Abstract: A halogenated butyl polymer having improved properties, the butyl polymer derived from a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C8 monoolefin monomer, a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer and a styrenic monomer with a catalyst system to produce the butyl polymer. The improved properties include faster cure, higher maximum torque, higher delta torque, relatively stable modulus over time, improved hot air aging properties and improved aged flexure properties. These improved properties are believed to result from direct interaction between the styrenic moieties in the polymer backbone with a crosslinking agent added to vulcanize the halogenated butyl rubber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for producing polymers at conversions ranging from 50% to 95% having a Mooney viscosity of at least 25 Mooney-units and a gel content of less than 15 wt. % containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, more than 4.1 mol % of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer and optionally further copolymerizable monomers in the presence of AlCl3 and a suitable proton source (e.g. water) or cationogen and at least one multiolefin cross-linking agent wherein the process is conducted in the absence of transition metal compounds and organic nitro compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is relates to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, additional copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements. The present invention is related to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer comprising repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, further copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements and said prediction is subsequently used to alter at least one process parameter.

Abstract: A butyl polymer having improved processability is described, together with a process for production thereof. The butyl polymer derived from a reaction mixture which contains: (i) a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C7 monoolefin monomer (preferably isobutylene) and a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer (preferably isoprene); (ii) a multiolefin cross-linking agent (preferably divinyl benzene); and (iii) a chain transfer agent (preferably diisobutylene (2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentene)). The subject butyl polymer has an improved balance of cold flow, filler dispersion, extrusion rate and die swell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymers comprising repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, at least one multiolefin monomer and optionally further copolymerizable monomers in the presence of at least one organic nitro compound and AlCl3/water wherein the process is conducted in the absence of compounds selected from the group consisting of vanadium compounds, zirconium halogenid, hafnium halogenides.

Abstract: The present invention is relates to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, additional copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the processability of butyl polymers by increasing the amount of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer in the polymer chain to more that 2.0 mol %. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of reducing the cold flow by increasing the amount of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer in the polymer chain to more that 2.0 mol %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially gel-free compound containing at least one elastomeric polymer having repeating units derived from at least one C4 to C7 isomonoolefin monomer, at least one C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer or &bgr;-pinene, at least one multiolefin cross-linking agent and at least one chain transfer agent, at least one filler and a peroxide curing system. The present invention also provides vulcanized rubber part useful to dampen and/or isolate vibrations generated by mechanical devices containing the substantially gel-free peroxide-curable compound. The present invention further provides a mechanical device containing a dynamic means which generates heat and/or vibrations and a static structure which supports the dynamic means and which is connected to the dynamic means and having a vulcanized rubber part containing the substantially gel-free peroxide-curable compound interposed between the dynamic means and the static structure at a point of connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shaped article for high purity applications containing at least one peroxide curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a sealing material and a medical device containing at least one peroxide-curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In still another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a fuel cell containing at least one peroxide curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In still another of its aspects, the present invention relates to halogen-free and sulfur-free shaped articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber composition which contains an optionally halogenated, low-gel, high molecular weight isoolefin multiolefin quad-polymer together with at least one silica compound, and to a process for the preparation of the rubber composition, and to a tire tread containing said rubber composition.

Abstract: A halogenated butyl polymer having improved properties, the butyl polymer derived from a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C8 monoolefin monomer, a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer and a styrenic monomer with a catalyst system to produce the butyl polymer. The improved properties include faster cure, higher maximum torque, higher delta torque, relatively stable modulus over time, improved hot air aging properties and improved aged flexure properties. These improved properties are believed to result from direct interaction between the styrenic moieties in the polymer backbone with a crosslinking agent added to vulcanize the halogenated butyl rubber.

Abstract: A butyl polymer having improved processability is described, together with a process for production thereof. The butyl polymer derived from a reaction mixture which contains: (i) a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C7 monoolefin monomer (preferably isobutylene) and a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer (preferably isoprene); (ii) a multiolefin cross-linking agent (preferably divinyl benzene); and (iii) a chain transfer agent (preferably diisobutylene (2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentene)). The subject butyl polymer has an improved balance of cold flow, filler dispersion, extrusion rate and die swell.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the bromination of isoolefin-conjugated diolefin polymers by brominating said polymer in solution in selected halogen-containing hydrocarbons as solvent. There is also provided an improved product of said process wherein the brominated polymer contains not less than 80 percent of the bound bromine atoms in a form suitable to participate in the vulcanization of the polymer and wherein not less than 70 percent of the bound conjugated diolefin units are similarly so brominated.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the bromination of isoolefin-conjugated diolefin polymers by brominating said polymer in solution in selected halogen-containing hydrocarbons as solvent. There is also provided an improved product of said process wherein the brominated polymer contains not less than 80 percent of the bound bromine atoms in a form suitable to participate in the vulcanization of the polymer and wherein not less than 70 percent of the bound conjugated diolefin units are similarly so brominated.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the bromination of isoolefin-conjugated diolefin polymers by brominating said polymer in solution in selected halogen-containing hydrocarbons as solvent. There is also provided an improved product of said process wherein the brominated polymer contains not less than 80 percent of the bound bromine atoms in a form suitable to participate in the vulcanization of the polymer and wherein not less than 70 percent of the bound conjugated diolefin units are similarly so brominated.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the bromination of isoolefin-conjugated diolefin polymers by brominating said polymer in solution in a solvent comprising a mixture of an inert saturated paraffinic hydrocarbon and an inert halogen-containing hydrocarbon. There is also provided an improved product of said process wherein the brominated polymer contains not less than 70 percent of the bound conjugated diolefin units which are brominated and also not less than 80 percent of the bound bromine atoms are in a form suitable to participate in the vulcanization of said polymer.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the bromination of isoolefin conjugated diolefin polymers by brominating said polymer in solution in a solvent comprising a mixture of an inert saturated paraffinic hydrocarbon and an inert halogen-containing hydrocarbon. There is also provided an improved product of said process wherein the brominated polymer contains not less than 70 percent of the bound conjugated diolefin units which are brominated and also not less than 80 percent of the bound bromine atoms are in a form suitable to participate in the vulcanization of said polymer.

Abstract: C.sub.4 -C.sub.16 alkyl rubbers are brominated by reacting the alkyl rubbers with bromine in the presence of organic azo compounds and/or alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal hypochlorites and in the presence of linear, branched and/or cyclic alkanes and water at temperatures of 10.degree. to 100.degree. C., optionally under pressure, wherein the quantity of bromine is 0.2 to 1.2 times the molar quantity of double bonds contained in the rubber, 0.1 to 3 times the molar quantity of hypochlorite and/or azo compounds is used relative to the quantity of bromine used, providing that the concentration of the hypochlorites in an aqueous solution is 2 to 20 wt. %, and wherein 5 to 20 wt. % of water, 60 to 90 wt. % of alkanes and 5 to 25 wt. % of alkyl rubber are used relative to 100 wt. % of the total of alkyl rubber, alkanes and water.

Abstract: An elastomeric polymer composition that exhibits improved processability and green strength comprises: from about 95 to about 70 parts by weight of one rubbery polymer selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber and brominated butyl rubber and from about 5 to about 30 parts by weight of a block copolymer having an elastomeric polyisobutylene midblock and two plastomeric endblocks of polymerized monovinylidene aromatic monomers and star-shaped block copolymers having from three to six arms wherein the inner elastomeric blocks are polyisobutylene and the outer plastomeric blocs are polymerized monovinylidene aromatic monmers for a total of 100 parts by weight of the rubbery polymer and the block copolymer. Vulcanizates of the composition that exhibit reduced permeability to gases and improved tear strength are provided together with a process for their production.

Abstract: Block copolymers compose a polyisobutylene rubbery soft segment of M.sub.n of about 5,000 to above 500,000 and glassy hard segments of M.sub.n of about 5,000 or higher and usually about 10,000 to 35,000 or more, are made by preparing a living polymer block of the polyisobutylene and then polymerizing on said living polyisobutylene block the glassy hard segments by adding thereto an electron donor having a donor number of 15 to 50 and then adding and polymerizing the monomers for the glassy hard segments. The monomers for the glassy hard segments are styrene and its derivatives and indene and its derivatives and mixtures thereof.