Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, that can be utilized in tire tread rubbers. The catalyst system, in one embodiment, includes an organolithium compound and a potassium alkyl borohydride or potassium alkyl aluminum hydride defined by: (R)3A?(H)K+, wherein A is boron or aluminum, H is hydrogen, K is potassium, and R, which is the same or different, is either H, a C1-C10 alkyl, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted C1-C10 alkyl, or a C3-C10 cycloalkyl, with the proviso that at least one R is a C1-C10 alkyl, and further wherein any two R's may optionally be part of a carbocyclic ring. The rubbery polymers can have low to medium vinyl microstructure content, i.e., from about 10% to about 40%, and are useful in tire tread rubber compounds which can exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, or styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, that are amine functionalized and have a high trans or high vinyl microstructure. The catalyst system, in one embodiment, includes an organolithium amine compound, and one or more of (a) a group IIa metal salt of an amino glycol or a glycol ether, (b) an organoaluminum compound, or (c) an amine compound. The amine functionalized rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristic(s), e.g., traction properties.

Abstract: A heterogeneous rubbery polymer is provided that includes a polymer chain derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diolefin monomer, wherein from greater than 20 weight percent to about 40 weight percent of units in the rubbery polymer are derived from the vinyl aromatic monomer and from about 60 weight percent to about 80 weight percent of units in the rubbery polymer are derived from the conjugated diolefin monomer. The polymer chain is further characterized by having greater than zero and less than about 30 weight percent of the vinyl aromatic units in sequences containing 1 vinyl aromatic unit, from about 5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of the vinyl aromatic units in sequences containing 5 to 8 vinyl aromatic units, and greater than zero and less than about 5 weight percent of the vinyl aromatic units in sequences containing 9 or more vinyl aromatic units.

Abstract: Rubbery polymers can be formed having the general formula: R1R2N—(CH2)n—X—CH2—CHR3R4 wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from a group consisting of alkyls, cycloalkyls, alkenyls, cycloalkenyls, aryls, phenyls, heterocycles, acyls, and silanes, or R1 in combination with R2 forms a heterocyclic ring; n is an integer from 1 to 20; X is selected from a group consisting of sulfur, a phosphorus moiety, and a silicon moiety; R3 and R4 are one of hydrogen, alkyls, alkenyls, and at least one of which includes reactive unsaturation such as an alkenyl group. Moreover, this invention discloses a process of making functionalized rubbery polymers from the functionalized monomers.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for making dilithium initiators in high purity. This process can be conducted in the absence of amines which is desirable since amines can act as modifiers for anionic polymerizations. The dilithium compounds made are highly desirable because they are soluble in aromatic solvents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, that can be utilized in tire tread rubbers. The catalyst system, in one embodiment, includes an organolithium compound and a potassium alkyl borohydride or potassium alkyl aluminum hydride defined by: (R)3A?(H)K+, wherein A is boron or aluminum, H is hydrogen, K is potassium, and R, which is the same or different, is either H, a C1-C10 alkyl, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted C1-C10 alkyl, or a C3-C10 cycloalkyl, with the proviso that at least one R is a C1-C10 alkyl, and further wherein any two R's may optionally be part of a carbocyclic ring. The rubbery polymers can have low to medium vinyl microstructure content, i.e., from about 10% to about 40%, and are useful in tire tread rubber compounds which can exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of silica-containing rubber compositions which contain precipitated silica reinforcement and use of an oligomeric organomercaptosilane coupling agent containing a plurality of mercapto and silane moieties, and a minimal content, if any, of ethoxy groups and is thus substantially free of ethoxy groups. The interaction of the plurality of mercapto moieties, or groups, of such oligomeric organomercaptosilane with the diene-based elastomer can promote a significant viscosity build up of the uncured rubber composition in a preliminary non-productive mixing stage and therefore present significant rubber processing difficulties during the mixing of the rubber composition. A challenge is therefore presented for reducing such viscosity buildup for such uncured silica-containing rubber composition.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for making dilithium initiators in high purity. This process can be conducted in the absence of amines which is desirable since amines can act as modifiers for anionic polymerizations. The dilithium compounds made are highly desirable because they are soluble in aromatic solvents.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a dendrimer of a rubbery polymer comprising: (a) reacting a lithium terminated rubbery polymer with a halogenated silicon containing compound to produce a polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties, wherein the halogenated silicon contain compound has at least four halogen atoms which are bonded directly to silicon atoms, wherein the ratio of the lithium terminated rubbery polymer to halogen atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound is within the range of 2:n to (n-1):n, wherein n represents the number of halogen atoms that are bonded directly to silicon atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound, wherein the halogenated silicon containing compound contains at least three halogen atoms which are bonded directly to a silicon atom; (b) reacting the polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties with a molar excess of a tertiary alcohol to produce a polymer which is terminated with hydroxy silyl moieties; a

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rubbery block polymers containing a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, methods of making the same, and to rubber compounds containing those block polymers. The rubbery block polymer is an anionically polymerized block polymer defined by A-B, wherein A includes at least one type of polymerized conjugated diene monomer, a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, or a mixture thereof and wherein B is a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, which is hydroxy terminated. The rubbery block polymer may be compounded so to provide, for example, a tire tread with desirable properties for use in an automobile tire. Such rubber compound, for example, can include the rubbery block polymer, an organosilane coupling agent, such as a bis(trialkoxysilyl) alkane, bis(trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide, or mixtures thereof, and silica filler in specified amounts.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a dendrimer of a rubbery polymer comprising: (a) reacting a lithium terminated rubbery polymer with a halogenated silicon containing compound to produce a polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties, wherein the halogenated silicon contain compound has at least four halogen atoms which are bonded directly to silicon atoms, wherein the ratio of the lithium terminated rubbery polymer to halogen atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound is within the range of 2:n to (n?1):n, wherein n represents the number of halogen atoms that are bonded directly to silicon atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound, wherein the halogenated silicon containing compound contains at least three halogen atoms which are bonded directly to a silicon atom; (b) reacting the polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties with a molar excess of a tertiary alcohol to produce a polymer which is terminated with hydroxy silyl moieties; a

Abstract: Rubbery polymers can be formed having the general formula: R1R2N—(CH2)n—X—CH2—CHR3R4 wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from a group consisting of alkyls, cycloalkyls, alkenyls, cycloalkenyls, aryls, phenyls, heterocycles, acyls, and silanes, or R1 in combination with R2 forms a heterocyclic ring; n is an integer from 1 to 20; X is selected from a group consisting of sulfur, a phosphorus moiety, and a silicon moiety; R3 and R4 are one of hydrogen, alkyls, alkenyls, and at least one of which includes reactive unsaturation such as an alkenyl group. Moreover, this invention discloses a process of making functionalized rubbery polymers from the functionalized monomers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a silica reinforced rubber composition containing an ionic compound and article having a component thereof. The invention particularly relates to an article such as a rubber tire having a component of such rubber composition. Said ionic compound is composed of a combination of an organic cation moiety and an organic or inorganic anion moiety. Said ionic compound is desirably an ionically conductive ionic compound. The invention particularly relates to improvement of one or more physical properties of a rubber composition by an inclusion of such ionic compound and/or providing a path of least electrical resistance for a electrically resistive component of an article such as a tire by an inclusion in the rubber composition of said component of an ionically conductive ionic compound composed of a combination of an organic cation moiety and an organic or inorganic anion moiety.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber-rich rubber composition containing precipitated silica which has been pre-treated with a fatty alcohol and/or epoxidized soybean oil together with an organosilane containing polysulfide coupling agent and to tires having at least one component comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: Rubbery polymers made by anionic polymerization can be coupled with tin halides or silicon halides to improve the characteristics of the rubber for use in some applications, such as fire treads. In cases where the rubbery polymer was synthesized utilizing a polar modifier it is difficult to attain a high level of coupling. This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that coupling efficiency can be significantly improved by conducting the coupling reaction in the presence of a lithium salt of a saturated aliphatic alcohol, such as lithium t-amylate. This invention discloses a process for coupling a living rubbery polymer that comprises reacting the living rubbery polymer with coupling agent selected from the group consisting of tin halides and silicon halides in the presence of a lithium salt of a saturated aliphatic alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, or styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, that are amine functionalized and have a high trans or high vinyl microstructure. The catalyst system, in one embodiment, includes an organolithium amine compound, and one or more of (a) a group IIa metal salt of an amino glycol or a glycol ether, (b) an organoaluminum compound, or (c) an amine compound. The amine functionalized rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristic(s), e.g., traction properties.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to rubbery block polymers containing a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, methods of making the same, and to rubber compounds containing those block polymers. The rubbery block polymer is an anionically polymerized block polymer defined by A-B, wherein A includes at least one type of polymerized conjugated diene monomer, a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, or a mixture thereof and wherein B is a polylactone, such as polycaprolactone, which is hydroxy terminated. The rubbery block polymer may be compounded so to provide, for example, a tire tread with desirable properties for use in an automobile tire. Such rubber compound, for example, can include the rubbery block polymer, an organosilane coupling agent, such as a bis(trialkoxysilyl) alkane, bis(trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide, or mixtures thereof, and silica filler in specified amounts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene-butadiene rubber, or styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, that are amine functionalized and have a high trans microstructure. The catalyst system, in one embodiment, includes (a) an organolithium amine compound, (b) a group IIa metal salt of an amino glycol or a glycol ether, (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally (d) an amine compound. The amine functionalized rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristic(s), e.g., traction properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition which contains a dispersion of a particulate hydrophilic water absorbing polymer and tire with a tread thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for synthesizing rubbery copolymers, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, or rubbery homopolymers, such as polybutadiene rubber, that are alkoxy functionalized, e.g., alkoxysilane functionalized, and provide desirable dispersion of silica in rubber compounds, such as for use in tire treads. To that end, the method, in one embodiment, involves admixing anionically polymerizable conjugated diene monomers with optional vinyl aromatic, an anionic-polymerization initiator, i.e., an organolithium compound, and a lithium alkoxide to form an admixture of living polymers, then adding a halogenated coupling agent to the admixture of living polymers effecting conditions to form an alkoxy functionalized rubbery polymer. The alkoxy functionalized rubbery polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubbers where the rubbery polymers may provide desirable wear properties without substantially sacrificing other performance characteristic(s), e.g., traction properties.