Abstract: The introduction of graphene as a carrier for enzymes and catalysts is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for the synthesis of a rubbery polymer by emulsion polymerization that comprised polymerizing (1) a conjugated diolefin monomer and (2) a functionalized monomer having the structural formula: wherein the R1 groups can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, and wherein R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, with the proviso that if R3 represent an alkyl group then R4 represents a hydrogen atom, and with the proviso that R4 represents an alkyl group then R3 represents a hydrogen atom, wherein said polymerization is conducted in an aqueous medium, and wherein said polymerization is initiated with a free radical initiator.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a dendrimer of a rubbery polymer comprising: (a) reacting a lithium terminated rubbery polymer with a halogenated silicon containing compound to produce a polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties, wherein the halogenated silicon contain compound has at least four halogen atoms which are bonded directly to silicon atoms, wherein the ratio of the lithium terminated rubbery polymer to halogen atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound is within the range of 2:n to (n-1):n, wherein n represents the number of halogen atoms that are bonded directly to silicon atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound, wherein the halogenated silicon containing compound contains at least three halogen atoms which are bonded directly to a silicon atom; (b) reacting the polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties with a molar excess of a tertiary alcohol to produce a polymer which is terminated with hydroxy silyl moieties; a

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.

Abstract: This invention relates to a precipitated silica reinforced conjugated diene-based elastomer composition containing an alkoxysilane coupled, in-chain functionalized, conjugated diene-based elastomer and to a tire having at least one component thereof. Said in-chain functionalized conjugated diene-based elastomer is a conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains a plurality of at least one of in-chain p- and m-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene (PES) and m-(2-pyrrolidino-1-methylethyl) alpha-methylstyrene (PAMS) groups.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber-rich rubber composition containing precipitated silica which has been pre-treated with a fatty alcohol and/or epoxidized soybean oil together with an organosilane containing polysulfide coupling agent and to tires having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: The process and catalyst of this invention can be utilized to synthesize homo and copolymers of conjugated diene monomers and vinyl aromatic monomers having high trans contents of greater than 60% with low melting points. These homo and copolymers of conjugated diene monomers and vinyl aromatic monomers can be utilized in tire tread and sidewall rubbers that exhibit outstanding wear and tear characteristics in the tread and excellent flexing properties in the sidewall. The rubber polymers of this invention are made utilizing an improved catalyst system. This catalyst system is comprised of (a) organo aluminum compounds, (b) organo lithium compounds, (c) a barium compound selected from barium salts of (i) di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether, (ii) di(ethylene glycol) propyl ether, (iii) di(ethylene glycol) hexyl ether, (iv) di(N,N-dimethyl amino glycol) ethyl ether, (v) menthol and thymol in the presence of polar modifier consisting of water, alcohols, amines, thiols, phosphates and phosphites.

Abstract: The neodymium catalyst system prepared by the technique of this invention can be used in the polymerization of isoprene monomer into synthetic polyisoprene rubber having an extremely high cis-microstructure content and high stereo regularity. This polyisoprene rubber will crystallize under strain and can be compounded into rubber formulations in a manner similar to natural rubber. This invention more specifically discloses a process for the synthesis of polyisoprene rubber which comprises polymerizing isoprene monomer in the presence of a neodymium catalyst system, wherein the neodymium catalyst system is prepared by a process that comprises (1) reacting a neodymium carboxylate with an organoaluminum compound in an organic solvent to produce neodymium-aluminum catalyst component, and (2) subsequently reacting the neodymium-aluminum catalyst component with an elemental halogen to produce the neodymium catalyst system, wherein the neodymium catalyst system is void of nickel-containing compounds.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst system that comprises the sequential steps of (I) reacting an organometalic compound that contains a metal from Group III-B of the Periodic System with an organoaluminum compound at a temperature which is within the range of 50° C. to 100° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a natural rubber-rich rubber composition and tire with tread thereof. A partial replacement of the natural rubber in the natural rubber-rich tire tread is accomplished by an inclusion of a specialized trans 1,4-styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber characterized by having a combination of bound styrene content and microstructure limitations. The tire tread rubber composition is comprised of a blend of the specialized trans 1,4-styrene/butadiene rubber and cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber optionally together with at least one additional diene-based elastomer in which the natural rubber remains a major portion of the elastomers in the tread rubber composition. A significant aspect of the invention is a partial replacement of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber in the tread rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a tread of a natural rubber-rich rubber composition. A partial replacement of the natural rubber in the tire tread is accomplished by an inclusion of a relatively low Mooney viscosity specialized trans 1,4-polybutadiene. The tire tread rubber composition is comprised of a blend of the specialized trans 1,4-polybutadiene polymer and cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber optionally together with at least one additional diene-based elastomer in which the natural rubber remains a major portion of the elastomers in the tread rubber composition. A significant aspect of the invention is a partial replacement of natural cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber in the tread rubber composition. The specialized trans 1,4-polybutadiene polymer has a relatively low Mooney (ML1+4), 100° C., viscosity within a range of 25 to 55.

Abstract: The process and catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize a highly random styrene-butadiene rubber having a high trans content by solution polymerization. The styrene-butadiene rubber made by the process of this invention can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit improved wear characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a catalyst system for use in isothermal polymerizations which consists essentially of (a) an organolithium compound, (b) a calcium alkoxide and (c) a lithium alkoxide. The subject invention further discloses a process for synthesizing a random styrene-butadiene rubber having a low vinyl content by a process which comprises copolymerizing styrene and 1,3-butadiene under isothermal conditions in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which consists essentially of (a) an organolithium compound, (b) a calcium alkoxide and (c) a lithium alkoxide.

Abstract: The neodymium catalyst system prepared by the technique of this invention can be used in the polymerization of isoprene monomer into synthetic polyisoprene rubber having an extremely high cis-microstructure content and high stereo regularity. This polyisoprene rubber will crystallize under strain and can be compounded into rubber formulations in a manner similar to natural rubber. This invention more specifically discloses a process for preparing a neodymium catalyst system which comprises (1) reacting a neodymium carboxylate with an organoaluminum compound in an organic solvent to produce neodymium-aluminum catalyst component, and (2) subsequently reacting the neodymium-aluminum catalyst component with an elemental halogen to produce the neodymium catalyst system. The present invention further discloses a synthetic polyisoprene rubber which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene, wherein the synthetic polyisoprene rubber has a cis-microstructure content which is within the range of 98.

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: This invention relates to a tire with a sidewall insert and/or apex of a rubber composition which contains a high vinyl polybutadiene elastomer.

Abstract: Rubbery polymers made by anionic polymerization can be coupled with fin halides or silicon halides to improve the characteristics of the rubber for use in some applications, such as fire 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 t-amylate. 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a rubbery polymer that comprises copolymerizing at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one functionalized monomer in an organic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of 0° C. to about 150° C., wherein the polymerization is initiated with an anionic initiator, wherein the polymerization is conducted in the absence of conventional polar modifiers, and wherein the functionalized monomer is of the structural formula: wherein the R? groups in repeat units and in different repeat units can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, wherein x represents an integer from 1 to about 10, and wherein the R groups in repeat units and in different repeat units can be the same or different and represent alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or alkoxy groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads; wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting; wherein the tread is comprised of: (1) an amino group containing rubbery polymer, wherein said amino group containing rubbery polymer contains from about 0.1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent monomer units containing an amino group, (2) from 0.1 to about 25 phr of an organophilic 2:1 layered silicate clay selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite clays, bentonite clays, hectorite clays, saponite clays, nontronite clays, beidellite clays, fluorohectorite clays, stevensite clays, volkonskoite clays, sauconite clays, and laponite clays, and (3) a silica coupling agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a rubbery polymer that comprises copolymerizing at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one functionalized monomer in an organic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of 0° C. to about 150° C., wherein the polymerization is initiated with an anionic initiator, wherein the polymerization is conducted in the absence of conventional polar modifiers, and wherein the functionalized monomer is of the structural formula: wherein the R? groups in repeat units and in different repeat units can be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, wherein x represents an integer from 1 to about 10, and wherein the R groups in repeat units and in different repeat units can be the same or different and represent alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or alkoxy groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.