Shell Oil Comapny

Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC

Kraton Polymer U.S. LLC

Craig A Stevens

Carl Lesley Willis

Daniel Earl Goodwin

Dale Lee Handlin, Jr

David J St Clair

Michael John Modic

John David Wilkey

Robert B Rhodes

Thomas F Brownscombe

Carma J Gibler

Linda R Chamberlain

Harvey E Atwood

Pierre Nazareth Tutunjian

Grant W Haddix

Joy P Cocchiara

James R Erickson

Steven S Chin

Michael A Masse

Cary Alan Veith

Bhaskar P Rao

Daniel E Goodwin

Pierre N Tutunjian

Disclosed is an anionic diinitiator prepared using a diisopropenyl benzene compound and an organo lithium compound having primary polymerization sites. The anionic diinitiators are prepared by admixing a diisopropenyl benzene compound with diethyl ether, ethylene, an organo lithium compound, and a solvent under reaction conditions sufficient to prepare a diinitiator having primary lithium alkyl reactive sites. The diinitiators are particularly useful in preparing block copolymers.

Organo-dilithium compound and process for preparing the same

Anionic polymerization diinitiator and process for preparing same

Hydrogenated butadiene polymers having terminal functional groups have minimum viscosity at any molecular weight when the 1,2-addition is between 30% and 70% Hydrogenated butadiene polymers having about two terminal hydroxyl groups per molecule have surprisingly lower viscosities at 30% to 70% 1,2-addition than similar polymers having either higher or lower amounts of 1,2-addition. The polymers are useful in making coatings, sealants, binders, and block copolymers with polyesters, polyamides, and polycarbonates.

Butadiene polymers having terminal functional groups

Hydrogenated butadiene polymers having terminal functional groups have minimum viscosity at any molecular weight when the 1,2-addition is between 30% and 70%. Hydrogenated butadiene polymers having about two terminal hydroxyl groups per molecule have surprisingly lower viscosities at 30% to 70% 1,2-addition than similar polymers having either higher or lower amounts of 1,2-addition. The polymers are useful in making coatings, sealants, binders, and block copolymers with polyesters, polyamides, and polycarbonates.

A process for the concurrent epoxidation of, and catalyst residue extraction from, anionically polymerized diene-containing polymers which have been hydrogenated using a Group VIII metal catalyst, said process comprising:

Concurrent epoxidation and catalyst residue extraction

The present invention includes star polymers which can be used as viscosity index improvers in oil compositions formulated for high performance engines. The star polymers have triblock copolymer arms of hydrogenated polyisoprene-polybutadiene-polyisoprene, which provide excellent low temperature performance in lubricating oils, and can be used in the presence of low pour point depressant concentrations.

Star polymer viscosity index improver for oil compositions

The present invention includes asymmetric triblock copolymers which are used as viscosity index improvers in oil compositions formulated for high performance engines. The triblock copolymers have the block structure hydrogenated polyisoprene-polystyrene-hydrogenated polyisoprene wherein the ratio of the number average molecular weights of the first and second hydrogenated polyisoprene blocks is at least 4.

Asymmetric triblock copolymer viscosity index improver for oil

The present invention includes star polymers which can be used as viscosity index improvers in oil compositions formulated for high performance engines. The star polymers have triblock copolymer arms of hydrogenated polyisoprene and polystyrene wherein the polystyrene is placed near the core of the star polymer to provide excellent low temperature performance and finishability as a polymer crumb.

A process for preparing a coupled asymmetric block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene which comprises: (a) adding sufficient anionic polymerization initiator to the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer to start polymerization of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon, (b) polymerizing the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon for a time sufficient to form a first set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks having a desired molecular weight, (c) adding sufficient anionic polymerization initiator to start polymerization of a second set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks, (d) completing the polymerization of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon for a time such that the first set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks continues to grow to the desired molecular weight and the second set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks grows to a desired smaller molecular weight, (e) adding a conjugated diene and polymerizing it on the ends of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks for a time sufficient to form vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon-conjugated diene arms of the desired molecular weight, and (f) adding a coupling agent and coupling the arms to form the asymmetric block copolymer.

Method for producing coupled asymmetric polymers

This is an improvement upon a process which comprises anionically polymerizing monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator in a suitable solvent thereby creating a living polymer. The improvement comprises terminating the polymerization by the addition of a terminating agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons containing a C-H group where the carbon is connected directly to a triply-bound carbon, hydrocarbons containing a C-H group where the carbon is connected directly to two doubly-bound carbons and hydrocarbons containing a C-H group where the carbon is connected directly to at least 2 aromatic rings, whereing none of said hydrocarbons contain additional aliphatic unsaturation.

Termination of anionic polymerization using hydrocarbon terminating

This is an improvement upon a process which comprises anionically polymerizing monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator in a suitable solvent thereby creating a living polymer. The improvement comprises terminating the polymerization by the addition of a terminating agent selected from the group consisting of boranes, ammonia, halogens, hydrocarbons containing a C-H group where the carbon is connected directly to a triply-bound carbon or to two doubly-bound carbons and silanes.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Craig A Stevens