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: 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: Copolymers of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide and homopolymers of propylene oxide are made using two dimensional double metal cyanide complexes having the formula Co[M(CN)4] or hydrated or partially dehydrated form thereof. There is no propylene carbonate by product in the copolymerization.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising at least one polymer having a degree of unsaturation of no more than about 50 mol %; a filler selected from the group consisting of carbon black, silica, and mixtures thereof; and a polymeric additive comprising a functional end group reactive with said filler, wherein said polymeric additive has a degree of unsaturation of no more than about 50 mol % and a number average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 25,000. The composition may optionally contain one or more polymers having a degree of unsaturation of more than 50 mol %. The composition may be particularly useful as a component for a tire.

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: Copolymers of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide and homopolymers of propylene oxide are made using two dimensional double metal cyanide complexes having the formula Co[M(CN)4] or hydrated or partially dehydrated form thereof. There is no propylene carbonate by product in the copolymerization.

Abstract: Terminally functionalized polymers that are living or pseudo-living polymers reacted with certain allyl glycidyl ethers, or certain allylhalosilanes or combinations thereof, and a process for preparing the terminally functionalized polymers. Rubber-modified polymeric compositions comprising the terminally functionalized polymers.

Abstract: A polymerization catalyst composition for preparing cis 1,4-polydienes is provided. The catalyst composition comprises (a) a metal-containing compound, said metal being a transition metal or a lanthanide metal; (b) a carbene, (c) an alkylating agent, and optionally (d) a halogen-containing compound with the proviso that the halogen-containing compound must be present when none of the metal-containing compound and the alkylating agent contain a labile halogen atom. Also provided is a process for producing a polydiene comprising reacting a conjugated diene in the presence of the polymerization catalyst composition.

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 nickel-carbene polymerization catalyst system for preparing high cis polydienes is provided. The catalyst system comprises (a) a nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) optionally, an alcohol. Also provided is a process for producing a polydiene comprising reacting a conjugated diene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst comprising (a) a nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) optionally, an alcohol.

Abstract: Poly(propylene carbonates) are prepared from propylene oxide and CO2 with less than 10% cyclic propylene carbonate by product using cobalt based catalysts of structure preferably in combination with salt cocatalyst, very preferably cocatalyst where the cation is PPN+ and the anion is Cl? or OBzF5?. Novel products include poly(propylene carbonates) having a stereoregularity greater than 90% and/or a regioregularity of greater than 90%.

Abstract: Poly(propylene carbonates) are prepared from propylene oxide and CO2 with less than 10% cyclic propylene carbonate by product using cobalt based catalysts of structure preferably in combination with salt cocatalyst, very preferably cocatalyst where the cation is PPN+ and the anion is Cl? or OBzF5?. Novel products include poly(propylene carbonates) having a stereoregularity greater than 90% and/or a regioregularity of greater than 90%.

Abstract: Poly(propylene carbonates) are prepared from propylene oxide and CO2 with less than 10% cyclic propylene carbonate by product using cobalt based catalysts of structure preferably in combination with salt cocatalyst, very preferably cocatalyst where the cation is PPN+ and the anion is Cl? or OBzF5?. Novel products include poly(propylene carbonates) having a stereoregularity greater than 90% and/or a regioregularity of greater than 90%.

Abstract: A nickel-carbene polymerization catalyst system for preparing high cis polydienes is provided. The catalyst system comprises (a) a nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) optionally, an alcohol. Also provided is a process for producing a polydiene comprising reacting a conjugated diene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst comprising (a) a nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) optionally, an alcohol.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising at least one polymer having a degree of unsaturation of no more than about 50 mol %; a filler selected from the group consisting of carbon black, silica, and mixtures thereof; and a polymeric additive comprising a functional end group reactive with said filler, wherein said polymeric additive has a degree of unsaturation of no more than about 50 mol % and a number average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 25,000. The composition may optionally contain one or more polymers having a degree of unsaturation of more than 50 mol %. The composition may be particularly useful as a component for a tire.

Abstract: Poly(propylene carbonates) are prepared from propylene oxide and CO2 with less than 10% cyclic propylene carbonate by product using cobalt based catalysts of structure preferably in combination with salt cocatalyst, very preferably cocatalyst where the cation is PPN+ and the anion is Cl? or OBzF5?. Novel products include poly(propylene carbonates) having a stereoregularity greater than 90% and/or a regioregularity of greater than 90%.

Abstract: Copolymers of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide and homopolymers of propylene oxide are made using two dimensional double metal cyanide complexes having the formula Co[M(CN)4] or hydrated or partially dehydrated form thereof. There is no propylene carbonate by product in the copolymerization.

Abstract: Poly(propylene carbonates) are prepared from propylene oxide and CO2 with less than 10% cyclic propylene carbonate by product using cobalt based catalysts of structure preferably in combination with salt cocatalyst, very preferably cocatalyst where the cation is PPN+ and the anion is Cl? or OBzF5?. Novel products include poly(propylene carbonates) having a stereoregularity greater than 90% and/or a regioregularity of greater than 90%.