Bridgestone Corporation

Firestone Polymers, LLC

University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

James Herman Pawlow

William L Hergenrother

Terrence Eugene Hogan

Christopher G Robertson

Ashley S Hilton

Kenneth Boone Wagener

Walter Tomaszewski

Michael W Hayes

Mark N DeDecker

Daniel F Graves

Yuan-Yong Yan

Jason T Poulton

James D Ulmer

Waruna C B Kiridena

Michael C Davis

John C Sworen

Joseph P Padolewski

Xiaorong Wang

Chenchy Jeffrey Lin

Yaohong Chen

Hideki Kitano

Kenji Nakatani

Takayuki Yako

Fernando J Gomez

Mitch Barry

Timothy E Hopkins

Jeffrey Quinn

James E Hall

Zengquan Qin

Christine M Rademacher

David M Roggeman

James Oziomek

Zhong-Ren Chen

Sandra M Warren

David Roggeman

A nanoparticle includes a copolymer comprising a vinyl-aromatic monomer and a heterocyclic monomer. The copolymer is crosslinked with a multifunctional crosslinking agent polymerizable through an addition reaction. A nanoparticle and elastomer composition is disclosed. Several methods of mixing heterocyclic and non-heterocyclic monomer nanoparticles into an elastomer are also disclosed. These methods include mixing in a multi-elements static mixer and an intermeshing mixer with venting, among others.

Nanoparticle fillers and methods of mixing into elastomers

The cis-1,4 mer content of conjugated diene mer in polymers can be increased by adding any of a class of morpholine compounds to a catalyst composition that includes a lanthanide metal atom.

Polymerization catalyst composition and method of employing same

A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A stabilizing agent having the formula (R)Si(OH)n wherein R is a Cto Calkyl, Cto Calkyl group containing a heteroatom such as nitrogen or oxygen, Cto Ccycloalkyl, or Cto Caromatic group is then added to the polymer, optionally in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Method of making polymers, polymer compositions and articles containing such polymers

A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A dialkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in combination with a base material. The polymer is then desolvatizing, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Method of making base stabilized polymers, polymer compositions and articles containing such polymers

Methods of making polymers by polymerizing conjugated diolefin in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator are described. Trialkyl or triaryl siloxy iminosilane functionalizing agents are reacted with the polymer, followed by desolvatizing the polymer. The resulting polymer not only has good filler interaction and processability, but results in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity. A polymer made by the process of the present invention, including silica, and carbon black fillers, and rubber compositions, and tires containing side walls and treads containing the polymers are also described.

Method of making iminosilane stabilized polymers, polymer compositions, and articles containing such polymers

A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxysilane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. An alkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Method of making alkoxysilane stabilized polymers, and polymer compositions

Compositions and methods are included for preparing a hairy polymeric nanoparticle including first and second shell block polymer arms are at least partially phase-separated and surround a polymeric core. One type of polymeric arm can have a greater polarity than the other type(s) of polymeric arms. A rubber composition including the hairy nanoparticles is also provided.

Hairy polymeric nanoparticles with first and second shell block polymer arms

Methods of forming blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes are provided. The blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds contain an alkoxysilane group that participates in an alkoxysilane-silica reaction as a silica dispersing agent in rubber, with the release of zero to about 0.1% by weight of the rubber as alcohol (a volatile organic compound (VOC)), during compounding and further processing. The blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds also contain a blocked mercapto group which, when de-blocked, allows the mercapto group to interact with the polymer(s) in a rubber composition. Further described are rubber compounds containing the blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes.

Methods of making blocked-mercapto alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds

Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (amino AMS), and/or amino co-AMS compounds that also comprise a mercaptosilane or a blocked mercaptosilane, are excellent adhesives for coating plated or unplated metal wire for adherence of the wire to a rubber stock. The amino AMS and/or the amino/mercaptan co-AMS adhesives can be used with all types of rubber and there is no requirement for the use of special adhesive additives to the rubber vulcanizates, such as, but not limited to, cobalt, resins and high sulfur levels. In particular, the use of amino AMS and/or amino/mercaptan co-AMS compounds as adhesives for bonding wire to rubber also improves the adherence performance of the reinforcements to obtain sufficient bonding that is resistant to degradation over the course of time, especially resistance to thermal aging and/or thermo-oxidizing aging, in particular corrosion in the presence of water.

Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane adhesives for improved metal adhesion and metal adhesion retention to cured rubber

A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxy silane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. A mixture of at least one of a first stabilizing agent having the formula (R)Si(OH)wherein R is a Cto Calkyl, Cto Calkyl group containing a heteroatom such as nitrogen or oxygen, Cto Ccycloalkyl, or Cto Caromatic group, and a at least one of a second stabilizing agents having the formula (R)Si(OH)wherein R is an aryl group, is then added to the polymer, optionally in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity and molecular weight, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

Method of making diarlysilanediol containing polymers, polymer compositions and articles containing such polymers

A method is presented for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (AMS) or co-alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes (co-AMS,) comprising the steps of (a) combining as a reaction mixture (i) water, (ii) an acid-stable solvent for the water, (iii) a solid strong cationic hydrolysis and condensation catalyst, and (iv) a trialkoxysilane compound, (b) allowing the reaction mixture to react for about 0.5 hours to about 200 hours to form the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes; and (c) recovering the alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes from the reaction mixture. The use of solid strong cationic catalysts in this reaction system is advantageous because they remain as solids throughout the reaction, allowing simplified separation of the solid catalyst from the soluble AMS or co-AMS products, resulting in total or near total recovery of the AMS or co-AMS products, the products being free of, or substantially free of residual acid catalyst, as well as virtual total recovery of the catalyst for recycling. The improved AMS and co-AMS compounds, vulcanizable rubber compounds containing them, and a pneumatic tire having a component made from the vulcanized rubber compounds are also presented.

Method for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

James Herman Pawlow