Abstract: A system for halogenating olefinic-based elastomer, the system comprising a first extruder, a first kneader vessel downstream of said first extruder and in fluid communication with said first extruder, a second extruder downstream of said first kneader vessel and in fluid communication with said first kneader vessel, a second kneader vessel downstream of said second extruder and in fluid communication with said second extruder; and a third extruder downstream of said second kneader vessel and in fluid communication with said second kneader vessel.

Abstract: A method for making a polymer, having the steps of (a) polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst to form a reaction product; (b) removing an effluent from the reaction product, where the effluent comprises an active catalyst and one or more unreacted monomers; (c) combining a quench, comprising carbon dioxide, with the effluent to form a quenched polymer stream, having a carboxyl metal complex; and (d) recovering a polymer from the quenched polymer stream.

Abstract: A system for producing a functionalized olefinic-based polymer, the system comprising a polymerization zone for producing an olefinic-based polymer comprising a mixing section, a deliquifying section, and a quenching section, wherein at least one section of the polymerization zone has a defined cross-sectional area that continually decreases from a first end to a second end of said section; a devolatilization zone comprising a kneader or extruder, wherein said devolatilization zone is downstream of said polymerization zone and in fluid communication with said polymerization zone; and a functionalization zone downstream of said devolatilization zone and in fluid communication with said devolatilization zone.

Abstract: A reactor comprising a first portion having a generally cylindrical housing, an inlet at one end of said first portion housing, the opposed end of said first portion housing being the outlet of said first portion, where said first portion includes a rotatable shaft positioned axially within said housing and including at least two shearing paddles extending radially from said rotatable shaft and a second portion having a generally frustoconical housing having a first end larger than a second end, said first end constituting an inlet to said second portion and coextensive with said opposed end of said first portion housing, and an outlet at said second end, where said second portion includes a rotatable shaft positioned axially within said housing and including at least one generally helical flight extending radially from said rotatable shaft.

Abstract: This invention relates to a brominated elastomer composition comprising a free radical scavenger. The scavenger is present in the amount of at least about 0.05 wt % of the composition. The scavenger is added to the composition so that the Mooney viscosity of the composition does not increase by more than about 15% to about 40%, for up to about 15 days at 80° C. The scavenger can be a sterically hindered nitroxyl ether, a nitroxyl radical, or both.

Abstract: A system for producing a functionalized olefinic-based polymer, the system comprising a polymerization zone for producing an olefinic-based polymer comprising a mixing section, a deliquifying section, and a quenching section, wherein at least one section of the polymerization zone has a defined cross-sectional area that continually decreases from a first end to a second end of said section; a devolatilization zone comprising a kneader or extruder, wherein said devolatilization zone is downstream of said polymerization zone and in fluid communication with said polymerization zone; and a functionalization zone downstream of said devolatilization zone and in fluid communication with said devolatilization zone.

Abstract: A polymer synthesis system has a polymerization reactor and a deliquifying-quench extruder downstream of and in fluid communication with the polymerization reactor. The polymerization reactor has an inlet and an outlet with a rotatable shaft positioned axially within the reactor. The deliquifying-quench extruder has an inlet and an outlet, with a shaft assembly positioned axially within the extruder. The shaft assembly includes multiple helical flight configurations and multiple processing zones defined by the multiple flight configurations. The processing zones include an extraction-compaction zone, a sealing zone downstream of the extraction-compaction zone, a vent-cooling zone downstream of the sealing zone, a quenching zone downstream of the vent-cooling zone, and a conveying zone downstream of the quenching zone.

Abstract: A method for making a polymer, having the steps of (a) polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst to form a reaction product; (b) removing an effluent from the reaction product, where the effluent comprises an active catalyst and one or more unreacted monomers; (c) combining a quench, comprising carbon dioxide, with the effluent to form a quenched polymer stream, having a carboxyl metal complex; and (d) recovering a polymer from the quenched polymer stream.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preparing a brominated elastomer having a stabilized Mooney viscosity. The method includes polymerizing isomonoolefins and at least one polymerizable unit to obtain an elastomer/polymer; brominating the elastomer/polymer to form a brominated elastomer effluent; neutralizing the brominated elastomer effluent to form a neutralized effluent; volatizing off the hydrocarbon solvent; and recovering a brominated elastomer. In at least one point of the process, preferably prior to any significant temperature change in the brominated polymer, a Mooney stabilizer is added into the system. Portions of the Mooney stabilizer may be added at multiple points into the process.

Abstract: A polymer synthesis system has a polymerization reactor and a deliquifying-quench extruder downstream of and in fluid communication with the polymerization reactor. The polymerization reactor has an inlet and an outlet with a rotatable shaft positioned axially within the reactor. The deliquifying-quench extruder has an inlet and an outlet, with a shaft assembly positioned axially within the extruder. The shaft assembly includes multiple helical flight configurations and multiple processing zones defined by the multiple flight configurations. The processing zones include an extraction-compaction zone, a sealing zone downstream of the extraction-compaction zone, a vent-cooling zone downstream of the sealing zone, a quenching zone downstream of the vent-cooling zone, and a conveying zone downstream of the quenching zone.

Abstract: A system for halogenating olefinic-based elastomer, the system comprising a first extruder, a first kneader vessel downstream of said first extruder and in fluid communication with said first extruder, a second extruder downstream of said first kneader vessel and in fluid communication with said first kneader vessel, a second kneader vessel downstream of said second extruder and in fluid communication with said second extruder; and a third extruder downstream of said second kneader vessel and in fluid communication with said second kneader vessel.

Abstract: A reactor comprising a first portion having a generally cylindrical housing, an inlet at one end of said first portion housing, the opposed end of said first portion housing being the outlet of said first portion, where said first portion includes a rotatable shaft positioned axially within said housing and including at least two shearing paddles extending radially from said rotatable shaft and a second portion having a generally frustoconical housing having a first end larger than a second end, said first end constituting an inlet to said second portion and coextensive with said opposed end of said first portion housing, and an outlet at said second end, where said second portion includes a rotatable shaft positioned axially within said housing and including at least one generally helical flight extending radially from said rotatable shaft.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preparing a brominated elastomer having a stabilized Mooney viscosity. The method includes polymerizing isomonoolefins and at least one polymerizable unit to obtain an elastomer/polymer; brominating the elastomer/polymer to form a brominated elastomer effluent; neutralizing the brominated elastomer effluent to form a neutralized effluent; volatizing off the hydrocarbon solvent; and recovering a brominated elastomer. In at least one point of the process, preferably prior to any significant temperature change in the brominated polymer, a Mooney stabilizer is added into the system. Portions of the Mooney stabilizer may be added at multiple points into the process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a brominated elastomer composition comprising a free radical scavenger. The scavenger is present in the amount of at least about 0.05 wt % of the composition. The scavenger is added to the composition so that the Mooney viscosity of the composition does not increase by more than about 15% to about 40%, for up to about 15 days at 80° C. The scavenger can be a sterically hindered nitroxyl ether, a nitroxyl radical, or both.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.

Abstract: Provided for herein is a process to produce an essentially homogeneous single liquid phase hydrocarbon-rubber cement from a polymer slurry comprising a hydrocarbon-rubber, a diluent, and unreacted monomer(s), the process comprising: (a) contacting the polymer slurry with a hydrocarbon solvent; and (b) removing the diluent in amounts not sufficiently more than is necessary to produce the essentially homogeneous single liquid phase hydrocarbon-rubber cement wherein the mass fraction of monomer(s) in the hydrocarbon-rubber cement, based on the total amount of hydrocarbon-rubber present in the hydrocarbon-rubber cement, is less than the mass fraction of monomer(s) in the hydrocarbon-rubber slurry, based on the total amount of hydrocarbon-rubber present in the hydrocarbon-rubber slurry, wherein the diluent comprises a hydrofluorocarbon.

Abstract: Methods for producing elastomers or elastomeric compositions are provided. One or more C4 to C7 isoolefins and one or more comonomers can be polymerized in the presence of a diluent comprising one or more hydrofluorocarbons to provide a slurry comprising polymer product, unreacted monomer and the diluent. The slurry can be extruded to separate at least a portion of the diluent from the polymer product. The separated diluent can be recycled for polymerizing the one or more C4 to C7 isoolefins.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas phase process for polymerizing one or more hydrocarbon monomer(s) in the presence of a catalyst system and a fluorinated hydrocarbon, where the fluorinated hydrocarbon is present at a partial pressure of 6.9 to 348 kPa in the reactor and the reactor temperature is from 30 to 120° C.