Abstract: This invention relates to rubber compositions having a low aromatic-oil content, or no aromatic oils at all. The rubber composition contains a diene rubber, one or more fillers, and a low molecular weight, functionalized polymer than has the ability to interact with the fillers and act and as a replacement to the aromatic oil. The rubber compositions so produced may be used in tread rubbers and have exhibited good snow/wet traction properties and low rolling resistance.

Abstract: A locking hinge assembly having a first hinge plate and a sleeve bushing defining a through passageway and a tooth channel with opposing side walls; a second hinge plate and a sleeve bushing, for co-axial alignment of the sleeve bushings; and a splined pin received in the aligned sleeve bushings, the splined pin having a root diameter and at least one tooth projecting therefrom for being received selectively in the tooth channel, whereby the tooth being received in the tooth channel permits rotational movement of the sleeve barrel relative to the barrel until the pin is stopped by one of the side walls of the tooth channel.

Abstract: Terminally functionalized polymers that are living or pseudo-living polymers reacted with certain allyl glycidyl ethers, or certain allylhalosilanes or combinations thereof, and a process for preparing the terminally functionalized polymers. Rubber-modified polymeric compositions comprising the terminally functionalized polymers.

Abstract: A locking hinge assembly having a first hinge plate and a sleeve bushing defining a through passageway and a tooth channel with opposing side walls; a second hinge plate and a sleeve bushing, for co-axial alignment of the sleeve bushings; and a splined pin received in the aligned sleeve bushings, the splined pin having a root diameter and at least one tooth projecting therefrom for being received selectively in the tooth channel, whereby the tooth being received in the tooth channel permits rotational movement of the sleeve barrel relative to the barrel until the pin is stopped by one of the side walls of the tooth channel.

Abstract: A method for forming a rubber-modified polymeric composition includes polymerizing vinyl aromatic monomer within a mixture including the vinyl aromatic monomer and an interpolymer having at least one block of polyisoprene, at lest one block of polystyrene, and at lest one block of polybutadiene to thereby form the rubber-modified polymeric composition, where the interpolymer includes an internal block of polyisoprene.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer nanoparticle comprising a core and a vulcanizable shell, wherein the core has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least about 150° C. Also provided is a method of preparing polymer nanoparticles with a core and a vulcanizable shell, comprising (a) in a liquid hydrocarbon medium, polymerizing conjugated diene monomers to produce a poly(conjugated diene) block and (b) copolymerizing the poly(conjugated diene) block with a mixture of mono-vinyl aromatic monomers and multiple-vinyl aromatic monomers to produce an aromatic block, wherein the core has a Tg of at least about 150° C. Also provided is a composition comprising (a) a rubber matrix; and (b) a polymer nanoparticle including a core and a vulcanizable shell; wherein the Tg of the core is at least about 150° C.

Abstract: A polymeric nanoparticle composition is provided. The nanoparticle may be of a core/shell configuration with an interphase region connecting the core and the shell. The mean average diameter of the polymer nanoparticles may be less than about 250 nm. The size, composition, and/or configuration of the interphase region may be varied to achieve desired physical and/or chemical properties of the resulting polymeric nanoparticles, and of the compositions into which the nanoparticles are compounded.

Abstract: A process for preparing a rubber comprising polymeric composition, and the resulting compositions, and certain isoprene comprising interpolymers.

Abstract: Terminally functionalized polymers that are living or pseudo-living polymers reacted with certain allyl glycidyl ethers, or certain allylhalosilanes or combinations thereof, and a process for preparing the terminally functionalized polymers. Rubber-modified polymeric compositions comprising the terminally functionalized polymers.

Abstract: Provided is a method comprising reacting the anionic living end of a polymer that is end capped with a steric hindering compound with a carbonyl-containing compound to produce a polymer with a homolytically cleaveable group. An engineered plastic may then be produced by adding the polymer containing a homolytically cleavable group to a solvent comprising at least one vinyl monomer; (b) optionally adding at least one additional inert solvent; (c) optionally adding additives selected from the group consisting of extender oils, modifiers, and antioxidants; and (d) initiating polymerization of the at least one vinyl monomer by the use of an initiator and/or heat, wherein a free radical is produced from the polymer containing a homolytically cleavable group.

Abstract: The inventive composition includes a block copolymer which includes four blocks and has the following block arrangement: B-S-B-S. The two polymer blocks B comprise conjugated diene monomer constitutional units; and the two polymer blocks S comprise vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer constitutional units. The invention also includes methods of making such inventive compositions as well as asphalt compositions and/or thermoplastic elastomers which include such block copolymer.

Abstract: A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. Applications of use as additives for rubber, including the rubber compositions, are also provided.

Abstract: A flower-like nano-particle composition including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a poly(conjugated diene) or a poly(alkylene) surface layer is provided. The nano-particles have a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm and are substantially free of chain ends. The nano-particles can be modified via, for example, hydrogenation. The nano-particles can advantageously be incorporated into rubbers, elastomers, and thermoplastics.

Abstract: Provided is a method comprising reacting the anionic living end of a polymer with a compound selected from the group consisting of tin halides and silicon halides to produced a polymer with a homolytically cleavable group containing a Sn—C bond or a Si—C bond. An engineered plastic may then be produced by adding the polymer containing a homolytically cleavable group containing a Sn—C bond or a Si—C bond to a solvent comprising at least one vinyl monomer; (b) optionally adding at least one additional inert solvent; (c) optionally adding additives selected from the group consisting of extender oils, modifiers, and antioxidants; and (d) initiating polymerization of the at least one vinyl monomer by the use of an initiator and/or heat, wherein a free radical is produced from the polymer containing a homolytically cleavable group containing a Sn—C bond or a Si—C bond.

Abstract: A polymer nano-particle composition is provided, wherein the nano-particle includes a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer including poly(conjugated diene). A method for self-assembly of the nano-particles is also provided. The polymer nano-particles are preferably less than about 100 nm in diameter.

Abstract: A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. Applications of use as additives for rubber, including the rubber compositions, are also provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing a rubber comprising polymeric composition, and the resulting compositions, and certain isoprene comprising interpolymers.

Abstract: A polymer nanoparticle is provided. The nanoparticle includes an inner layer having alkenylbenzene monomer units. The nanoparticle further includes an outer layer having monomer units selected from conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzenes, and mixtures thereof. The nanoparticle has at least one functional group associated with the outer layer. Applications of use as additives for rubber, including the rubber compositions, are also provided.

Abstract: A polymeric nanoparticle composition is provided. The nanoparticle may be of a core/shell configuration with an interphase region connecting the core and the shell. The mean average diameter of the polymer nanoparticles may be less than about 250 nm. The size, composition, and/or configuration of the interphase region may be varied to achieve desired physical and/or chemical properties of the resulting polymeric nanoparticles, and of the compositions into which the nanoparticles are compounded.

Abstract: A polymer composition of low gas permeability. The composition includes an exfoliated organically-modified clay, butyl rubber, and a polymeric exfoliant. A method for producing the butyl composition by dry mixing the butyl rubber with the exfoliated clay is also provided.