Bridgestone Corporation

Firestone Polymers, LLC

Jessica C Kurasch

Terrence Eugene Hogan

Christine M Rademacher

Christopher G Robertson

Steven Luo

Yuan-Yong Yan

Zengquan Qin

Hiroshi Mouri

Xiao-Dong Pan

Mark N DeDecker

Sandra Warren

Gabrielle L McIntyre

Karen Maglione

Gabrielle L Nuzzi

A method for producing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer, optionally together with a copolymerizable monomer, within a solvent to produce a polymerization mixture including a polymer having a reactive terminus, coupling a portion of the polymer having a reactive terminus with a hydrocarbyloxysiloxane to produce a polymerization mixture including polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane and residual polymer having a reactive terminues, reacting the residual polymer having a reactive terminus with a functionalizing agent having at least one hydrocarbyloxy functionality to produce a polymerization mixture including a functionalized polymer and the polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane, and desolventizing the polymerization mixture including the functionalized polymer and the polymer coupled with the hydrocarbyloxysiloxane.

Method for producing polymeric compositions including functionalized polymers

A process for treating a polymer having a hydrolyzable functionality, the process comprising:  where &#x3c7; is a hydrolyzable group that forms an acidic species upon hydrolysis, where R, R, and Rare each independently a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a hydrocarboxylate group, or a hydrocarbyloxy group.

Stabilization of polymers that contain a hydrolyzable functionality

A process for treating a polymer having a hydrolyzable functionality, the method comprising: (i.) providing a polymer having hydrolyzable functionality; and (ii.) introducing a stabilizing agent to the polymer, where the stabilizing agent is defined by the formula (I) where &#xf7; is a hydrolyzable group that forms an acidic species upon hydrolysis, where R, R, and Rare each independently a halogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group, a hydrocarboxylate group, or a hydrocarbyloxy group.

Branched polymers including multi-branched polymers, functionalized branched polymers, star-branched polymers, and dendigraft polymers. Methods for the synthesis of branched polymers and method for the use of branched polymers in tire components are also included.

Branched polymers and methods for their synthesis and use

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.

Processing of rubber compositions including siliceous fillers

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Fairlawn, OH, United States of America

Jessica C Kurasch