Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition comprises an interpenetrating or ionic network (IPN)-promoting resin. The resin comprises side chain functional groups along the resin backbone, which, in the presence of an additive material, form the connections that make up the IPN. In one embodiment, such material is ZnO. A method for forming the rubber composition comprises, in a productive step, mixing the product of the non-productive step, the zinc oxide, and a resin derived from maleic anhydride. The zinc oxide and the resin are simultaneously added to the composition during the productive mixing stage. The rubber composition can be cured and incorporated in a tire component, such as, a tread.

Abstract: The compatibility between silica fillers and synthetic rubbers which are synthesized utilizing lanthanide-based catalyst systems, such as neodymium catalyst systems can be improved by terminating the polymerization with a vinyl silane terminating agent. In doing so the vinyl silane is allowed to react with the polymer chain ends of the neodymium rubber to functionalize the chain ends of the polymer chains with silicon containing groups. This results in the rubber having better characteristics for utilization in tire rubber formulations, such a tire tread formulations, that exhibit improved wear characteristics and lower rolling resistance. The process for the synthesis of such functionalized polydiene rubber comprises (1) polymerizing a diene monomer in the presence of a lanthanide-based catalyst system, and (2) terminating the polymerization with a vinyl silane terminator.

Abstract: A vulcanizable rubber composition comprises an interpenetrating or ionic network (IPN)-promoting resin. The resin comprises side chain functional groups along the resin backbone, which, in the presence of an additive material, form the connections that make up the IPN. In one embodiment, such material is ZnO. A method for forming the rubber composition comprises, in a productive step, mixing the product of the non-productive step, the zinc oxide, and a resin derived from maleic anhydride. The zinc oxide and the resin are simultaneously added to the composition during the productive mixing stage. The rubber composition can be cured and incorporated in a tire component, such as, a tread.

Abstract: A functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I [R1]n—B—[X—R2]m??I where B is boron; X is oxygen or nitrogen; R1 is independently vinyl, oxiranyl, phenyl, 1-alkenyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms, alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms including at least one halogen atom, 1-alkenyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms including at least one halogen or one hydrogen; R2 is independently C1 to C8 alkyl, C8 to C14 aryl; or when m>1 R2 may be taken together to form a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic structure comprising 2 to 16 carbon atoms where the cyclic structure may be heterocyclic or non-heterocyclic; n is 1 or 2, m is 1 or 2, and n+m=3.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the step of polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a lanthanide-based coordination polymerization catalyst activated with a functionalized aluminum reagent of formula 1 where R is a linear or branched alkane group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Q is of formula 2 where R5, R6 and R7 are independently a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a group of formula 3 where R3 and R4 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R3 and R4 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; or R5, R6 and R7 taken

Abstract: A functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I [R1]n—B—[X—R2]m??I where B is boron; X is oxygen or nitrogen; R1 is independently vinyl, oxiranyl, phenyl, 1-alkenyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms, alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms including at least one halogen atom, 1-alkenyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms including at least one halogen or one hydrogen; R2 is independently C1 to C8 alkyl, C8 to C14 aryl; or when m>1 R2 may be taken together to form a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic structure comprising 2 to 16 carbon atoms where the cyclic structure may be heterocyclic or non-heterocyclic; n is 1 or 2, m is 1 or 2, and n+m=3.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized polymerization initiator of formula I where R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or C1 to C8 alkyl; R3, R4, and R5 are independently C1 to C8 alkyl or C6 to C14 aryl or a structure of formula II where R6, R7 are independently C1 to C8 alkyl or C6 to C14 aryl.

Abstract: The invention is directed to functionalized aluminum reagents of formula 1 where R is a linear or branched alkane group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Q is of formula 2 where R5, R6 and R7 are independently a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a group of formula 3 where R3 and R4 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R3 and R4 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; or R5, R6 and R7 taken together with the silicon atom represent a structure of formula 4 where R8 is C1 to C4 linear or branched alkanediyl and Z is N or a group of formula 5 wherein R13 is C1 to C8 alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I wherein R1 is C1 to C4 linear alkyl, or C1 to C4 branched alkanediyl; X1, X2, X3 are independently O, S, or a group of formula (II) or (III) where R2 is C1 to C18 linear or branched alkyl; and Z is —R3—CH?CH—R4, where R3 is a covalent bond or C1 to C18 linear or branched alkanediyl, and R4 is a hydrogen or C1 to C18 linear or branched alkyl.

Abstract: The invention is directed to functionalized aluminum reagents of formula 1 where R is a linear or branched alkane group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Q is of formula 2 where R5, R6 and R7 are independently a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a group of formula 3 where R3 and R4 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R3 and R4 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; or R5, R6 and R7 taken together with the silicon atom represent a structure of formula 4 where R8 is C1 to C4 linear or branched alkanediyl and Z is N or a group of formula 5 wherein R13 is C1 to C8 alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the step of polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a lanthanide-based coordination polymerization catalyst activated with a functionalized aluminum reagent of formula 1 where R is a linear or branched alkane group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Q is of formula 2 where R5, R6 and R7 are independently a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a group of formula 3 where R3 and R4 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R3 and R4 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; or R5, R6 and R7 taken to

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I wherein R1 is C1 to C4 linear alkyl, or C1 to C4 branched alkanediyl; X1, X2, X3 are independently O, S, or a group of formula (II) or (III) where R2 is C1 to C18 linear or branched alkyl; and Z is —R3—CH?CH—R4, where R3 is a covalent bond or C1 to C18 linear or branched alkanediyl, and R4 is a hydrogen or C1 to C18 linear or branched alkyl.