Abstract: Methods for resin hydrogenation and decoloration may comprise reacting a resin mixture with a sulfided bimetallic catalyst and excess hydrogen under conditions effective to form a hydrogenated resin mixture, the resin mixture comprising an oligomerized reaction product of at least one polymerizable monomer containing an olefinic unsaturation and a solvent; providing the hydrogenated resin mixture directly to a noble metal catalyst; and reacting the hydrogenated resin mixture in the presence of the noble metal catalyst under conditions effective to form a decolorized resin mixture. Decolorized resin compositions comprising a decolorized resin mixture formed in accordance with the foregoing may have a yellowness index of about 10 or below, as measured by ASTM E313.

Abstract: Methods of improving Mooney stability of a brominated elastomer comprising: neutralizing a brominated elastomer effluent with a neutralizing agent and water to form a neutralized effluent comprising a hydrocarbon solvent; removing the solvent from the neutralized effluent to form a brominated elastomer slurry; and separating a brominated elastomer from the brominated elastomer slurry, wherein a Mooney stabilizer package comprising an amine-functional hindered amine stabilizer (HAS) and an acid scavenger can be added, together or separately, before the removing step are provided herein. The acid scavenger can comprise a protonatable atom with a pKa greater than the pKa of the HAS nitrogen atom. The separated brominated elastomer can have a delta Mooney of not more than about 10 Mooney units after ˜7 days at ˜80° C. Stabilized brominated elastomer compositions can be made using this method, and articles can be made from those compositions.

Abstract: A compression test fixture including a first specimen engagement member having a first channel, the first channel having a first depth; a second specimen engagement member having a second channel having a second depth that is different than the first depth; and at least one coupling member engaged to both the first specimen engagement member and the second specimen engagement member such that a gap is defined between the first specimen engagement member and the second specimen engagement member, where the first channel and the second channel support the test specimen within the gap such that at least one opposing major surface of the test specimen is visible within the gap.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon polymer modifier (HPM) is an interpolymer of (i) a vinyl cyclohexene component (ii) a piperylene component; and (iii) a C8-C12 vinyl aromatic component; and wherein the interpolymer comprises (a) a softening point from 40° C. to 160° C., (b) Mn greater than 400, (c) Mz less than 15,000, and (d) at least 8 mole percent aromatic hydrogen, based on the total moles of hydrogen in the interpolymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polar-functionalized resin composition comprising the steps of (A) contacting a polymer backbone with a reactive moiety to produce a polar-functionalized resin composition wherein the polymer backbone is derived from a feed comprising less than or equal to about 35 wt % components derived from piperylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from amylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from isoprene; less than or equal to about 55 wt % unreactive paraffins; and C9 homopolymer or copolymer resins, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts or Lewis acid catalyst; and (B) recovering a polar-functionalized resin composition.

Abstract: Methods of improving Mooney stability of a brominated elastomer comprising: neutralizing a brominated elastomer effluent with a neutralizing agent and water to form a neutralized effluent comprising a hydrocarbon solvent; removing the solvent from the neutralized effluent to form a brominated elastomer slurry; and separating a brominated elastomer from the brominated elastomer slurry, wherein a Mooney stabilizer package comprising an amine-functional hindered amine stabilizer (HAS) and an acid scavenger can be added, together or separately, before the removing step are provided herein. The acid scavenger can comprise a protonatable atom with a pKa greater than the pKa of the HAS nitrogen atom. The separated brominated elastomer can have a delta Mooney of not more than about 10 Mooney units after ˜7 days at ˜80° C. Stabilized brominated elastomer compositions can be made using this method, and articles can be made from those compositions.

Abstract: A compression test fixture including a first specimen engagement member having a first channel, the first channel having a first depth; a second specimen engagement member having a second channel having a second depth that is different than the first depth; and at least one coupling member engaged to both the first specimen engagement member and the second specimen engagement member such that a gap is defined between the first specimen engagement member and the second specimen engagement member, where the first channel and the second channel support the test specimen within the gap such that at least one opposing major surface of the test specimen is visible within the gap.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon polymer modifier (HPM) is an interpolymer of (i) a vinyl cyclohexene component (ii) a piperylene component; and (iii) a C8-C12 vinyl aromatic component; and wherein the interpolymer comprises (a) a softening point from 40° C. to 160° C., (b) Mn greater than 400, (c) Mz less than 15,000, and (d) at least 8 mole percent aromatic hydrogen, based on the total moles of hydrogen in the interpolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an adhesive composition comprising a 50-95 wt % polymer blend and a tackifier. The blend has a first and second propylene-based polymer, both different homopolymers of propylene or a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or a C4 to C10 alpha-olefin. The blend has a melt viscosity, measured at 190° C., of 1,000 to 30,000 cP. The tackifier has a softening point of 95° C. to 115° C., an aromaticity of 3 mol % to 10 mol % aromatic protons, and a Cloud Point of 40° C. to 65° C.

Abstract: Provided are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer and a hydrocarbon polymer additive. Preferably the hydrocarbon polymer additive comprises from 60 to 90% piperylene, from 5 to 15% cyclic components, from 5 to 20% styrenic components, up to 5% isoprene, up to 5% indenic components, and up to 10% amylene. Also provided are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer and a hydrocarbon polymer additive, wherein the hydrocarbon polymer additive has a molecular weight of from 520 to 650 g/mole and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from 48 to 53° C. The elastomeric compositions are particularly useful in making tires and other cured rubber articles.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon polymer modifier (HPM) having high softening point and high aromaticity, is an interpolymer of (i) a piperylene component; (ii) an aromatic component; and (iii) a cyclic pentadiene component comprising a dicyclopentadiene fraction (DCPD fraction) and a dimethylcyclopentadiene fraction (MCPD fraction), wherein a weight ratio of the MCPD fraction to the DCPD fraction is from 0.8 to 20, and wherein the MCPD fraction is at least 20 wt % of the cyclic pentadiene component. In a method, the proportions of (i), (ii), (iii), and an optional amylene component are adjusted to control aromaticity, softening point and Mz of the HPM. An elastomeric composition incorporates the HPM.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition incorporating a hydrocarbon polymer modifier including piperylene, cyclic pentadiene and aromatic components, and having a softening point from 80° C. to 160° C., z-average molecular weight greater than 10,000, and at least 1 mole percent aromatic hydrogen, based on the total moles of hydrogen in the modifier. In a method, the elastomeric composition is processed with a cure package into a composition in the desired shape, which is cured to form the article. The modifier may optionally be immiscible with an elastomer in the composition and/or co-cured with the elastomer or filler in the composition. A tire or tire component may include the elastomeric composition.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon polymer modifier (HPM) having high softening point and high aromaticity, is an interpolymer of (i) a piperylene component; (ii) an aromatic component; and (iii) a cyclic pentadiene component comprising a dicyclopentadiene fraction (DCPD fraction) and a dimethylcyclopentadiene fraction (MCPD fraction), wherein a weight ratio of the MCPD fraction to the DCPD fraction is from 0.8 to 20, and wherein the MCPD fraction is at least 20 wt % of the cyclic pentadiene component. In a method, the proportions of (i), (ii), (iii), and an optional amylene component are adjusted to control aromaticity, softening point and Mz of the HPM. An elastomeric composition incorporates the HPM.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition incorporating a hydrocarbon polymer modifier including piperylene, cyclic pentadiene and aromatic components, and having a softening point from 80° C. to 160° C., z-average molecular weight greater than 10,000, and at least 1 mole percent aromatic hydrogen, based on the total moles of hydrogen in the modifier. In a method, the elastomeric composition is processed with a cure package into a composition in the desired shape, which is cured to form the article. The modifier may optionally be immiscible with an elastomer in the composition and/or co-cured with the elastomer or filler in the composition. A tire or tire component may include the elastomeric composition.

Abstract: High strength presulfided catalyst for hydrogenating hydrocarbon resins without an in situ sulfiding step. The catalyst particles have a supported metal catalyst structure with presulfided interstitial surfaces with about 20 weight percent of a low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin, based on the weight of the porous supported metal catalyst structure, filling from 90 to 95 percent of the pore volume to improve a crush strength of the catalyst particles. The presulfided catalyst can be stored and/or shipped in an airtight container with an inert atmosphere. The catalyst particles are made by preparing the oxidized catalyst, presulfiding the catalyst, contacting the catalyst with the low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin in an inert atmosphere, sealing the catalyst in a storage/shipping container, loading the reactor with the presulfided, filled catalyst, and contacting the catalyst with an unsaturated hydrocarbon resin under hydrogenation conditions.

Abstract: A musical system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems including: a frame with an interior cavity, a tuning system coupled within the interior cavity of the frame, the tuning system configured to be accessed by way of an aperture through of the frame, and a drum head retained at a first end of the frame, wherein the tuning system configured to apply uniform pressure that circumscribes an axis of interior surface of the drum head.

Abstract: Provided are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer and a hydrocarbon polymer additive. Preferably the hydrocarbon polymer additive comprises from 60 to 90% piperylene, from 5 to 15% cyclic components, from 5 to 20% styrenic components, up to 5% isoprene, up to 5% indenic components, and up to 10% amylene. Also provided are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer and a hydrocarbon polymer additive, wherein the hydrocarbon polymer additive has a molecular weight of from 520 to 650 g/mole and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from 48 to 53° C. The elastomeric compositions are particularly useful in making tires and other cured rubber articles.

Abstract: In an emergency medicine patient, accurate measurement of change or lack thereof from non-shock, non-ischemimc, non-inflammation, non-tissue injury, non-immune dysfunction conditions is important and is provided, as practical, real-time approaches for accurately characterizing a patient's condition, using Raman spectroscopy with a high degree of accuracy, Resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to monitor tissue nitric oxide activity either in vivo or in vitro, especially as a function of its interaction with hemoglobin or other metalloproteins. Measurement times are on the order of seconds. High-accuracy measurement is achieved with Raman spectroscopy interrogation of tissue. Measurements may be non-invasive to minimally invasive. The invention may be used to monitor the effect of instituting therapies using nitric oxide or disease processes that produce nitric oxide.

Abstract: Methods of modulating oxygen consumption in tissues are provided. In particular, the methods involve the administration of agents that transiently inhibit protein synthesis. The methods are used to treat ischemia and reperfusion-related injuries by temporarily decreasing oxygen consumption needs, and/or by inhibiting inflammation that results from reperfusion.

Abstract: High strength presulfided catalyst for hydrogenating hydrocarbon resins without an in situ sulfiding step. The catalyst particles have a supported metal catalyst structure with presulfided interstitial surfaces with about 20 weight percent of a low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin, based on the weight of the porous supported metal catalyst structure, filling from 90 to 95 percent of the pore volume to improve a crush strength of the catalyst particles. The presulfided catalyst can be stored and/or shipped in an airtight container with an inert atmosphere. The catalyst particles are made by preparing the oxidized catalyst, presulfiding the catalyst, contacting the catalyst with the low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin in an inert atmosphere, sealing the catalyst in a storage/shipping container, loading the reactor with the presulfided, filled catalyst, and contacting the catalyst with an unsaturated hydrocarbon resin under hydrogenation conditions.