Abstract: It has been discovered that certain monofunctional thiuram compounds can be synthesized at low cost and utilized as vulcanization accelerators which provide excellent cure rates without causing a high level of scorch. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as vulcanization accelerators also result in cured rubber compositions that exhibit reduced compression set, improved age hardening characteristics, and degradation resistant crosslinks. These monofunctional thiuram compounds are of the structural formula: wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent organyl radicals, wherein R1 and R2 contain a total of at least 8 carbon atoms, and wherein R1 and R2 can join together to form a cyclic structure, and wherein R3 represents an organyl radical containing at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a route for synthesizing monofunctional thiuram compounds that is safe, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. This method specifically involves synthesizing a monofunctional thiuram by (1) reacting a tetraorganylthiuram disulfide with an organyl mercaptan to produce the monofunctional thiuram and a dithiocarbamate metal salt or a dithiocarbamate metalloid salt under basic conditions, (2) separating the monofunctional thiuram in an organic phase from the dithiocarbamate metal salt or the dithiocarbamate metalloid salt in an aqueous phase, and (3) recovering the monofunctional thiuram from the aqueous phase. The monofunctional thiuram compounds made in accordance with this invention are of particular value as accelerators for use in the vulcanization of rubber. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as accelerators provides good cure rates and as well as good scorch safety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a route for synthesizing monofunctional thiuram compounds that is safe, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. This method specifically involves synthesizing a monofunctional thiuram by (1) reacting a tetraorganylthiuram disulfide with an organyl mercaptan to produce the monofunctional thiuram and a dithiocarbamate metal salt or a dithiocarbamate metalloid salt under basic conditions, (2) separating the monofunctional thiuram in an organic phase from the dithiocarbamate metal salt or the dithiocarbamate metalloid salt in an aqueous phase, and (3) recovering the monofunctional thiuram from the aqueous phase. The monofunctional thiuram compounds made in accordance with this invention are of particular value as accelerators for use in the vulcanization of rubber. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as accelerators provides good cure rates and as well as good scorch safety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a route for synthesizing monofunctional thiuram compounds that is safe, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. This method specifically involves synthesizing a monofunctional thiuram by (1) reacting a tetraorganylthiuram disulfide with an organyl mercaptan to produce the monofunctional thiuram and a dithiocarbamate metal salt or a dithiocarbamate metalloid salt under basic conditions, (2) separating the monofunctional thiuram in an organic phase from the dithiocarbamate metal salt or the dithiocarbamate metalloid salt in an aqueous phase, and (3) recovering the monofunctional thiuram from the aqueous phase. The monofunctional thiuram compounds made in accordance with this invention are of particular value as accelerators for use in the vulcanization of rubber. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as accelerators provides good cure rates and as well as good scorch safety.

Abstract: This invention reveals a method of manufacturing a puncture sealing pneumatic rubber tire which comprises: (1) building an unvulcanized tire including a circumferential rubber tread, a supporting carcass therefor, two spaced beads, two rubber sidewalls connecting said beads, an inner liner and a solid sealant formulation layer disposed inwardly from said supporting carcass and outwardly from said inner liner, wherein said solid sealant formulation layer is comprised of (a) polyisobutylene, (b) a peroxide, and (c) a reinforcing filler, wherein the polyisobutylene is present in the sealant layer at a level of at least 50 weight percent; and (2) shaping and vulcanizing said tire in a tire mold under conditions of heat and pressure and simultaneously forming in situ a puncture sealant layer in said tire by both crosslinking and partially depolymerizing said polyisobutylene rubber in said sealant layer formulation.

Abstract: It has been discovered that certain monofunctional thiuram compounds can be synthesized at low cost and utilized as vulcanization accelerators which provide excellent cure rates without causing a high level of scorch. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as vulcanization accelerators also result in cured rubber compositions that exhibit reduced compression set, improved age hardening characteristics, and degradation resistant crosslinks. These monofunctional thiuram compounds are of the structural formula: wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent organyl radicals, wherein R1 and R2 contain a total of at least 8 carbon atoms, and wherein R1 and R2 can join together to form a cyclic structure, and wherein R3 represents an organyl radical containing at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a route for synthesizing monofunctional thiuram compounds that is safe, environmentally friendly, and cost effective. This method specifically involves synthesizing a monofunctional thiuram by (1) reacting a tetraorganylthiuram disulfide with an organyl mercaptan to produce the monofunctional thiuram and a dithiocarbamate metal salt or a dithiocarbamate metalloid salt under basic conditions, (2) separating the monofunctional thiuram in an organic phase from the dithiocarbamate metal salt or the dithiocarbamate metalloid salt in an aqueous phase, and (3) recovering the monofunctional thiuram from the aqueous phase. The monofunctional thiuram compounds made in accordance with this invention are of particular value as accelerators for use in the vulcanization of rubber. The use of these monofunctional thiuram compounds as accelerators provides good cure rates and as well as good scorch safety.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: It has been found that certain cells in culture can convert more than about 0.002 percent of the carbon available in the cell culture medium into isoprene. These cells have a heterologous nucleic acid that (i) encodes an isoprene synthase polypeptide and (ii) is operably linked to a promoter. The isoprene produced in such a cultured medium can then be recovered and polymerized into synthetic rubbers and other useful polymeric materials. The synthetic isoprene containing polymers of this invention offer the benefit of being verifiable as to being derived from non-petrochemical based resources. They can also be analytically distinguished from rubbers that come from natural sources. The present invention more specifically discloses a polyisoprene polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene monomer, wherein the polyisoprene polymer has ?13C value of greater than ?22%.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.

Abstract: It has been found that certain cells in culture can convert more than about 0.002 percent of the carbon available in the cell culture medium into isoprene. These cells have a heterologous nucleic acid that (i) encodes an isoprene synthase polypeptide and (ii) is operably linked to a promoter. The isoprene produced in such a cultured medium can then be recovered and polymerized into synthetic rubbers and other useful polymeric materials. The synthetic isoprene containing polymers of this invention offer the benefit of being verifiable as to being derived from non-petrochemical based resources. They can also be analytically distinguished from rubbers that come from natural sources. The present invention more specifically discloses a polyisoprene polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene monomer, wherein the polyisoprene polymer has ?13C value of greater than ?22%.

Abstract: It has been found that certain cells in culture can convert more than about 0.002 percent of the carbon available in the cell culture medium into isoprene. These cells have a heterologous nucleic acid that (i) encodes an isoprene synthase polypeptide and (ii) is operably linked to a promoter. The isoprene produced in such a cultured medium can then be recovered and polymerized into synthetic rubbers and other useful polymeric materials. The synthetic isoprene containing polymers of this invention offer the benefit of being verifiable as to being derived from non-petrochemical based resources. They can also be analytically distinguished from rubbers that come from natural sources. The present invention more specifically discloses a polyisoprene polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene monomer, wherein the polyisoprene polymer has ?13C value of greater than ?22‰.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.

Abstract: The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.