Abstract: A buffer circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input signal, an output terminal, an inverter, and a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit coupled in series with the inverter between the input terminal and the output terminal. The RC circuit includes an NMOS transistor coupled between an RC circuit output terminal and a reference node, a resistor coupled between the RC circuit output terminal and a power supply node, and a capacitor coupled between the RC circuit output terminal and one of the power supply node or the reference node, and the inverter and the RC circuit are configured to generate an output signal at the output terminal based on the input signal.

Abstract: Methods for resin hydrogenation and decoloration may comprise reacting a resin mixture with a sulfided bimetallic catalyst and excess hydrogen under conditions effective to form a hydrogenated resin mixture, the resin mixture comprising an oligomerized reaction product of at least one polymerizable monomer containing an olefinic unsaturation and a solvent; providing the hydrogenated resin mixture directly to a noble metal catalyst; and reacting the hydrogenated resin mixture in the presence of the noble metal catalyst under conditions effective to form a decolorized resin mixture. Decolorized resin compositions comprising a decolorized resin mixture formed in accordance with the foregoing may have a yellowness index of about 10 or below, as measured by ASTM E313.

Abstract: A conduit, particularly flexible conduit comprises an inner tubular housing, at least one reinforcing layer at least partially disposed around the inner housing, an outer protective sheath at least partially disposed around the at least one reinforcing layer, and optionally a thermally insulating layer disposed between the at least one reinforcing layer and the outer protective sheath. At least one of the outer protective sheath and the thermally insulating layer comprises a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition.

Abstract: Methods of post-polymerization modification of a polymer are provided herein. The present methods comprise the step of reacting a polymer with at least one nucleophile in a nucleophilic substitution reaction performed without a solvent to produce a functionalized polymer. The nucleophile can be selected from the group consisting of thioacetate, phenoxide, alkoxide, carboxylate, thiolate, thiocarboxylate, dithiocarboxylate, thiourea, thiocarbamate, dithiocarbamate, xanthate, thiocyanate. Nucleophilic substitution reaction can be performed in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. Nucleophilic substitution reaction can also be performed via a two-step in-situ reactive mixing process with the initial formation of the polymer-amine ionomer (polymer-NR3+Br) which catalyzes the subsequent nucleophilic substitution with a second nucleophile to form a bi-functional polymer.

Abstract: An elastomer composition can comprise a C4 to C7 isoolefin; a non-halogenated alkylstyrene; a halogenated alkylstyrene; and optionally a diolefin, wherein the C4 to C7 isoolefin is not the same as the diolefin. Optionally, the elastomer composition can be blended with a butyl rubber and/or a halobutyl rubber. Such blends that also comprise additives may be suitable for producing tire components such as innerliners.

Abstract: Butyl based composition having hydrocarbon resins are provided herein. The hydrocarbon resin has a Tg from ?10° C. to 25° C., a number average molecular weight between 20 to 500, a weight average molecular weight between about 100 to about 2000, and a glass transition temperature between about 0° C. to about ?80° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition having a C4 to C7 isoolefin, an alkylstyrene, and a diolefin, where the C4 to C7 isoolefin is not the same as the diolefin. The invention also provides a composition having a first C4 to C7 isoolefin and paramethylstyrene component and a second C4 to C7 isoolefin and paramethylstyrene component. Further, the invention also provides a composition having (a) an elastomer with a C4 to C7 isoolefin, an alkylstyrene, and a diolefin, where the C4 to C7 isoolefin is not the same as the diolefin, (b) a secondary rubber, (c) processing aid, (d) curative, and (e) filler.

Abstract: Provided herein are isobutylene-based polymer compositions comprising functionalized isobutylene-based polymer with olefinic side chain substituents, and a sulfur donor and/or accelerator cure system. The functionalized polymer is produced via nucleophilic substitution reaction in solution. The present functionalized isobutylene-based polymer compositions together with various accelerators and sulfur donors can form thermosets useful for pharmaceutical and tire applications without the use of zinc or a zinc oxide activator.

Abstract: Methods of post-polymerization modification of a polymer are provided herein. The present methods comprise the step of reacting a polymer with at least one nucleophile in a nucleophilic substitution reaction performed without a solvent to produce a functionalized polymer. The nucleophile can be selected from the group consisting of thioacetate, phenoxide, alkoxide, carboxylate, thiolate, thiocarboxylate, dithiocarboxylate, thiourea, thiocarbamate, dithiocarbamate, xanthate, thiocyanate. Nucleophilic substitution reaction can be performed in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. Nucleophilic substitution reaction can also be performed via a two-step in-situ reactive mixing process with the initial formation of the polymer-amine ionomer (polymer-NR3+Br) which catalyzes the subsequent nucleophilic substitution with a second nucleophile to form a bi-functional polymer.

Abstract: A conduit, particularly flexible conduit comprises an inner tubular housing, at least one reinforcing layer at least partially disposed around the inner housing, an outer protective sheath at least partially disposed around the at least one reinforcing layer, and optionally a thermally insulating layer disposed between the at least one reinforcing layer and the outer protective sheath. At least one of the outer protective sheath and the thermally insulating layer comprises a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition.

Abstract: Butyl based composition having hydrocarbon resins are provided herein. The hydrocarbon resin has a Tg from ?10° C. to 25° C., a number average molecular weight between 20 to 500, a weight average molecular weight between about 100 to about 2000, and a glass transition temperature between about 0° C. to about ?80° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)-based resin functionalized with groups capable of reacting with silica or carbon black for use in high performance tires and a preferred method of preparing the functionalized resin comprising ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening cross metathesis. The functionalized resin may comprise the reaction product obtained by contacting a polymer comprising units derived from (DCPD) and a vinyl monomer or vinylene monomer in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, wherein the vinyl monomer or vinylene monomer comprises at least one of the following functional groups: a silyl group, a siloxy group, or an alkoxysilyl group. This invention further relates to a tire tread composition comprising the functionalized resin and which exhibits enhanced durability, traction, handling, and extractability properties.

Abstract: Curative systems for butyl based compositions are provided herein. The present curative systems provide consistent curing speeds for butyl based compositions, low moduli at low strain, higher elongation and higher percent retention in elongation at heat aging conditions. The curative systems have about 0.5 phr to about 3 phr metal oxide, about 0.3 phr to about 3 phr fatty acid, at least to about 2 phr sulfur, and at least about 2 phr of cure accelerator.

Abstract: To obtain an elastomeric composite crumb having a majority of the particle size distribution greater than 0.33 cm, the crumb is obtained by a process whereby the elastomeric composite comprises less than about 0.5 phr of a salt of a C8 to C20 carboxylic acid, or 10 to 20 phr of a tackifying resin or a combination of both an absence of carboxylic acid and the presence of the tackifying resin. The use of one or both methods permits control of crumb particle size distribution in emulsion or solution processes for producing elastomeric nanocomposites. The elastomeric composite is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an elastomeric nanocomposite composition, the composition comprising at least one elastomer, at least one nanofiller, and an ionomer stabilizer in the amount of at least about 0.5 phr of the composition, the elastomer comprising units derived from isoolefins having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms and at least one multiolefin, and the nanofiller consisting of a layered filler, wherein the stabilizer is added to improve the stability of the Mooney viscosity of the composition over time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dicyclopentadiene (DCPD)-based resin functionalized with groups capable of reacting with silica or carbon black for use in high performance tires and a preferred method of preparing the functionalized resin comprising ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening cross metathesis. The functionalized resin may comprise the reaction product obtained by contacting a polymer comprising units derived from (DCPD) and a vinyl monomer or vinylene monomer in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, wherein the vinyl monomer or vinylene monomer comprises at least one of the following functional groups: a silyl group, a siloxy group, or an alkoxysilyl group. This invention further relates to a tire tread composition comprising the functionalized resin and which exhibits enhanced durability, traction, handling, and extractability properties.

Abstract: To obtain an elastomeric composite crumb having a majority of the particle size distribution greater than 0.33 cm, the crumb is obtained by a process whereby the elastomeric composite comprises less than about 0.5 phr of a salt of a C8 to C20 carboxylic acid, or 10 to 20 phr of a tackifying resin or a combination of both an absence of carboxylic acid and the presence of the tackifying resin. The use of one or both methods permits control of crumb particle size distribution in emulsion or solution processes for producing elastomeric nanocomposites. The elastomeric composite is also disclosed.

Abstract: High strength presulfided catalyst for hydrogenating hydrocarbon resins without an in situ sulfiding step. The catalyst particles have a supported metal catalyst structure with presulfided interstitial surfaces with about 20 weight percent of a low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin, based on the weight of the porous supported metal catalyst structure, filling from 90 to 95 percent of the pore volume to improve a crush strength of the catalyst particles. The presulfided catalyst can be stored and/or shipped in an airtight container with an inert atmosphere. The catalyst particles are made by preparing the oxidized catalyst, presulfiding the catalyst, contacting the catalyst with the low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin in an inert atmosphere, sealing the catalyst in a storage/shipping container, loading the reactor with the presulfided, filled catalyst, and contacting the catalyst with an unsaturated hydrocarbon resin under hydrogenation conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining the presence of an activated catalyst site in a catalyst system comprising a catalyst precursor and an activator, wherein the catalyst system is capable of providing a luminescence, the method comprising: performing a time resolved luminescence analysis on a reference analyte comprising the catalyst precursor that is not in combination with the activator, and performing a time resolved luminescence analysis on a sample analyte comprising the catalyst precursor in combination with the activator, determining a reference emission energy and a reference lifetime each associated with a maximum emission intensity in the reference output values; determining a sample emission energy and a sample lifetime each associated with a maximum emission intensity in the sample output values; and comparing the values to determine if the sample comprises an activated catalyst site. Use of the above method in relation to an activation index is also disclosed.

Abstract: High strength presulfided catalyst for hydrogenating hydrocarbon resins without an in situ sulfiding step. The catalyst particles have a supported metal catalyst structure with presulfided interstitial surfaces with about 20 weight percent of a low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin, based on the weight of the porous supported metal catalyst structure, filling from 90 to 95 percent of the pore volume to improve a crush strength of the catalyst particles. The presulfided catalyst can be stored and/or shipped in an airtight container with an inert atmosphere. The catalyst particles are made by preparing the oxidized catalyst, presulfiding the catalyst, contacting the catalyst with the low molecular weight hydrocarbon resin in an inert atmosphere, sealing the catalyst in a storage/shipping container, loading the reactor with the presulfided, filled catalyst, and contacting the catalyst with an unsaturated hydrocarbon resin under hydrogenation conditions.