Abstract: Bifuran-modified polyester, polyethylene-terephthalate-co (2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate), prepared by esterifying or transesterifying a diacid component comprising from 2 to 10 mole percent 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate and a diol component with a catalyst compound comprising metal present in an amount of from about 10 to about 450 ppm and polycondensation to form the polyester wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.5 g/dL, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 82° C. or more, a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp, and melting temperature (Tm) between 229° C. and 246° C. Reinforced compositions and shaped articles comprising bifuran-modified polyethylene terephthalate and methods of their production are also disclosed.

Abstract: A 5,5?-Di-(protected)-2,2?-bifuran: wherein each R1 is independently an unsubstituted or substituted 5- or 6-member 1,3-dioxo-2-yl ring radical. Processes for making the bifuran include coupling 2-(protected)-furfural. Processes for using the bifuran include deprotection, functionalization, and/or polymerization to form a polyester. The polyester can be a renewable, high-performing polyester offering a combination of low cost of production, high sustainability, and excellent performance.

Abstract: Low molecular weight, high Tg resins, with applications including tire additives and adhesives. An oligomer is obtained by ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a sterically encumbered cyclic monomer with an olefinic chain transfer agent. The sterically encumbered cyclic monomer and the olefinic chain transfer agent are present in the polymerization at a molar ratio of from 2:1 to about 40:1. Also, methods for making the oligomer by ROMP.

Abstract: Semicrystalline polyethylene-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (PEBF) homopolyester or copolyester with up to 5 mole percent isophthalate or up to 2.7 mole percent terephthalate, based on the diacid component, or up to 2.5 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), based on the diol component, prepared by esterifying or transesterifying the diacid and the diol components with a catalyst including about 10 to about 50 ppm wt metal, and polycondensation, wherein the bifuran polyester has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.4 g/dL and a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp.

Abstract: A process for olefin oligomerization can include contacting a feedstock comprising Cn and C2n olefins/paraffins under oligomerization conditions in the presence of an oligomerization catalyst, wherein n is 2 to 15; and recovering an oligomeric product comprising C3n oligomers having a branching index of less than 2.1. Optionally, the feedstock can further comprise C3n olefins/paraffins.

Abstract: A supported catalyst system is based on a transition metal carbene including the moiety M1=CR*)2, wherein M1 is the transition metal and R* is hydrogen or a C1-C8 hydrocarbyl. The catalyst system can be supported on a metal oxide support such as silica or the catalyst can be self-supporting. Methods of making the catalyst system can involve precursors based on and/or reacted with aluminum alkyls, halides, and/or alkoxides. Methods of polymerizing cyclic olefins with the catalyst system can obtain polyalkenamers, cyclic olefin polymers, cyclic olefin copolymers, and other metathesis reaction products. The supported catalyst and/or monomer can be recovered and recycled to the polymerization reactor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a process for producing a cyclic olefin includes introducing a polymer to a metathesis catalyst in a reaction vessel under reaction conditions. The process includes obtaining a cyclic olefin product comprising the cyclic olefin. In some embodiments, a process for producing a cyclic olefin includes introducing an article comprising a polymer to a metathesis catalyst in a reaction vessel under reaction conditions. The process includes obtaining a cyclic olefin product comprising the cyclic olefin.

Abstract: An improved catalyst for cyclic olefin polymerization. The catalyst includes a transition metal carbene having the following structure: Mv(OR’)c*mX(v-c*m-2)=C(R*)2 wherein Mv is a Group 5 transition metal having a valence (v) of 5 or a Group 6 transition metal having a valence (v) of 5 or 6; each R? is independently a monovalent organic moiety comprising from 8 to 40 atoms selected from Groups 14-17; c is an integer from 1 to 3; m is ?, ½, 1, 3/2, 2, 3, or 4 and c*m ? v-2; X is a halogen; and each R* is independently H or a C1 to C7 alkyl. The catalyst is particularly useful for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP).

Abstract: A rubber compound for heavy-duty truck or bus tire treads may comprise: 5 to 100 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight rubber (phr) of a long chain branched cyclopentene ring opening rubber (LCB-CPR) having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?120° C. to ?80° C., a g?vis of 0.50 to 0.91, and a ratio of cis-to-trans of 40:60 to 5:95; 0 phr to 95 phr of a rubber selected from a group consisting of a natural rubber (NR), a polybutadiene rubber (BR), and a combination thereof; 30 phr to 90 phr of a reinforcing filler; and 0.5 phr to 20 phr of a process oil.

Abstract: A rubber compound suitable for passenger tires may comprise: 40 to 70 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight rubber (phr) of a long chain branched cyclopentene ring-opening rubber (LCB-CPR) having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?120° C. to ?80° C., a g?vis of 0.50 to 0.91, and a ratio of cis to trans of 40:60 to 5:95, 30 phr to 60 phr of a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), wherein the SBR has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?60° C. to ?5° C., 50 phr to 110 phr of a reinforcing filler, and 20 phr to 50 phr of a process oil.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tungsten complexes, catalyst systems including tungsten complexes, and polymerization processes to produce polycycloolefin polymers such as polycyclopentene polymers and polycyclooctene polymers.

Abstract: Rubber compounds may comprise: an epoxidized polypentenamer rubber (CPR) and/or a hydrolyzed epoxidized CPR; and a filler comprising silica particles. One nonlimiting example is rubber compound comprising: phr to 90 phr of a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), a natural rubber (NR), and/or a butadiene rubber (BR); 10 phr to 50 phr of a epoxidized CPR and/or a hydrolyzed epoxidized CPR; and 10 phr to 200 phr of a filler comprising silica particles, wherein the SBR, the NR, the BR, the epoxidized CPR, and the hydrolyzed epoxidized CPR combined equal 100 parts. Rubber compounds comprising epoxidized CPR and/or a hydrolyzed epoxidized CPR; and a filler comprising silica particles may be useful in tire compositions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising one or more amphiphilic compounds formed from vinylidene olefins may comprise: a reaction product of one or more vinylidene olefins, in which the reaction product comprises a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion comprising a polar head group bonded to the hydrophobic portion. The one or more vinylidene olefins each comprise a vinylidene group that undergoes a reaction to become saturated and to produce at least part of the hydrophobic portion.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as a proppant, methods of forming the hydrocarbon wells, and methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore and defines a tubular conduit. The hydrocarbon wells also include a plurality of perforations formed within the downhole tubular and a plurality of fractures formed within the subsurface region. The hydrocarbon wells further include the proppant positioned within the plurality of fractures. The proppant includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and each crosslinked polymer granule has a characteristic dimension of at least 100 micrometers and at most 2 millimeters.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a sulfonated reaction product or a salt thereof may be prepared from a cyclohexylbenzene compound that has been alkylated with an olefin of formula R1R2CCH2, wherein R1 is a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is H or a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group. Methods for sulfonating an alkylated cyclohexylbenzene compound prepared from a cyclohexylbenzene compound that has been alkylated with an olefin of formula R1R2CCH2, wherein R1 is a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is H or a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group may comprise contacting the alkylated cyclohexylbenzene compound with a sulfonating reagent; forming a sulfonated reaction product; and converting the sulfonated reaction product into a sulfonate salt.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as lost circulation material and methods of drilling the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region, a drilling rig, a drilling mud supply system, a lost circulation detection structure, and a lost circulation material supply system that includes a lost circulation material. The lost circulation material includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and a characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule is at least 20 micrometers and at most 1 millimeter. Each crosslinked polymer granule contains a highly crosslinked polymeric material that includes a plurality of polyethylene polymer chains. The methods include rotating a drill string to extend a length of a wellbore and, during the rotating, flowing a drilling mud stream. The methods also include detecting a lost circulation event and, responsive to the detecting, providing a lost circulation material to the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The methods include positioning a granular polymeric material within a crosslinking apparatus and crosslinking the granular polymeric material with the crosslinking apparatus to form a highly crosslinked polymeric material. The methods also include forming a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules from the highly crosslinked polymeric material.

Abstract: A process for olefin oligomerization can include: contacting a feedstock comprising at least one C3 to C20 olefin/paraffin under oligomerization conditions in the presence of a Si/Al ZSM-23 catalyst having no amine treatment and a Si/Al2 molar ratio of 20 to 60 and/or a Si/Al/Ti ZSM-23 catalyst having no amine treatment, a Si/Al2 molar ratio of 20 to 60, and a Ti/Al molar ratio of 0.1 to 3; and recovering an oligomeric product comprising dimers having a branching index of less than 2.1, trimers having a branching index of less than 2.1, and tetramers having a branching index of less than 2.1.

Abstract: Copolyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene furanoate (PEF) modified with bifuran polyacids such as dimethyl-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BFE), 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylic acid (BDA), or bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BHEB), and/or bifuran polyhydroxyls, may have improved properties such as glass transition temperature (Tg), tensile modulus, barrier properties, crystallinity, and/or impact strength. Polyethylene terephthalate-co-bifuranoate (PETBF) has an improved Tg. Also described are polyethylene furanoate-co-bifuranoates (PEFBF).

Abstract: Fused and unfused bicyclic rings are a convenient scaffold for synthesizing various compounds. Amphiphilic compounds constructed upon a fused or unfused bicyclic ring scaffold may exhibit surfactant properties differing from those of more conventional classes of surfactants.