Abstract: A terminally functionalized polymer is prepared by reacting a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer with a fused-ring polynuclear aromatic compound. The resultant terminally functionalized polymers have reduced hysteresis in the carbon black reinforced and cured state and can be utilized to form elastomer compositions for tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.

Abstract: A terminally functionalized polymer is prepared by reacting a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer with an aromatic nitrile compound. Especially useful aromatic nitriles are the unsubstituted and substituted benzonitriles. The resultant terminally functionalized polymers have reduced hysteresis in the carbon black reinforced and cured state and can be utilized to form elastomer compositions for tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.

Abstract: An anionic polymerization initiator comprising the reaction product of a functionalizing agent selected from the group consisting of substituted aldimines, ketimines and secondary amines and, an organolithium compound. Elastomeric polymers prepared with these initiators have functional sites incorporated at the initiator end of the polymer chain and provide vulcanizable rubber compounds exhibiting reduced hysteresis. Articles such as tires, produced with low hysteresis elastomeric polymers have lower rolling resistance. Methods are also provided for preparing the initiators, fuctionalized polymers and vulcanizable elastomeric compounds having reduced hysteresis.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a terminally functionalized polymer from a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer which comprises reacting the living polymer with a compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; wherein R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; with the proviso that at least one of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups must be a dialkylaminoaryl group and that not all of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups can be aryl groups.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a terminally functionalized polymer from a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer which comprises reacting the living polymer with a compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; wherein R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; with the proviso that at least one of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups must be a dialkylaminoaryl group and that not all of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups can be aryl groups.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions for bonding EPDM elastomers comprise (a) a neutralized sulfonated EPDM elastomeric terpolymer; (b) an organic hydrocarbon solvent; (c) an ionic plasticizer or mixture of ionic plasticiziers; (d) a phenolic hydrocarbon resin or mixture of phenolic hydrocarbon resins and (e) a material selected from mineral oils, petroleum oils, polybutenes, polyisobutylenes and ethylene/propylene copolymers. Such adhesive compositions are particularly suitable for bonding sheets of black EPDM, especially sheets of cured black EPDM, elastomeric membranes together and may also be utilized to bond sheets of cured black EPDM to other uncured elastomers and to non-elastomeric substrates as well.The adhesive compositions to proper selection of the component (e) material and the addition of a color pigment or dye thereto may also be used to bond colored EPDM elastomers such as white, blue, yellow, green, etc.

Abstract: An improved method for removing sodium salts from mixtures of such salts and polyaryloxyphosphazene or polyalkoxyphosphazene or polyalkoxyaryloxyphosphazene polymer solutions is provided. The method involves first treating the mixture with an acid to neutralize any excess alkoxide or aryloxide. Then, water is added to the mixture to extract the sodium salts therefrom resulting in an at least partial separation of the mixture into a polyphosphazene polymer solution phase and a brine phase comprising water and the sodium salts. Following addition of the water to the mixture, a sulfated fatty acid ester of a natural non-petroleum based oil is added to the mixture to effect a more complete separation of the mixture into the polyphosphazene polymer solution phase and the brine phase. The polyphosphazene polymer solution phase is then separated from the brine phase.

Abstract: A process for producing benzene-soluble substantially linear dichlorophosphazene polymer having the formula (NPCl.sub.2).sub.x, in which x is greater than 20 and may be as high as 50,000 or higher, from a cyclic oligomer having the formula (NPCl.sub.2).sub.n, in which n is from 3 to 9, particularly the trimer (NPCl.sub.2).sub.3 or tetramer (NPCl.sub.2).sub.4, in the presence of a small but significant amount of an inorganic salt, preferably a halide of a metal such as Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn or Mg which affords control of the molecular weight and avoids the formation of large amounts of gel.

Abstract: The production of phosphazene polymers represented by the general formula ##STR1## WHEREIN N IS AN INTEGER FROM 7 TO UPWARDS OF 50,000 WHEREIN ONE OR MORE KINDS OF OR or OR' groups is attached to the phosphorus atoms in a substantially linear chain of alternating P and N atoms, the groups when more than one group is present being randomly distributed along the PN backbone, is enhanced by employing a single solvent for both each of the reactants (polydihalophosphazene and either aryloxide and/or alkoxide) and for the product (phosphazene polymer). By this expedient, the formation of the desired product is achieved in a homogeneous system rather than in a heterogeneous system as in the prior art where different solvents were employed for each of the reactants and for the reaction products.

Abstract: The production of phosphazene polymers represented by the general formula ##STR1## WHEREIN R and R' are organic radicals hereinafter defined, and wherein n is an integer from 20 to upwards of 50,000 wherein one or more kinds of OR or OR' groups is attached to the phosphorus atoms in a substantially linear chain of alternating P and N atoms, the groups when more than one group is present being randomly distributed along the PN backbone, as described in copending United States Patent Application Ser. No. 824,004 filed Aug. 12, 1977, is enhanced by an improved procedure for the separation of the sodium chloride by-product from the derivatized phosphazene polymer. By treating the reaction mixture with carbon dioxide, in the presence of water and preferably with an additional alkali metal salt, agglomeration of the sodium chloride is accomplished, and a clean separation of the NaCl from the polyphosphazene ester is more readily achieved.

Abstract: Thermal polymerization of (NPCl.sub.2).sub.3,4 is improved by conducting the polymerization in the presence of Lewis Acid type compounds of Al or B.