composition comprises; a cycloolefin resin (A) obtained through metathesis polymerization of a cycloolefin monomer in the presence of a compound having two or more vinyl groups in the molecule, and a radical generating agent (B). A crosslinked resin molded product is obtained by crosslinking such a crosslinkable resin composition through heating.

Abstract: The present invention provided a norbornene compound with cross-linkable groups and their derivative polymers, wherein said cross-linkable groups were olefin or epoxy groups. Norbornene polymers with cross-linkable side chain and their block copolymers as well as modified derivatives were prepared via living ring-open metathesis polymerization method. The resulting polymers with excellent solubility and optic properties had narrow molecular weight distribution, well-controlled molecular weight, small refraction ration and high transparency. They were also suitable for preparing hybrid materials with high thermal stability and chemical resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provided a norbornene compound with cross-linkable groups and their derivative polymers, wherein said cross-linkable groups were olefin or epoxy groups. Norbornene polymers with cross-linkable side chain and their block copolymers as well as modified derivatives were prepared via living ring-open metathesis polymerization method. The resulting polymers with excellent solubility and optic properties had narrow molecular weight distribution, well-controlled molecular weight, small refraction ration and high transparency. They were also suitable for preparing hybrid materials with high thermal stability and chemical resistance.

Abstract: A process for producing a cycloolefin addition polymer in which one or more cycloolefin monomers can be (co)polymerized by addition polymerization with a small palladium catalyst amount to produce a cycloolefin addition (co)polymer while attaining high catalytic activity. The process for cycloolefin addition polymer production is characterized by addition-polymerizing one or more cycloolefin monomers comprising a cycloolefin compound represented by a specific formula in the presence of a multi-component catalyst comprising (a) a palladium compound and (b) a specific phosphorus compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet for a carrier tape, having at least one layer comprising (I) a block copolymer comprising a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene, (II) a non-rubber-modified vinyl aromatic type hydrocarbon polymer, and (III) a rubber-modified vinyl aromatic type hydrocarbon polymer, wherein the peak molecular weight of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block in the block copolymer (I) is from 30,000 to 80,000, the half-width in the molecular weight distribution curve of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block is from 1.3 to 2.8, the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content in the sheet for a carrier tape is from 75 to 95 wt %, and the content of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer component is from 65 to 85 wt %.

Abstract: In a process for producing a polymer blend, at least one first monomer is polymerized in a first slurry phase reaction zone in the presence of a supported first catalyst to produce a thermoplastic first polymer having a crystallinity of at least 30%. At least part of said first polymer is then contacted with at least one second monomer different from said first monomer in a second solution phase reaction zone in the presence of a second catalyst and in the absence of polyenes under conditions to produce a second polymer having a crystallinity of less than 20%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymers comprising repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, at least one multiolefin monomer and optionally further copolymerization monomers in the presence of at least one organic nitro compound and AlCl3/water wherein the process is conducted in the absence of compounds selected from the group consisting of vanadium compounds, zirconium halogenid, and hafnium hallogenides.