Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer, and reacting the reactive polymer with a halosilane compound containing an amino group.

Abstract: A polymer composition of low gas permeability. The composition includes an exfoliated organically-modified clay, butyl rubber, and a polymeric exfoliant. A method for producing the butyl composition by dry mixing the butyl rubber with the exfoliated clay is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric composition, the method comprising introducing a functionalized polymer and a filler. mixing the functionalized polymer and filler to form a first masterbatch, adding additional polymer to the first masterbatch, and mixing the additional polymer and the first masterbatch.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: A process for producing an aminoalkyllithium solution, the process comprising reacting an aminoalkylhalide with lithium in the presence of an electride solvent to form a solution of aminoalkyllithium, adding a non-Zerewitinoff solvent having a solubility parameter of at least 18.0 and less than 22.0 MPa1/2, and removing the electride solvent, where said electride solvent and said non-Zerewitinoff solvent are distinct solvents thereby forming a solution of the aminoalkyllithium in the non-Zerewitinoff solvent.

Abstract: A tire component comprising a rubber vulcanizate including one or more functional groups, where said one or more functional groups reduce the 50° C. hysteresis loss of the vulcanizate when compared to similar vulcanizates without the functional group, and a carbon black filler, where said carbon black filler includes (i) a first carbon black characterized by an iodine adsorption number, per ASTM D1510, that is greater than 60 g/kg, and (ii) a second carbon black characterized by an iodine adsorption number, per ASTM D1510, that is less than 60 g/kg.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer terminated by using an isocyanato alkoxysilane terminating agent. A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the step of contacting a living polymer with an isocyanato alkoxysilane terminating agent.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition comprising defatted soy flour and a natural rubber in aqueous or dried form. There is also disclosed rubber compositions comprising the compositions comprising defatted soy flour and a natural rubber. There is further disclosed use of the compositions comprising defatted soy flour and a natural rubber, as well as use of rubber compositions including the compositions comprising defatted soy flour and a natural rubber, in the production of various products such as pneumatic tires and tire components, and the like.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: A functionalized elastomer defined by the formula where ? includes a polymer chain, ? includes a group 14 element, R1 and R2 each independently include hydrogen, a monovalent organic group, or a polymer chain, R3 and R4 each independently include a divalent organic group or a covalent bond, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 each independently include a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising providing a reactive polymer, where the reactive polymer includes a carbon anion, an oxygen anion, a sulfur anion, or a nitrogen anion, reacting the reactive polymer with carbon disulfide to form a polymer including a dithio carboxyl group, and reacting the polymer including the dithio carboxyl group with a blocking agent.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes a polymer chain and, bonded thereto, a functional group having the general formula —NQOR1 where R1 is a hydrogen atom or —CH2Z where Z is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkenaryl, aralkenyl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group and where Q is a moiety connected to the nitrogen atom of the functional group through a C, N, O, or S atom. The material can be the reaction product of a living polymer and a compound that includes nitroso functionality. The functional group can interact with particulate filler such as, e.g., carbon black.

Abstract: An initiator solution comprising a chain extended thioacetal defined by the formula where ? includes a polymeric or oligomeric segment, each R1 independently includes hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R0 includes a monovalent organic group, z is an integer from 1 to about 8, and ? includes sulfur, oxygen, or tertiary amino group, and a solvent comprising an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic solvent.

Abstract: A polymer composition of low gas permeability. The composition includes an exfoliated organically-modified clay, butyl rubber, and a polymeric exfoliant. A method for producing the butyl composition by dry mixing the butyl rubber with the exfoliated clay is also provided.

Abstract: Alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds are described. The alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds contain an alkoxysilane group that participates in an alkoxysilane-silica reaction as a silica dispersing agent in rubber, with the release of zero to about 0.1% by weight of the rubber of volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially alcohol, during compounding and further processing. Further described are methods for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, methods for making vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, and pneumatic tires comprising a component that contains alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes.

Abstract: Improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties of silica-reinforced sulfur vulcanized rubbers can be achieved by compounding elastomers with silica in the presence of an alkoxysilane and a catalytic amount of a strong organic base. The strong organic base acts as a catalyst to accelerate the alkoxysilane-silica reaction, especially at high compounding temperatures, resulting in rubber compounds that exhibit reduced compound viscosity, improved dispersion of silica, and reduced filler flocculation after compounding, and reduced hysteresis and improved abrasion resistance in the vulcanized product, compared to similar compounds prepared at the temperature without the strong organic base catalyst.

Abstract: A tire tread comprising a cured rubber, where at least a portion of the rubber derives from a functionalized polymer including an oxygen or sulfur-containing azaheterocycles, and a filler comprising oxidized carbon black.

Abstract: A method of forming a functionalized polymer, the method comprising reacting a living polymer with a compound defined by the formula where R5 includes a monovalent organic group, R6 independently includes a monovalent organic group, each R7 independently includes hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, each R8 independently includes hydrogen or monovalent organic group, R9 includes a monovalent organic group, M is silicon or tin, and x includes an integer from about 2 to about 10, where R5 and R6 may optionally each independently be alkoxy groups, and where R7, R8, and R9 are non-Zerewitinoff organic groups.

Abstract: A tire component comprising a vulcanized rubber, and from about 3 to about 85 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight rubber, of a filler dispersed within said vulcanized rubber, where the vulcanized rubber includes the vulcanized residue of a thermoplastic-elastomeric block copolymer defined by the formula ?-?-?-? where ? is a hydrogen atom or a functional group, ? includes an elastomeric block, ? includes a thermoplastic block, and ? includes a hydrogen atom or a functional group.