Abstract: In various embodiments, methods for producing aqueous polyisoprene latex from natural cis-1,4-polyisoprene are described. The natural cis-1,4-polyisoprene may be sourced from guayule scrubs. In various embodiments, the method comprises extracting guayule plant material to form a miscella, fractionating the miscella to a preliminary cement, diluting the preliminary cement to a cement for dispersing, dispersing the cement in an aqueous surfactant mixture under high shear to produce an emulsion, and de-solventizing the emulsion to produce an aqueous latex dispersion. The rubber solids level can then be adjusted by centrifugation and dilution in water to produce a final aqueous cis-1,4-polyisoprene latex.

Abstract: A flowable dispersion at room temperature of syndiotactic poly butadiene particles in an aqueous mixture that includes at least one emulsifier. The dispersion reduces the need for temperature control equipment for storing or transferring the dispersion during processing. The syndiotactic poly butadiene particles in the dispersion are formed from a syndiotactic poly butadiene cement including hydrocarbon solvents resulting from a polymerization process that are subsequently removed from the dispersion by evaporation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for improving the rolling resistance of a tire rubber composition by providing a rubber composition including a rubber component which includes a majority by weight of guayule rubber where the guayule rubber includes a bagasse component, and a filler component where the filler component is free of silica, and including at least one silane in the rubber composition, where the at least one silane is selected from the group consisting of mercaptosilanes, blocked mercaptosilanes, and alkoxysilanes. Also disclosed is a tire rubber composition which comprises (a) 100 parts of a rubber component including a majority by weight of guayule rubber where the guayule rubber includes a bagasse component, (b) a filler component, where the filler component is free of silica, and (c) at least one silane selected from the group consisting of mercaptosilanes, blocked mercaptosilanes, and alkoxysilanes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a modified guayule resin product and related processes for preparing the modified guayule resin product. The modified guayule resin product comprises a mixture of argentatins having at least one functional group, wherein the at least one functional group is provided by an isocyanate-containing functionalizing compound. In a second embodiment, a process for preparing a modified guayule resin product is provided whereby a guayule resin component (comprising a mixture of argentatins) is mixed with an isocyanate-containing functionalizing compound to produce a modified guayule resin comprising functionalized argentatins having at least one functional group provided by the isocyanate-containing functionalizing compound.

Abstract: A method for forming a polymer-filler composite having advantageous bound filler content, the method comprising (a) providing a guayule cement; (b) introducing particulate filler to the guayule cement to form a solution masterbatch; and (c) desolventizing the solution masterbatch to form a polymer-filler composite.

Abstract: A method for forming a polymer-filler composite having advantageous bound filler content, the method comprising (a) providing a guayule cement; (b) introducing particulate filler to the guayule cement to form a solution masterbatch; and (c) desolventizing the solution masterbatch to form a polymer-filler composite.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods for extracting various constituents from Parthenium argentatum resin are disclosed. The methods begin with a nonpolar resin solution that is manipulated by polar solvent and water additions to precipitate low MW isoprene rubber and form separable aqueous polar and nonpolar liquid fractions, wherein the aqueous polar liquid fraction is rich in argentatins and the nonpolar liquid fraction is rich in guayulins. In other variations, an aqueous polar solvent is added to the nonpolar resin solution to directly produce a two-phase system. The extraction methods can be fully automated by using a continuous countercurrent liquid/liquid extractor.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods for producing aqueous polyisoprene latex from natural cis-1,4-polyisoprene are described. The natural cis-1,4-polyisoprene may be sourced from guayule scrubs. In various embodiments, the method comprises extracting guayule plant material to form a miscella, fractionating the miscella to a preliminary cement, diluting the preliminary cement to a cement for dispersing, dispersing the cement in an aqueous surfactant mixture under high shear to produce an emulsion, and de-solventizing the emulsion to produce an aqueous latex dispersion. The rubber solids level can then be adjusted by centrifugation and dilution in water to produce a final aqueous cis-1,4-polyisoprene latex.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A stabilizing agent having the formula (R)4-nSi(OH)n wherein R is a C1 to C18 alkyl, C1 to C18 alkyl group containing a heteroatom such as nitrogen or oxygen, C4 to C8 cycloalkyl, or C6 to C18 aromatic group is then added to the polymer, optionally in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method for producing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer, optionally together with a copolymerizable monomer, within a solvent to produce a polymerization mixture including a polymer having a reactive terminus, coupling a portion of the polymer having a reactive terminus with a hydrocarbyloxysiloxane to produce a polymerization mixture including polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane and residual polymer having a reactive terminues, reacting the residual polymer having a reactive terminus with a functionalizing agent having at least one hydrocarbyloxy functionality to produce a polymerization mixture including a functionalized polymer and the polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane, and desolventizing the polymerization mixture including the functionalized polymer and the polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A dialkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in combination with a base material. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxysilane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. An alkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method for producing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer, optionally together with a copolymerizable monomer, within a solvent to produce a polymerization mixture including a polymer having a reactive terminus, coupling a portion of the polymer having a reactive terminus with a hydrocarbyloxysiloxane to produce a polymerization mixture including polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane and residual polymer having a reactive terminues, reacting the residual polymer having a reactive terminus with a functionalizing agent having at least one hydrocarbyloxy functionality to produce a polymerization mixture including a functionalized polymer and the polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane, and desolventizing the polymerization mixture including the functionalized polymer and the polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane.

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 method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A mixture of at least one of a first stabilizing agent having the formula (R)4-nSi(OH)n wherein R is a C1 to C18 alkyl, C1 to C18 alkyl group containing a heteroatom such as nitrogen or oxygen, C4 to C8 cycloalkyl, or C6 to C18 aromatic group, and a at least one of a second stabilizing agents having the formula (R)2Si(OH)2 wherein R is an aryl group, is then added to the polymer, optionally in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A mixture of at least one of a first stabilizing agent having the formula (R)4-nSi(OH)n wherein R is a C1 to C18 alkyl, C1 to C18 alkyl group containing a heteroatom such as nitrogen or oxygen, C4 to C8 cycloalkyl, or C6 to C18 aromatic group, and a at least one of a second stabilizing agents having the formula (R)2Si(OH)2 wherein R is an aryl group, is then added to the polymer, optionally in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A dialkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in combination with a base material. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A stabilizing agent having the formula (R)4-nSi(OH)n wherein R is a C1 to C18 alkyl, C1 to C18 alkyl group containing a heteroatom such as nitrogen or oxygen, C4 to C8 cycloalkyl, or C6 to C18 aromatic group is then added to the polymer, optionally in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxysilane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. An alkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

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.