Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that random copolymers of 1,3-butadiene monomer and 3-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene and/or 4-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene having a low vinyl content can be synthesized by anionic polymerization at normal polymerization temperatures without the need for a conventional polar modifier. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a rubbery polymer that comprises copolymerizing at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one functionalized monomer in an organic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of 20° C. to about 100° C., wherein the polymerization is initiated with an anionic initiator, wherein the functionalized monomer is of the structural formula: wherein n represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein the polymerization is conducted in the absence of conventional polar modifiers.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a technique for synthesizing rubbery non-tapered, random, copolymers of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire sidewall rubber compounds for truck tires. By utilizing these isoprene-butadiene rubbers in tire sidewalls, tires having improved cut growth resistance can be built without sacrificing rolling resistance. Such rubbers can also be employed in tire tread compounds to improve tread wear characteristics and decrease rolling resistance without sacrificing traction characteristics.

Abstract: This invention relates to a light weight rubber blend that can be beneficially used in rubber articles, such as power transmission belts and tires. In the rubber blends of this invention a 2:1 layered silicate clay, preferably an organophilic 2:1 layered silicate clay, is substituted for a portion of the carbon black that is normally used in the rubber as a filler. This can be done without sacrificing the physical properties of the rubber composition in cases where the rubber in the blend contains an amino group. Tire tread compounds that utilize such rubber compositions offer increased vehicle fuel economy. This invention also relates to improving the strength, modulus and elongation of carbon black and silica filled compounds by the addition of 2:1 layered silicate clays thereto without modifying the level of carbon black or silica. Such compounds have increased flexibility and tensile strength for tire side-wall applications.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of 1

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R′ can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural formula wherein R and R′ can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that random copolymers of 1,3-butadiene monomer and 3-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene and/or 4-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene having a low vinyl content can be synthesized by anionic polymerization at normal polymerization temperatures without the need for a conventional polar modifier. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a rubbery polymer that comprises copolymerizing at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one functionalized monomer in an organic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of 20° C. to about 100° C.

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. The present invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a dilithium initiator which comprises reacting diisopropenylbenzene with a tertiary alkyl lithium compound in an aromatic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C. The present invention further discloses a process for synthesizing m-di-(1-lithio-1-methyl-3,3-dimethylbutyl) benzene which comprises reacting diisopropenylbenzene with tertiary-butyllithium in an aromatic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C.

Abstract: This invention discloses a rubber composition that is comprised of: (1) an amino group containing rubbery polymer, wherein said amino group containing rubbery polymer contains from about 0.1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of monomer units containing an amino group, and (2) from about 0.1 phr to about 25 phr of a 2:1 layered silicate clay, wherein the 2:1 layered silicate clay is an organophilic 2:1 layered silicate clay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubbery polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from (1) at least one conjugated diolefin monomer, and (2) at least one functionalized monomer of the structural formula: 1

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of 1

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of 1

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing an amine functionalized monomer that comprises (1) reacting a secondary amine with a 2,3-dihalopropene to produce a vinyl halide containing secondary amine having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R and R′ can be the same or different and represent allyl, alkoxyl or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein X represents a halogen atom, and wherein m represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein X represents a halogen atom; and (2) reacting the vinyl halide containing secondary amine with a vinyl magnesium halide to produce the monomer having a structural formula wherein R and R′ can be the same or different and represent alkyl, allyl or alkoxyl groups containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and wherein m represents an integer from about 4 to about 10.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to improve the adhesion between rubber components. It is generally most useful for improving the adhesion between two different pre-cured rubber components or for improving the adhesion between a pre-cured rubber component and an uncured (green) rubber component. However, the technique of this invention can also be employed to improve the adhesion between two uncured rubber components. The technique of this invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that low molecular weight trans-1,4-polybutadiene containing rubber compounds can be used to improve the adhesion between rubber components.

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. The present invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a dilithium initiator which comprises reacting diisopropenylbenzene with a tertiary alkyl lithium compound in an aromatic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C. The present invention further discloses a process for synthesizing m-di-(1-lithio-1-methyl-3,3-dimethylbutyl)benzene which comprises reacting diisopropenylbenzene with tertiary-butyllithium in an aromatic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of about 0° C. to about 100° C.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to stabilize tin-coupled rubbery polymers. It is particularly useful for stabilizing rubbery polymers that do not contain bound styrene. This invention more specifically discloses a process for improving the stability of a tin-coupled rubbery polymer which comprises (1) adding 0.1 phr to about 4 phr of styrene to a living rubbery polymer to produce a styrene capped rubbery polymer, (2) adding a tin halide to the styrene capped living rubbery polymer to produce the tin-coupled rubbery polymer, and (3) optionally, adding a tertiary chelating alkyl 1,2-ethylene diamine or a metal salt of a cyclic alcohol to the tin-coupled rubbery polymer. The use of metal salts of cyclic alcohols is preferred because they do not lead to recycle stream contamination. This is because cyclic alcohols do not co-distill with hexane or form compounds during steam-stripping which co-distill with hexane.

Abstract: The process and catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize polybutadiene rubber having a high trans content and a low melting point by solution polymerization. The trans-polybutadiene rubber made by the process of this invention can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit outstanding wear characteristics. More importantly, the trans-polybutadiene rubber of this invention can be easily processed because of its low level of crystallinity. In fact, the trans-polybutadiene made by the process of this invention does not need to be heated in a “hot-house” before being used in making rubber compounds.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to improve the adhesion between rubber components. It is generally most useful for improving the adhesion between two different pre-cured rubber components or for improving the adhesion between a pre-cured rubber component and an uncured (green) rubber component. However, the technique of this invention can also be employed to improve the adhesion between two uncured rubber components. The technique of this invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that low molecular weight trans-1,4-polybutadiene containing rubber compounds can be used to improve the adhesion between rubber components.

Abstract: The group IIa metal containing catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure by solution polymerization. Such rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure content, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) an organolithium compound, including organolithium functionalized compounds, (b) a group IIa metal salt selected from the group consisting of group IIa metal salts of di(alkylene glycol)alkylethers and group IIa metal salts of tri(alkylene glycol) alkylethers, and (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally an organomagnesium compound.

Abstract: The process and catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize polybutadiene rubber having a high trans content and a low melting point by solution polymerization. The trans-polybutadiene rubber made by the process of this invention can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit outstanding wear characteristics. More importantly, the trans-polybutadiene rubber of this invention can be easily processed because of its low level of crystallinity. In fact, the trans-polybutadiene made by the process of this invention does not need to be heated in a “hot-house” before being used in making rubber compounds. The process and catalyst system of this invention can also be used in the synthesis of trans-styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: The group IIa metal containing catalyst system of this invention can be utilized to synthesize rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure by solution polymerization. Such rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure content, such as polybutadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, can be utilized in tire tread rubbers that exhibit improved wear and tear characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) an organolithium compound, including organolithium functionalized compounds, (b) a group IIa metal salt selected from the group consisting of group IIa metal salts of di(alkylene glycol)alkylethers and group IIa metal salts of tri(alkylene glycol) alkylethers, and (c) an organoaluminum compound, and optionally an organomagnesium compound.