Process of making plasticizer for synthetic rubber by reacting a rubbery polymer of a diolefin with an alkyl mercaptan

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A LIQUID PLASTICIZER FOR SYNTHETIC RUBBER, WHICH COMPRISES FORMING A RUBBER-LIKE POLYMER OF A CONJUGATED DIOLEFIN, SEPARATING A RESULTING POLYMERIZED MATERIAL IN SOLID FORM, REACTING SAID SOLID POLYMER WITH A LIQUID ALKYL MERCAPTAN HAVING NOT MORE THAN SIXTEEN CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULAR IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP SAID POLYMER MOIST DURING SAID REACTION AND TO SATURATE BETWEEN 5 AND 50 PER CENT OF THE DOUBLE BONDS IS SAID POLYMERIZED MATERIAL BY ADDITION OF MERCAPTAN THERETO AND TO PRODUCE A LIQUID SYRUPY REACTION PRODUCT, AT A REACTION TEMPERTURE BETWEEN 100 AND 150* F. AND A REACTION OF AN OXIDIZING AGENT, HOURS, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OXIDIZING AGENT, AND RECOVERING A RESULTING LIQUID SYRUPY PRODUCT.