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.

Abstract: A composition includes a baleable polymer resulting from the polymerization of at least one conjugated diene in the presence of an anionic initiator. The baleable polymer has carboxylate termination resulting from the addition of carbon dioxide to terminate the polymerization reaction. The polymer has Mooney ML1+4 viscosity of >35 and a solution viscosity of X, where X is >75 cP. The addition of an lonolizer to a composition that includes the polymer reduces the solution viscosity of the polymer from X to Y where Y meets the following formula: 0.4X?Y?0.58X. The baleable polymer is blended with impact-modified plastics resulting in improved izod values and optical qualities. Processes for making and utilizing the polymer composition, and ionolizer are also described.

Abstract: Adducts of an unsaturated metathesis polymer or interpolymer and an unsaturated diacid anhydride. A process for producing adducts of an unsaturated metathesis polymer or interpolymer and unsaturated diacid anhydride.

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.