Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of 1

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of 1

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R′ can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural formula wherein R and R′ can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to improve the adhesion between rubber components. It is generally most useful for improving the adhesion between two different pre-cured rubber components or for improving the adhesion between a pre-cured rubber component and an uncured (green) rubber component. However, the technique of this invention can also be employed to improve the adhesion between two uncured rubber components. The technique of this invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that low molecular weight trans-1,4-polybutadiene containing rubber compounds can be used to improve the adhesion between rubber components.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, wherein the vulcanizable rubber composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), from about 30 to 100 phr of high trans random SIBR, and from about zero to about 70 phr of at least one additional elastomer, wherein the high trans random SIBR comprises from about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of styrene.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for making dilithium initiators in high purity. This process can be conducted in the absence of amines which is desirable since amines can act as modifiers for anionic polymerizations. The dilithium compounds made are highly desirable because they are soluble in aromatic solvents. The present invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a dilithium initiator which comprises reacting diisopropenylbenzene with a tertiary alkyl lithium compound in an aromatic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C. The present invention further discloses a process for synthesizing m-di-(1-lithio-1-methyl-3,3-dimethylbutyl)benzene which comprises reacting diisopropenylbenzene with tertiary-butyllithium in an aromatic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to stabilize tin-coupled rubbery polymers. It is particularly useful for stabilizing rubbery polymers that do not contain bound styrene. This invention more specifically discloses a process for improving the stability of a tin-coupled rubbery polymer which comprises (1) adding 0.1 phr to about 4 phr of styrene to a living rubbery polymer to produce a styrene capped rubbery polymer, (2) adding a tin halide to the styrene capped living rubbery polymer to produce the tin-coupled rubbery polymer, and (3) optionally, adding a tertiary chelating alkyl 1,2-ethylene diamine or a metal salt of a cyclic alcohol to the tin-coupled rubbery polymer. The use of metal salts of cyclic alcohols is preferred because they do not lead to recycle stream contamination. This is because cyclic alcohols do not co-distill with hexane or form compounds during steam-stripping which co-distill with hexane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having an integral innerliner of a rubber composition comprised of butyl rubber and/or halogenated butyl rubber and low molecular weight trans 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, wherein said rubber composition may also contain a minor amount of at least one additional, sulfur curable, elastomer.

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: The process of this invention can be utilized to improve the adhesion between rubber components. It is generally most useful for improving the adhesion between two different pre-cured rubber components or for improving the adhesion between a pre-cured rubber component and an uncured (green) rubber component. However, the technique of this invention can also be employed to improve the adhesion between two uncured rubber components. The technique of this invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that low molecular weight trans-1,4-polybutadiene containing rubber compounds can be used to improve the adhesion between rubber components.

Abstract: The group IIa metal containing catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure by solution polymerization. Such rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure content, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) an organolithium compound, including organolithium functionalized compounds, (b) a group IIa metal salt selected from the group consisting of group IIa metal salts of di(alkylene glycol)alkylethers and group IIa metal salts of tri(alkylene glycol) alkylethers, and (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally an organomagnesium compound.

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. The process and catalyst system of this invention can also be used in the synthesis of trans-styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: The group IIa metal containing catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure by solution polymerization. Such rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure content, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) an organolithium compound, including organolithium functionalized compounds, (b) a group IIa metal salt selected from the group consisting of group IIa metal salts of di(alkylene glycol)alkylethers and group IIa metal salts of tri(alkylene glycol) alkylethers, and (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally an organomagnesium compound.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a technique for synthesizing rubbery non-tapered, random, copolymers of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire sidewall rubber compounds for truck tires. By utilizing these isoprene-butadiene rubbers in tire sidewalls, tires having improved cut growth resistance can be built without sacrificing rolling resistance. Such rubbers can also be employed in tire tread compounds to improve tread wear characteristics and decrease rolling resistance without sacrificing traction characteristics.

Abstract: Metal salts of cyclic alcohols can be used as modifiers in lithium initiated solution polymerizations of diene monomers into rubbery polymers having a low vinyl content. For instance, such initiator systems can be used in the copolymerization of styrene and isoprene to produce low vinyl styrene-isoprene rubber having a random distribution of repeat units that are derived from styrene. It is important for such polymerizations to be conducted in the absence of polar modifiers, such as Lewis bases. The subject invention more specifically discloses an initiator system which is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) a metal salt of a cyclic alcohol, wherein said initiator system is void of polar modifiers. The present invention also discloses a process for preparing a rubbery polymer having a low vinyl content which comprises: polymerizing at least one diene monomer with a lithium initiator at a temperature which is within the range of about 5° C. to about 100° C.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery of certain anionic initiator systems can be used to initiate the solution polymerization of conjugated diolefin monomers into rubbery polymers having a low vinyl content. For instance, such initiator systems can be used in the copolymerization of styrene and isoprene to produce low vinyl styrene-isoprene rubber having a random distribution of repeat units that are derived from styrene. These initiator systems are comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) a member selected from the group consisting of (1) a sodium alkoxide, (2) a sodium salt of a sulfonic acid, and (3) a sodium salt of a glycol ether. It is important for the initiator system to be free of polar modifiers, such as Lewis bases.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery of certain anionic initiator systems can be used to initiate the solution polymerization of conjugated diolefin monomers into rubbery polymers having a low vinyl content. For instance, such initiator systems can be used in the copolymerization of styrene and isoprene to produce low vinyl styrene-isoprene rubber having a random distribution of repeat units that are derived from styrene. These initiator systems are comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) a member selected from the group consisting of (1) a sodium alkoxide, (2) a sodium salt of a sulfonic acid, and (3) a sodium salt of a glycol ether. It is important for the initiator system to be free of polar modifiers, such as Lewis bases.

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 tamylate. 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. The lithium salt of the saturated aliphatic alcohol can be added immediately prior to the coupling reaction or it can be present throughout the polymerization and coupling process.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire having at least one component or a rubber composition comprised of a major portion of relatively low Tg high cis 1,4-polybutadiene elastomer (BR) and a minor portion of a relatively high Tg, styrene-rich, styrene/isoprene elastomer (SIR) wherein the Tg of said BR is at least 60° C. lower than the Tg of said SIR. Said SIR has a styrene content of at least 30 weight percent. The styrene based units of said SIR are present substantially without large blocks of styrene units. Said BR is a high cis 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis 1,4-content of at least 96 percent and preferably has a branched macrostructure. In one aspect of the invention, said tire component is a tire tread, particularly a circumferential tire tread.

Abstract: The subject invention discloses a liquid isoprene-butadiene rubber (IBR) which is particularly valuable for use in making treads for high performance automobile tires, including race tires, that exhibit superior dry traction characteristics and durability. The isoprene-butadiene rubber of this invention is a liquid at room temperature and is comprised of repeat units which are derived from about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent isoprene and from about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent 1,3-butadiene, wherein the repeat units derived from isoprene and 1,3-butadiene are in essentially random order. The IBR of this invention also has a low number average molecular weight which is within the range of about 3,000 to about 50,000 and has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about −50° C. to about 20° C.