Abstract: The subject invention discloses a process for modifying a rubbery polymer to improve silica interaction which comprises the steps of: (1) metallating the rubbery polymer with lithium by reacting the rubbery polymer with an organo lithium compound in the presence of a member selected from the group consisting of alkali metal alkoxides, alkali metal phenoxides and chelating tertiary alkyl 1,2- ethylene dieumines to produce a metallated rubbery polymer; and (2) reacting the metallated rubbery polymer with a silicon containing compound to produce the modified rubbery polymer having improved silica interaction, wherein the silicon containing compound is selected from the group consisting of silanes and siloxanes, wherein said silanes and siloxanes contain at least two functional groups which can be the same or different and which are selected from the group consisting of alkoxy groups, tertiary amino groups, cyano groups, sulfonyl groups, epoxy groups and halogen atoms; and wherein the reaction between the metalla

Abstract: The catalyst system disclosed herein comprises one suitable for the polymerization of a conjugated diene, which system comprises a trihydrocarbyl aluminum compound, in which the hydrocarbyl group is an alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl radical of 1-10 carbon atoms, and an alkali metal compound of the formula M--Y--R wherein M represents Li, Na or K; Y represents O, S or NR.sup.1 ; R represents H or a hydrocarbyl group of 1-10 carbon atoms; R.sup.1 represents a hydrocarbyl group of 1-10 carbon atoms, an acyl group of 1-10 carbon atoms; and when Y is NR.sup.1 the R and R.sup.1 can represent divalent groups so that together they form, with the N, a cyclic radical such as piperdyl, morpholino or diethylene diamino. Lithium alkoxides are preferred forms of the MYR formula and Al(CH.sub.3).sub.3 and Al(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 are preferred aluminum components.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of high molecular weight polymers of broad molecular weight distribution by using a sodium catalyst in the presence of a chelating diamine in the polymerization of (1) conjugated dienes, (2) a mixture of conjugated dienes and (3) a mixture of conjugated diene and vinyl monomer. Lithium and potassium alkoxides speed up the reaction.

Abstract: Alkali metal aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon acetals and ketals are initiators for the polymerization of conjugated dienes and copolymerization of conjugated diene and vinyl monomers. Mono-acetal and mono-ketal polymers are produced by termination of the foregoing polymers and copolymers with methanol, isopropanol, etc.; diacetal and diketal polymers are produced by terminating said polymers and copolymers with a joining agent, e.g. Cl.sub.2 Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; and polyacetal and polyketal polymers and copolymers are produced by terminating said polymers and copolymers with a polyfunctional joining agent, e.g. Cl.sub.3 SiCH.sub.3. Other mono-acetal and mono-ketal polymers are prepared by terminating said polymers and copolymers with ethylene oxide or carbon dioxide. The terminally reactive acetal polymers can be converted to other useful polymeric products.

Abstract: Conjugated dienes and alpha-olefins, such as butadiene and propylene, are copolymerized by a new catalyst system which gives copolymers containing a high proportion of the alpha-olefin with accompanying desired properties. This catalyst system comprises: (1) A titanium or vanadium halide, preferably chloride, (2) an aluminum hydrocarbon compound which also has Cl, Br or H attached to the Al atom and preferably the hydrocarbon group or groups are alkyl groups which have 1-8 carbon atoms in each of said alkyl groups and (3) CS.sub.2. The copolymers produced by this process have molecular weights in the range of 100,000-5,000,000; referably 250,000-500,000, and other desirable properties.

Abstract: 1,3-Butadiene is polymerized in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising:A. A complex of a cobalt salt;B. AlR.sub.3 wherein R is hydrocarbon, andC. CS.sub.2.The complex comprises one of a cobalt salt, preferably CoCl.sub.2, with an organic compound containing nitrogen and oxygen or sulfur, preferably with no more than 2 carbon atoms separating the nitrogen and oxygen or sulfur, and the organometal reducing agent AlR.sub.3, wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical, preferably of no more than 10 carbon atoms. The polybutadiene has a microstructure of at least 80% and generally more than 90% 1,2, is also syndiotactic in character, has a melting point of 190.degree.-227.degree. C, and may be obtained in approximately quantitative yields.

Abstract: N,N-bis(trialkylsilyl) amino-terminated polymers are prepared by treating p-lithio-N,N-bis(trialkylsilyl) aryl amine with a diene monomer and the resulting polymers are converted to a mono- or di- primary aryl amine-ended diene polymer directly by acid hydrolysis. The amine-ended polymers may be homopolymers of a conjugated diene which contain 4 to 8 carbon atoms or copolymers of such conjugated dienes or copolymers of such a conjugated diene and a vinyl monomer.

Abstract: 1,3-Butadiene is polymerized in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising:A. A cobalt-containing component;B. A reducing agent comprising RalX.sub.2 wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical of 1-8 carbon atoms, and X is halogen; andC. CS.sub.2The cobalt-containing component may be a cobalt salt, such as a cobalt halide, carboxylate, thiocarboxylate, carbonate, thiocarbonate, etc. or a complex of such a salt with an oxygen-containing or nitrogen-containing group either in the same compound or in a separate compound. Typical aluminum hydride or hydrocarbon dihalides that may be used are aluminum hydride dichloride, ethyl aluminum dichloride, ethyl aluminum dibromide, etc. With appropriate solvent and temperature, butadiene polymers having at least 90% cis-1,4 microstructure and in many cases 95-99% cis-1,4 are obtained in high yield. These polymers have excellent green strength and windup tack.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst for unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers is made by reducing a ligand metal salt with either a trialkyl aluminum or a dialkyl aluminum hydride compound. The catalysts easily and readily promotes a hydrogenation process.

Abstract: Novel phosphonitrilic fluoroelastomers and compositions based on the same, possessing outstanding solvent resistance, low temperature flexibility and good physical strength over a broad range of service conditions are disclosed. The use of specific substituents in the side chains on the ##EQU1## backbone to adapt the elastomers to vulcanization with organic peroxides, sulfur-accelerator cure systems or radiation cure is disclosed. Particularly preferred substituents are the o-allyl phenoxy groups.

Abstract: A linear conjugated diene of 4 to 8 carbon atoms or a mixture of such conjugated dienes or a mixture of such a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic monomer is polymerized in a monomer-starved process to yield homopolymers of copolymers of low molecular weight containing as low as 35 and up to 90 or 95% or more of microcyclic structures, if properly catalyzed and depending upon the temperature and other conditions of the reaction. These microcylic structures are defined as microcyclic rings of molecules containing 6 to 18 or more alkylene units. These cyclic structures are produced by the monomer-starved process which causes the bond between the carbon and the metal to bite back on itself.

Abstract: Shortcomings in the use of metallic sodium as a catalyst for the polymerization of dienes are overcome by carrying the polymerization out in a hydrocarbon solvent with organosodium as the catalyst, using a chelating amide such as hexamethylphosphorotriamide.

Abstract: Ethylene is grafted onto polymers of conjugated dienes to form copolymers having both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. This grafting is effected by a catalyst system comprising (1) a titanium or vanadium halide, (2) an aluminum trihydrocarbon and (3) a carbonyl compound such as acetophenone. The resultant graft copolymer has elastomeric properties due to the diene polymer backbone and thermoplastic properties from the grafted polymeric ethylene blocks.

Abstract: Conjugated dienes and alpha-olefins, such as butadiene and propylene, are copolymerized by a new catalyst system which gives copolymers containing a high proportion of the alpha-olefin with accompanying desired properties. This catalyst system comprises: (1) A titanium or vanadium halide, preferably chloride, (2) an aluminum hydrocarbon compound, preferably an aluminum trialkyl having 1-8 carbon atoms in each of said alkyl groups and (3) CS.sub.2. The copolymers produced by this process have molecular weights in the range of 100,000-5,000,000, preferably 250,000-500,000, and other desirable properties.

Abstract: A conjugated diene or a mixture of conjugated dienes or a mixture of a conjugated diene and an aryl vinyl monomer is polymerized with an alpha olefin in a reaction which is starved for monomer, and cyclization takes place. The catalyst includes a N,N,N', N'-tetra-alkyl alkylene diamine in which each alkyl group contains about 1 to 8 carbon atoms and the alkylene group contains 2 to 10 carbon atoms. N,N,N',N'-tetraethylenediamine is preferred. Other components of the catalyst include metallic sodium or potassium and alkyl sodium or potassium, preferably together with an alkali metal alkoxide.