Abstract: An elastomeric nanocomposite contains: (a) at least one elastomer comprising units derived from isoolefins having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms; (b) at least 10 phr of a carbon black; and (c) at least 1 phr of a nanoclay; wherein when the nanocomposite is used in an article, the article has a gas permeation coefficient of 80.0 cc*mm/[m2-day] at 40° C. The carbon black may be graphitized to reduce interactions between the carbon black and the nanoclays. The elastomeric nanocomposite may, with or without the use of the graphitized carbon black, may calendared or extruded in such a manner as to orient the nanoclay platelets within the composition such that the oriented nanoclay elastomer nanocomposite has an orientation parameter of greater than 0.15.

Abstract: A nanocomposite is formed from at least one copolymer and at least one nanofiller. The copolymer is formed of units derived from isoolefins having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms and multiolefins. The nanofiller comprising a surfactant wherein the surfactant has the structure of (R1R2R3R4)N+ wherein R1 is benzyl derived unit, which may or may not be substituted, wherein R2 is selected from C1 to C26 alkyls, C2 to C26 alkenes, and C3 to C26 aryls, and wherein R3 and R4 are the same or different and are independently selected from C9 to C26 alkyls, C9 to C26 alkenes, and C9 to C26 aryls.

Abstract: A process for producing a nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay includes the in-situ protonation of a modifier, which may be an alkylamine, arylamine or an alkylarylamine. This process can be integrated with a polymer halogenation process. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as a tire innerliner or innertube.

Abstract: An elastomeric nanocomposite is produced from an isobutylene-based polymer and a layered nanofiller. The process of preparing the nanocomposite includes the steps of a) polymerizing isobutylene monomers and multiolefin monomers to produce an isobutylene-based polymer; b) completing at least one mass transfer dependent stage in the process wherein, after completion of the stage and prior to any recovery of the polymer, the polymer is dissolved in a solvent to create a polymer cement; c) contacting the layered nanofiller and the polymer solvent to obtain the nanocomposite; and d) recovering the nanocomposite. The layered nanofiller may be in a slurry prior to contacting with the polymer cement.

Abstract: An elastomeric nanocomposite contains: (a) at least one elastomer comprising units derived from isoolefins having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms; (b) at least 10 phr of a carbon black; and (c) at least 1 phr of a nanoclay; wherein when the nanocomposite is used in an article, the article has a gas permeation coefficient of 80.0 cc*mm/[m2-day] at 40° C. The carbon black may be graphitized to reduce interactions between the carbon black and the nanoclays. The elastomeric nanocomposite may, with or without the use of the graphitized carbon black, may calendared or extruded in such a manner as to orient the nanoclay platelets within the composition such that the oriented nanoclay elastomer nanocomposite has an orientation parameter of greater than 0.15.

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: An elastomeric nanocomposite is produced from an isobutylene-based polymer and a layered nanofiller. The process of preparing the nanocomposite includes the steps of a) polymerizing isobutylene monomers and multiolefin monomers to produce an isobutylene-based polymer; b) completing at least one mass transfer dependent stage in the process wherein, after completion of the stage and prior to any recovery of the polymer, the polymer is dissolved in a solvent to create a polymer cement; c) contacting the layered nanofiller and the polymer solvent to obtain the nanocomposite; and d) recovering the nanocomposite. The layered nanofiller may be in a slurry prior to contacting with the polymer cement.

Abstract: A process for producing a nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay includes the in-situ protonation of a modifier, which may be an alkylamine, arylamine or an alkylarylamine. This process can be integrated with a polymer halogenation process. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as a tire innerliner or innertube.

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: A nanocomposite is formed from at least one copolymer and at least one nanofiller. The copolymer is formed of units derived from isoolefins having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms and multiolefins. The nanofiller comprising a surfactant wherein the surfactant has the structure of (R1R2R3R4)N+ wherein R1 is benzyl derived unit, which may or may not be substituted, wherein R2 is selected from C1 to C26 alkyls, C2 to C26 alkenes, and C3 to C26 aryls, and wherein R3 and R4 are the same or different and are independently selected from C9 to C26 alkyls, C9 to C26 alkenes, and C9 to C26 aryls.

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 provides an elastomeric composition processable in a curable, filled rubber formulation. The composition comprises a halogenated interpolymer of a C4 to C7 isoolefin and from 3 to 20 weight percent alkylstyrene and comprising from 0.2 to 2 mole percent haloalkylstyrene, a Mooney viscosity less than 27, a number average molecular weight less than 270,000, a weight average molecular weight less than 470,000, a z-average molecular weight less than 700,000, and a branching index (g?) from 0.4 to 1.1. Also disclosed are a method of making a cured, filled rubber article, comprising compounding the elastomeric composition with filler and curative, processing the compounded composition to form a shape of the article, and curing the composition to obtain the article in the formed shape, as well as a tire comprising an innerliner made by the method.

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: 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 a slurry polymerization system and method to decrease polymer deposition on reactor surfaces using an oxygenate such as alcohol (16) supplied to the polymerization medium (32) separate from the catalyst feed (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to a new catalyst system that improves the heat transfer capability of a butyl reactor slurry process system in the production of random copolymers of one or more isoolefin monomers and one or more conjugated diene monomers in continuous slurry polymerization processes. The process is carried out in an anhydrous polymerization system containing a mixture of the monomers in a polar diluent along with a Lewis acid and a C5 or greater initiator having a tertiary halide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new catalyst system that improves the heat transfer capability of a butyl reactor slurry process system in the production of random copolymers of one or more isoolefin monomers and one or more conjugated diene monomers in continuous slurry polymerization processes. The process is carried out in an anhydrous polymerization system containing a mixture of the monomers in a polar diluent along with a Lewis acid and a C5 or greater initiator having a tertiary halide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new improved catalyst to produce random copolymers of one or more iso-olefin monomers and one or more para-alkylstyrene monomers. The invention also relates to an improved continuous slurry polymerization process to produce random copolymers using the improved catalyst system. The process is carried out in an anhydrous polymerization system containing a mixture of the monomers in a polar solvent along with a Lewis acid and a stabilizing initiator.