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.

Abstract: A method of producing an engineered plastic selected from the group consisting of high impact polystyrene, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer, transparent impact polystyrene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) adding a polymer containing at least one high vinyl segment having a 1,2-vinyl bond content of greater than 45% 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 the presence of the at least one high vinyl segment in the polymer allows direction of the grafting site during preparation of the engineered plastic.

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 novel method of preparing carboxyl-terminated polymers. A monomer is mixed with an organolithium initiator in a hydrocarbon solvent so as to anionically polymerize linear living polymer lithium chains. A trialkyl aluminum compound is also mixed so as to form polymer lithium: aluminate complexes in equilibrium with the linear living polymer lithium chains. When a cyclic anhydride terminator is mixed, the cyclic anhydride terminator preferentially reacts with the C—Li center on a living polymer lithium chain rather than with the C—Al—Li center on a polymer lithium: aluminate complex.

Abstract: A process for producing polymers having at least one high vinyl end segment is provided. The process comprises: (a) forming a living prepolymer high vinyl initiator with a vinyl content greater than about 45% using a vinyl modifier, (b) adding a R1R2R3aluminum or R1R2R3boron compound to nullify the effect of the vinyl modifier, and (c) initiating polymerization of diene monomers using said living prepolymer high vinyl initiator so as to form a polymer product with at least one high vinyl end segment, where R1, R2, and R3 are selected from the group consisting of C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C12 alkene, C2-C12 alkyne, phenyl, and alkyl-substituted phenyl, and may all be identical or may all be separately selected but cannot be H. The polymers having at least one high vinyl end segment may be coupled to produce a polymer having a high vinyl end segment on all ends.

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: A process for producing polymers having at least one high vinyl end segment is provided. The process comprises: (a) forming a living prepolymer high vinyl initiator with a vinyl content greater than about 45% using a vinyl modifier, (b) adding a R1R2R3aluminum or R1R2R3boron compound to nullify the effect of the vinyl modifier, and (c) initiating polymerization of diene monomers using said living prepolymer high vinyl initiator so as to form a polymer product with at least one high vinyl end segment, where R1, R2, and R3 are selected from the group consisting of C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C12 alkene, C2-C12 alkyne, phenyl, and alkyl-substituted phenyl, and may all be identical or may all be separately selected but cannot be H. The polymers having at least one high vinyl end segment may be coupled to produce a polymer having a high vinyl end segment on all ends.

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 method of producing an engineered plastic selected from the group consisting of high impact polystyrene, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer, transparent impact polystyrene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) adding a polymer containing at least one high vinyl segment having a 1,2-vinyl bond content of greater than 45% 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 the presence of the at least one high vinyl segment in the polymer allows direction of the grafting site during preparation of the engineered plastic.

Abstract: Provided is a method of converting an anionic living end to a protected free radical “living” end in a well-controlled manner, which enables copolymerization by plural mechanisms. The method is particularly useful for copolymerization of anionically polymerizable monomers and free radical polymerizable monomers, and therefore useful for production of PB-g-PS, HIPS, ABS, and MBS etc. Also provided is a reversibly coupled polymer, which, when decoupled, generates “living” free radical for further copolymer chain reaction.

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: A gel composition that is the combination of or reaction product of ingredients comprising a thermoplastic elastomer copolymer, a functionalized polyolefin, an extender, and optionally a fatty acid.

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. The nanoparticle further has at least one metal complexed with said functional group. The nanoparticles can be used as a templates for preparation of nano-sized metal crystals and polymer-metal nanocomposite.

Abstract: A vulcanizate comprising a rubber, and a damping component that is prepared by preparing a mixture of living polymers that include living polymers with at least two living ends and living polymers with one living end to form a mixture of living polymers, and coupling the mixture of living polymers with a coupling agent that has at least three reactive functionalities.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrene-poly(ethylene-propylene)-styrene (SEPS) and styrene-poly(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS), have a tendency to undergo homolytic cleavage on mixing, particularly when extended mixing times are employed. Such thermoplastic elastomers are protected by addition of a polymer with multiple reactive sites, such as polybutadiene. The polymer reacts with two or more of the cleaved fragments forming a copolymer which regains much of the original character of the thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: Pentamidine and analogs thereof have activity as imidazoline receptor binding compounds. A method of binding the imidazoline receptor, comprises contacting a bis-benzene to said imidazoline receptor in an amount effective to bind to said receptor, wherein said bis-benzene contains at least one amidine group (e.g., one or two). The contacting step may be carried out in vivo or in vitro. Contacting may be carried out with individual active compounds or with libraries of active compounds.

Abstract: A gel composition that is the combination of or reaction product of ingredients comprising a thermoplastic elastomer copolymer, a functionalized polyolefin, an extender, and optionally a fatty acid.

Abstract: A conductive polymer gel composition including a copolymer with alkenyl monomer units and maleimide monomer units, a crosslinking agent, and an electrolyte solution. The conductive polymer has a current resistance less than or equal to 10−4 ohms and can be used to provide electrolyte cells.

Abstract: A vulcanizate comprising a rubber, and a damping component that is prepared by preparing a mixture of living polymers that include living polymers with at least two living ends and living polymers with one living end to form a mixture of living polymers, and coupling the mixture of living polymers with a coupling agent that has at least three reactive functionalities.

Abstract: A methods of treating an infection comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound described by the Formula (I)