Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compounds incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing diphenylethylene-type functionalities. The functionalities can be incorporated by using any or all of appropriate initiators, monomers and optional terminating compounds. Such polymers exhibit excellent interactivity with both conventional and non-conventional fillers.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compositions incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing aryl functionalities, silica or other particulate filler(s) that contain or include oxides of silicon and a compound that includes multiple hydroxyl groups. The compound can act to disrupt the interactivity of the functionalities and the particulate filler particles during processing of the composition, thereby facilitating processing of the composition.

Abstract: A polymeric nanoparticle composition is provided. The nanoparticle may be of a core/shell configuration with an interphase region connecting the core and the shell. The mean average diameter of the polymer nanoparticles may be less than about 250 nm. The size, composition, and/or configuration of the interphase region may be varied to achieve desired physical and/or chemical properties of the resulting polymeric nanoparticles, and of the compositions into which the nanoparticles are compounded.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are rubber compositions suitable for use in tire treads comprising (a) at least one conjugated diene polymer or copolymer; (b) at least one filler; (c) a curative package; and (d) at least one of: (i) from 0.2 to 10 phr of at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax, or (ii) from 0.2 to 10 phr of at least one silicone-containing wax comprising a functionalized polyalkylsiloxane, a functionalized polyalkylsilsesquioxane resin, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the at least one halogenated hydrocarbon wax is a chlorinated hydrocarbon or a fluorinated hydrocarbon wax.

Abstract: Cationic techniques can be used to polymerize monomers that include a class of hydroxyaryl compounds so as to provide polymers that exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, reduced hysteresis. Compositions such as vulcanizates in which such polymers can be utilized and products such as tire components that incorporate and/or are manufactured from such compositions also are provided.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compounds incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing ?-methylstyrene functionalities. The functionalities can be incorporated by using any or all of appropriate initiators, monomers and optional terminating compounds. Such polymers exhibit excellent interactivity with both conventional and non-conventional fillers.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compositions incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing aryl functionalities, silica or other particulate filler(s) that contain or include oxides of silicon and a group or compound that can act to covalently bond the filler particles and the polymer. The group can be provided as a substituent of the filler particle, or a discreet compound can be provided in the composition.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the step of reacting a reactive polymer with a functionalizing agent defined by formula I or formula II: or combinations thereof, where R1, R2, and R3 are each independently a divalent organic group, R4 and R5 are each independently a monovalent organic group, a is an integer from 0 to 1, x is an integer from 0 to 2, y is an integer from 1 to 3, x+y=3, and ? is a protected amino group.

Abstract: A group of compounds defined by the general formula (I) can be used to anionically initiate polymerization of unsaturated monomers. In the formula, M is an alkali metal atom, R1 is an aryl group having at least one OR2 substituent group where each R2 is a group that is nonreactive toward M, and R is a hydrocarbyl group. The subject initiators can be used in semi-batch and continuous polymerization processes, even those which are performed at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Radical polymerization techniques can be used to polymerize monomers that include a class of hydroxyaryl compounds so as to provide polymers that exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, reduced hysteresis. Compositions such as vulcanizates in which such polymers can be utilized and products such as tire components that incorporate and/or are manufactured from such compositions also are provided.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes the reaction product of a reactive polymer and a compound that includes an aryl group having at least one directly bonded OGp substituent, where Gp is a protecting group, and a substituent (Q) which is free of active hydrogen atoms and which is, or connects to the aryl group through, a moiety that includes a carbon-to-nitrogen multiple bond. The polymer can be provided from a solution that includes one or more types of ethylenically unsaturated monomers which include at least one type of polyene, particularly one or more conjugated dienes in certain embodiments. An active terminus of the resulting reactive polymer can react with the Q substituent of the compound so as to provide a polymer having as a terminal functionality the radical of a compound that includes an aryl group having at least one directly bonded OGp substituent.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compounds incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing diphenylethylene-type functionalities. The functionalities can be incorporated by using any or all of appropriate initiators, monomers and optional terminating compounds. Such polymers exhibit excellent interactivity with both conventional and non-conventional fillers.

Abstract: Elastomeric compounds having increased cold flow resistance may be obtained by utilizing from 10-100 phr of a functionalized rubbery polymer containing specified types of functionalizing units, at least 0.01 phr of a multivalent metal organic salt and 0-90 phr of at least one additional rubbery polymer.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compositions incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing aryl functionalities, silica or other particulate filler(s) that contain or include oxides of silicon and a compound that includes multiple hydroxyl groups. The compound can act to disrupt the interactivity of the functionalities and the particulate filler particles during processing of the composition, thereby facilitating processing of the composition.

Abstract: Particular embodiments are directed toward a rubber mixture comprising (i) a rubber; and (ii) a filler component, where the filler component includes a filler selected from the group consisting of amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate, where said amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate are characterized by a BET specific surface area of less than 40 m2/g.

Abstract: Cationic techniques can be used to polymerize monomers that include a class of hydroxyaryl compounds so as to provide polymers that exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, reduced hysteresis. Compositions such as vulcanizates in which such polymers can be utilized and products such as tire components that incorporate and/or are manufactured from such compositions also are provided.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compounds incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing aryl functionalities. The functionalities can be incorporated by using any or all of appropriate initiators, monomers and optional terminating compounds. Such polymers exhibit excellent interactivity with both conventional and non-conventional fillers.

Abstract: A polymeric nanoparticle composition is provided. The nanoparticle may be of a core/shell configuration with an interphase region connecting the core and the shell. The mean average diameter of the polymer nanoparticles may be less than about 250 nm. The size, composition, and/or configuration of the interphase region may be varied to achieve desired physical and/or chemical properties of the resulting polymeric nanoparticles, and of the compositions into which the nanoparticles are compounded.

Abstract: Particular embodiments are directed toward a rubber mixture comprising (i) a rubber; and (ii) a filler component, where the filler component includes a filler selected from the group consisting of amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate, where said amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate are characterized by a BET specific surface area of less than 40 m2/g.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a carcass, a tread assembly, a sidewall assembly, and a belt assembly, where the belt assembly includes at least one reinforcing element disposed within a matrix, where the matrix is a vulcanizate prepared from a skim stock prepared by combining an elastomer, a filler, a curative, a methylene donor, and a phenol derivative.