Versalis S.p.a.

Polimeri Europa S.p.a.

Luca Soddu

Gian Tommaso Viola

Gabriele Veneri

Francesco Masi

Alessandro Casalini

Andrea Vallieri

Anna Grazia Rossi

Antonio Solito

Fabio Bacchelli

Leonardo Chiezzi

Marianna Zinna

Sabrina Isidori

Attilio Taccioli

Antonio Giuseppe Solito

Process for the preparation of a diene polymer or a random vinyl arene-diene copolymer comprising anionically (co)polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer, optionally in the presence of at least one vinyl arene, in the presence of at least one hydrocarbon solvent, at least one lithium-based initiator and at least one organic compound containing at least one nitrox- ide group having general formula (I) or (II): wherein: R, R, Rand R, mutually identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from C-C, preferably C-C, linear or branched alkyl groups optionally containing heteroatoms such as, for example, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted C-C, preferably C-C, linear or branched alkoxy groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; -x is an integer ranging from 0 to 7, preferably ranging from 4 to 5; -y is an integer ranging from 1 to 3, preferably ranging from 1 to 2. 

Process for the preparation of diene polymers or random vinyl arene-diene copolymers

A process for the preparation of a functionalized and branched elastomeric copolymer comprising the following steps: (a) anionic copolymerization of at least one conjugated diene monomer and at least one vinyl arene, in the presence of at least one hydrocarbon solvent, of at least one lithium-based initiator, and of at least one polar modifier, obtaining a solution comprising an elastomeric copolymer; (b) reacting at least 10% by weight, preferably from 20% by weight to 100 % by weight, of the polymeric chains present in the elastomeric copolymer obtained in step (a) with at least one compound having at least one functional group selected from: epoxides, ketones, esters, aldehydes, obtaining a solution comprising a functionalized elastomeric copolymer; (c) adding a quantity of lithium-based initiator to the solution obtained in step (b), from 1 to 4 times, preferably from 1.5 to 3 times, the molar quantity of lithium-based initiator used in step (a) and a compound of bromine having general formula (I): R&#x2014;Br (I) wherein R represents a linear or branched C-C, preferably C-C, alkyl group, a C-C, preferably C-C, cycloalkyl group, a C-C, preferably C-C, aryl group.

Process for the preparation of functionalized and branched elastomeric copolymers and use thereof in vulcanizable elastomeric compositions

Process for the preparation of diene polymers or random vinyl arene-diene copolymers which comprises (co)polymerizing, anionically, in the presence of at least one hydrocarbon solvent, at least one conjugated diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl arene, in the presence of at least one lithium-based initiator, at least one aprotic polar compound, and at least one compound containing one or more functional groups of the acetylenic type. Said process allows diene polymers or random vinyl arene-diene copolymers to be obtained, which can be advantageously used in the production of tires, in particular in the production of tire treads. The diene polymers or the random vinyl arene-diene copolymers obtained through said process can also be used for the modification of plastic materials [for example, for obtaining high impact polystyrene (HIPS)].

Process for the preparation of diene polymers or of random vinyl arene-diene copolymers

A process for the preparation of a 1,3-butadiene and styrene copolymer comprising the following steps: a) anionically polymerizing a blend comprising from 5% by weight to 40% by weight of styrene and from 60% by weight to 95% by weight of 1,3-butadiene, with respect to the overall weight of the mixture, in the presence of at least one hydrocarbon solvent, of at least one lithium-based catalyst having the general formula LiRwherein Rrepresents a linear or branched C-Calkyl group, and of least one polar modifier; b) optionally, reacting the copolymer obtained in step (a) with at least one chain-end monomer selected from 1,3-butadiene, styrene and &#x3b1;-methylstyrene; c) reacting from 10% by weight to 70% by weight, preferably from 20% by weight to 50% by weight, of the lithium-terminated polymeric chains present in the copolymer obtained in step (a) or in step (b), with at least one coupling agent selected from liquid polyepoxides having at least three reactive sites capable of reacting with the carbon-lithium chain-ends; d) optionally, reacting the copolymer obtained in step (c) with at least one chain-end monomer selected from 1,3-butadiene, styrene and a-methylstyrene; e) reacting the linear polymeric chains remaining in the copolymer obtained in step (c) or in step (d), with at least one tin compound having the general formula XSn(R)wherein X represents a halogen atom such as, for example, chlorine and R2 represents a linear or branched C-Calkyl group.

Process for the preparation of 1,3-butadiene and styrene copolymers and use thereof in vulcanizable elastomeric compositions

A process for the preparation of diene polymers or vinylarene-diene statistical (random) copolymers which comprises the anionic (cp) polymerization, in hydrocarbon solvents, of at least one monomer of a conjugated diene, optionally in the presence of a vinyl aryl monomer, and using a compound belonging to the group of lithium alkyls as initiator, characterized in that the total lithium alkyl initiator is modified in situ by means of a reaction with a compound having general formula (I): R&#x2014;(X&#x2014;H)(I) wherein R is a C2-C20 (cyclo) alkyl or C6-C20 aromatic radical, X is a heteroatom belonging to group VA or group VIA of the periodic system, n is an integer higher than or equal to 1, m is an integer&#x3e;1 which depends on the valence of the heteroatom X.

Process for the preparation of diene polymers of statistical vinylarene-diene copolymers

Vulcanizable blend comprising partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene branched polymers

Process for the production of statistic elastomeric conjugated diene-vinyl arene copolymers having a branched structure which comprises: (1) anionic copolymerization in solution of the conjugated diene and vinyl arene monomers, in the presence of randomizing agents and an initiator selected from the group of Lithium alkyls, the copolymerization being carried out until the almost total disappearance of the monomers; (2) addition to the solution of step (1) of a quantity of Lithium alkyl from 1 to 4 times the molar quantity of the Lithium alkyl of step (1); (3) addition to the polymeric solution of step (2) of a compound having the general formula R&#x2014;Br, the molar ratio between R&#x2014;Br and the total Lithium alkyl ranging from 0.6/1 to 1/1, preferably from 0.7/1 to 0.9/1, thus obtaining an elastomeric branched copolymer.

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Bologna, Italy

Luca Soddu