Abstract: A directed self-assembling composition for pattern formation includes a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes a polystyrene block having a styrene unit, and a polyalkyl (meth)acrylate block having an alkyl (meth)acrylate unit. The block copolymer has a group that is bound to at least one end of a main chain of the block copolymer and that includes a hetero atom.

Abstract: In general the present invention provides a functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with a functionalizing agent defined by the formula (I) A-R1—Z??(I) where R1 is a divalent bond or divalent organic group comprising from 0 to about 20 carbon atoms, A is a substituent that will undergo an addition reaction with a pseudo-living polymer, and Z is a substituent that will react or interact with silica or carbon black reinforcing fillers, with the proviso that A, R1, and Z are substituents that will not protonate a pseudo-living polymer.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of preparing a polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, wherein the lanthanide-based catalyst comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a source of halogen, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one amide-containing functionalizing agent.

Abstract: A process for simply and inexpensively producing a conjugated diene polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high cis-bond content at a low cost is provided. The process comprises a polymerization step, wherein a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4-bond content of 98.5 mass % or more and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) measured by gel permeation chromatography of 2.5 or less is obtained by carrying out a polymerization reaction in conjugated diene compounds using a catalyst composition containing a rare earth element-containing compound or a reaction product of the rare earth element-containing compound with a Lewis base, an aluminoxane and/or organoaluminum compound, and an iodine-containing compound.

Abstract: A binder composition for batteries, including (A) a polymer that has at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by the following formulae (a1) to (a5), respectively, and (f) a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a silicon atom, a germanium atom, a tin atom or a combination thereof; and (B) a liquid medium, the polymer (A) having a solubility of no less than 5 g in 100 g of cyclohexane at 25° C. and 1 atom.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of preparing a polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, wherein the lanthanide-based catalyst comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a source of halogen, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one amide-containing functionalizing agent.

Abstract: The method for producing a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, according to the present invention comprises (a) obtaining a primarily modified polymer by carrying out a primary modification reaction wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of an alkoxysilane compound and a silanol compound is introduced into the active alkali metal terminal of a conjugated diene based (co)polymer having an active alkali metal terminal, and (b) obtaining a secondarily modified polymer (a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer) by subjecting the above-obtained primarily modified polymer to reactions comprising (b1) and (b2). (b1): a reaction with a condensation accelerator comprising a metal element. (b2): a reaction with at least one member selected from the group consisting of inorganic acids and metal halides.

Abstract: A method for producing a modified conjugated diene polymer includes a step (A) carrying out a primary modification reaction that reacts a heterocumulene compound having two or more specific functional groups with a conjugated diene polymer having a vinyl content of below 10% and a cis-1,4-bond content of 75% or more and possessing an active end to obtain a primary-modified conjugated diene polymer, and a step (B) carrying out a secondary modification reaction that reacts an active hydrogen-containing compound that includes one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of an amino group, an imino group, a mercapto group, and a hydroxyl group with the primary-modified conjugated diene polymer to obtain a secondary-modified conjugated diene polymer. The method can produce a modified conjugated diene polymer that exhibits low heat build-up (low fuel consumption) and excellent wear resistance.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of preparing a polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, wherein the lanthanide-based catalyst comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a source of halogen, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one amide-containing functionalizing agent.

Abstract: A method for producing a modified conjugated diene polymer includes a modification step (A) that subjects a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4-bond content of 98.5% or more and possessing an active end to a modification reaction to introduce an alkoxysilane compound having two or more reactive groups including an alkoxysilyl group into the active end of the conjugated diene polymer, and a condensation step (B) that subjects the residue of the alkoxysilane compound introduced into the active end to a condensation reaction in the presence of a condensation catalyst that includes at least one element among the elements of the groups 4A, 2B, 3B, 4B, and 5B in the periodic table. The method can produce a modified conjugated diene polymer that exhibits low heat build-up and excellent wear resistance.

Abstract: A process for simply and inexpensively producing a conjugated diene polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high cis-bond content at a low cost is provided. The process comprises a polymerization step, wherein a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4-bond content of 98.5 mass % or more and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) measured by gel permeation chromatography of 2.5 or less is obtained by carrying out a polymerization reaction in conjugated diene compounds using a catalyst composition containing a rare earth element-containing compound or a reaction product of the rare earth element-containing compound with a Lewis base, an aluminoxane and/or organoaluminum compound, and an iodine-containing compound.

Abstract: The method for producing a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, according to the present invention comprises a step of reacting a conjugated diene based (co)polymer with a metal halide compound to obtain a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, the conjugated diene based (co)polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 2,000,000 and being obtained by bonding, to a polymer having at least a conjugated diene unit, an alkoxysilyl group and an optionally protected primary amino group. The method can satisfactorily produce a conjugated diene based (co)polymer which has a high Mooney viscosity, excellent shape stability and good processability.

Abstract: The method for producing a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, according to the present invention comprises a step of reacting a conjugated diene based (co)polymer with a metal halide compound to obtain a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, the conjugated diene based (co)polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 2,000,000 and being obtained by bonding, to a polymer having at least a conjugated diene unit, an alkoxysilyl group and an optionally protected primary amino group. The method can satisfactorily produce a conjugated diene based (co)polymer which has a high Mooney viscosity, excellent shape stability and good processability.

Abstract: A process for simply and inexpensively producing a conjugated diene polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high cis-bond content at a low cost is provided. The process comprises a polymerization step, wherein a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4-bond content of 98.5 mass % or more and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) measured by gel permeation chromatography of 2.5 or less is obtained by carrying out a polymerization reaction in conjugated diene compounds using a catalyst composition containing a rare earth element-containing compound or a reaction product of the rare earth element-containing compound with a Lewis base, an aluminoxane and/or organoaluminum compound, and an iodine-containing compound.

Abstract: A rubber composition from which a vulcanized rubber suitable for producing, for example, a pneumatic tire having excellent abrasion resistance, breaking strength, rolling resistance, wet skid resistance, and the like can be prepared. The rubber composition comprises a rubber component (A) comprising a diene rubber comprising 20 mass % or more of a modified styrene-butadiene copolymer (a1) and 5 mass % or more of a modified conjugated diene polymer (a2), and a filler (B), wherein the modified conjugated diene polymer (a2) is a conjugated diene polymer obtained by modifying the active terminals of a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4 bond content of 80% or higher, with an alkoxysilane compound, and the filler (B) comprises at least either of 2 to 100 mass parts, relative to 100 mass parts of the rubber component (A), of carbon black (b1) and 30 to 100 mass parts, relative to 100 mass parts of the rubber component (A), of silica (b2).

Abstract: A conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber is produced by copolymerization of a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound and has a primary amino group and an alkoxysilyl group bonded to the copolymer chain. The conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber contains the aromatic vinyl compound in an amount of 5 to 60 wt %. The aromatic vinyl compound is densely distributed in one terminal of the copolymer chain, and is scarcely distributed in the other terminal. The conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber has a temperature difference (?Tg) of 25° C. or more. The conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber has low hysteresis loss properties as well as improved abrasion resistance, rupture characteristics, and road grip characteristics without impairing wet skid characteristics. A method for producing the conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing a modified conjugated diene-based copolymer comprising bringing a modifier into reaction with the active end of a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound having the active end, wherein a compound having (i) a hydrolyzable functional group having silicon and (ii) a group which can be converted into a protonic amino group or a protonic amino group protected with an eliminable functional group after the reaction is used as the modifier, a step of adding a condensation catalyst is conducted after the modifier is brought into the reaction, and the content of the unit of the aromatic vinyl compound and the structure of the chain of the aromatic vinyl compound are specified.

Abstract: The present invention provides an emulsion composition which has been increased in sulfonic group content, yet has sufficient water resistance and has been enhanced in properties such as small resistance, film-forming property, etc. The emulsion composition contains (A) a water-based solvent, (B) an organic solvent, (C) a sulfonic group-containing polymer soluble in the component (A), and (D) a polymer soluble in the component (B) but insoluble in water. This emulsion composition is enhanced in small resistance and yet has sufficient water resistance and film-forming property.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a conjugated diolefin (co)polymer rubber excellent in processability, independently of the kind and combination of filling agent incorporated, excellent in a balance among wet-skid characteristics, low hysteresis loss, wear resistance and breaking strength, when vulcanization treatment is performed to form a vulcanized rubber, and useful as a material for a tread or a sidewall member of a tire for low fuel consumption, a large sized tire or a high performance tire.

Abstract: A process for producing a modified conjugated diene polymer includes subjecting an active terminal of a conjugated diene polymer having a vinyl content of less than 10% and a cis-1,4 bond content of 75% or more to a modification reaction with an alkoxysilane compound, and subjecting the alkoxysilane compound (residue) to a condensation reaction in an aqueous solution at a pH of 9 to 14 and a temperature of 85 to 180° C. in the presence of a condensation accelerator including a compound containing titanium. The modified conjugated diene polymer exhibits low heat build-up and increased reinforcing properties when used for a rubber composition, and exhibits excellent wear resistance, mechanical characteristics, and processability.