Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing a diene polymer, the process comprising the following steps in this order: i) polymerizing one or more diene monomers in the presence of a catalyst composition to give a reaction mixture; ii) adding to the reaction mixture one or more alkoxysilane compounds; iii) adding S2Cl2, SCl2, SOCl2, S2Br2, SOBr2 or a mixture thereof to the reaction mixture; and iv) optionally adding a protic agent to the reaction mixture so as to deactivate the catalyst. The invention further includes polymers that are obtainable according to this process, as well as products including the polymer.

Abstract: The invention related to novel compounds useful as modifying monomers and precursors for polymerization initiators. The invention further relates to a method of making the polymerization initiators and resulting polymers. The invention also relates to polymer compositions comprising the polymer of the invention and further components such as extender oils, fillers, vulcanizing agents etc., and to corresponding vulcanized polymer compositions and articles comprising vulcanized parts made from the vulcanized polymer composition.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of modified elastomeric polymers includes (i) providing and polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer and, optionally, one or more aromatic vinyl monomer in the presence of an anionic initiator and a compound according to Formula 1, e.g. 2,2-di-(2-oxolanyl)propane or a derivative thereof, to provide a living anionic polymer; and (ii) adding a “sulfanylsilane” compound to the living anionic polymer. Elastomeric polymers obtainable according to the above process and compositions including the elastomeric polymer and, optionally, further constituents such as oil, filler and/or vulcanizing agent are described. A process for the preparation of a cross-linked elastomeric polymer that includes adding a vulcanizing agent to the elastomeric polymer, as well as articles and compositions that include the elastomeric polymer, the cross-linked elastomeric polymer or both are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silane sulfide modifier compounds and methods of making them. The invention also relates to a silane sulfide modified macromolecular compound obtainable by reacting a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane sulfide modifier. The silane sulfide modified macromolecular compound may be provided in the form of a polymer composition, and the polymer composition may be vulcanized (cross-linked) by making use of and reaction with at least one vulcanization agent, resulting in a vulcanized polymer composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to backbone-modified elastomeric polymers. The invention also relates to polymer compositions comprising such modified polymers, to the use of such compositions in the preparation of vulcanized polymer compositions, and to articles prepared from the same. The modified polymers are useful in the preparation of vulcanized, i.e. cross-linked, elastomeric compositions having relatively low hysteresis loss. Such vulcanized compositions are useful in many articles, including tire treads having low heat build-up, low rolling resistance, good wet grip and ice grip, in combination with a good balance of other desirable physical and chemical properties, for example, abrasion resistance and tensile strength. Moreover, the unvulcanized poly mer compositions exhibit excellent processability.

Abstract: Modified macromolecular compounds obtainable by using specific amino silane polymerization initiator compounds and optionally chain end-modifying compounds are described. Polymer compositions including such modified macromolecular compounds and the use of such compositions in the preparation of vulcanized (crosslinked) elastomeric polymer compositions and articles are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel vinylsilane compounds which are useful as modifying monomers in the polymerization of conjugated diene monomers, optionally together with aromatic vinyl monomers, thus producing polymers, specifically elastomeric polymers, which can favorably be used in rubber articles such as tires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified elastomeric polymer obtained by reacting a living anionic elastomeric polymer and specific chain end modifying compound, wherein the living anionic elastomeric polymer comprises more than 70% and less than 99% by weight of butadiene units and more than 1% and less than 30% by weight of styrene units and has a vinyl bond content of from 2 to less than 10%, based on the polybutadiene fraction of the living anionic elastomeric polymer. The invention further relates to a method of preparing the modified elastomeric polymer and to an elastomeric polymer composition comprising the modified elastomeric polymer.

Abstract: Modified macromolecular compounds obtainable by using specific amino silane polymerization initiator compounds and optionally chain end-modifying compounds are described. Polymer compositions including such modified macromolecular compounds and the use of such compositions in the preparation of vulcanized (crosslinked) elastomeric polymer compositions and articles are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silane sulfide modifier compounds and methods of making them. The invention also relates to a silane sulfide modified macromolecular compound obtainable by reacting a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane sulfide modifier. The silane sulfide modified macromolecular compound may be provided in the form of a polymer composition, and the polymer composition may be vulcanized (cross-linked) by making use of and reaction with at least one vulcanization agent, resulting in a vulcanized polymer composition.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing a diene polymer, the process comprising the following steps in this order: i) polymerizing one or more diene monomers in the presence of a catalyst composition to give a reaction mixture; ii) adding to the reaction mixture one or more alkoxysilane compounds; iii) adding S2Cl2, SCl2, SOCl2, S2Br2, SOBr2 or a mixture thereof to the reaction mixture; and iv) optionally adding a protic agent to the reaction mixture so as to deactivate the catalyst. The invention further includes polymers that are obtainable according to this process, as well as products including the polymer.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of modified elastomeric polymers includes (i) providing and polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer and, optionally, one or more aromatic vinyl monomer in the presence of an anionic initiator and a compound according to Formula I, e.g. 2,2-di-(2-oxolanyl)propane or a derivative thereof, to provide a living anionic polymer; and (ii) adding a “sulfanylsilane” compound to the living anionic polymer. Elastomeric polymers obtainable according to the above process and compositions including the elastomeric polymer and, optionally, further constituents such as oil, filler and/or vulcanizing agent are described. A process for the preparation of a cross-linked elastomeric polymer that includes adding a vulcanizing agent to the elastomeric polymer, as well as articles and compositions that include the elastomeric polymer, the cross-linked elastomeric polymer or both are described.

Abstract: An elastomeric polymer composition formed from a reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and sulfur containing chain end modifier with the general formula: (RO)x(R)ySi—R?—S—Z wherein O is oxygen, x is an integer selected from 1, 2 and 3; y is an integer selected from 0, 1, and 2; x+y=3, R is the same or different and is: (C1-C16) alkyl; R? is an aryl, an alkylaryl, a (C7-C16) alkyl aryl, or a (C1-C16) alkyl which may be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated and may be substituted with: (C1-C4) alkyl, (C1-C4) alkoxy, (C7-C16) aryl, (C7-C16) aralkyl, nitrile, amine, NO2, thioalkyl; and Z is a protective group. Methods are described for making the elastomeric polymer composition, their use in preparing vulcanized elastomeric compositions, and articles made from such compositions, including pneumatic tires, tire treads, belts, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for a preparation of a polymer selected from the following: (a) modified interpolymer comprising, in polymerized form, a conjugated diene and an aromatic alpha-olefin, or (b) a modified polymer comprising, in polymerized form, a conjugated diene; and wherein said method comprising at least the following steps: polymerizing monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer in at least one polymerization reactor, in the presence of at least one solvent, to form the polymer, optionally coupling a fraction of the polymer chains using at least one coupling agent, modifying the polymer with at least one modifying agent, in at least one reactor, in the presence of the at least one solvent, to form a modified polymer solution; optionally, contacting the modified polymer solution with at least one proton donating compound; contacting the modified polymer solution with water; removing the at least one solvent; contacting the removed solvent with at least one material that will re

Abstract: The invention provides a first composition comprising at least the following: i) a modified polymer comprising at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule (b1) and at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule (a1), and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule each, independently, comprises at least one amine group selected from the group consisting of formulas (1A-1F), each as described above: and combinations thereof; and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (ib1-ib4) as described above, and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (iib1) as described above (see Formula 3A).

Abstract: The invention provides a first composition comprising at least the following: i) a modified polymer comprising at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule (b1) and at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule (a1), and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule each, independently, comprises at least one amine group selected from the group consisting of formulas (1A-1F), each as described above Formula 1A, Formula 1B, Formula 1C, Formula 1D, Formula 1E, Formula 1F, and combinations thereof; and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (ib1-ib4) as described above, and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (iib1-iib2) as described above.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to chain end modified elastomeric polymers and branched modified elastomeric polymers, their use in the preparation of elastomeric compositions, and articles prepared from chain end modified elastomeric polymers and branched modified elastomeric polymers. An elastomeric polymer composition is provided including the reaction product of at least a living anionic elastomeric polymer, a silane modifier compound, and a modifier compound.

Abstract: A vulcanized elastomeric composition includes (i) a polymer reaction product of an anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane-sulfide modifier and (ii) a second elastomeric polymer different from the polymer reaction product such that the polymer reaction product comprises at least 30 weight percent of a total amount of the polymer reaction product and the second elastomeric polymer. Methods are described for making the polymer reaction product, their use in preparing vulcanized elastomeric compositions, and articles made from such compositions, including pneumatic tires, tire treads, belts, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a first composition comprising at least the following: i) a modified polymer comprising at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule (b1) and at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule (a1), and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule each, independently, comprises at least one amine group selected from the group consisting of formulas (1A-1F), each as described above: and combinations thereof; and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (ib1-ib4) as described above, and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (iib1) as described above (see Formula 3A)

Abstract: The invention provides a first composition comprising at least the following: i) a modified polymer comprising at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule (b1) and at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule (a1), and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule each, independently, comprises at least one amine group selected from the group consisting of formulas (1 A-1F), each as described above Formula 1A, Formula 1B, Formula 1C, Formula 1D, Formula 1E, Formula 1F, and combinations thereof; and wherein the at least one branched modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (ib1-ib4) as described above, and the at least one linear modified polymer macromolecule further comprises one of the structures (iib1-iib2) as described above.