US4845165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Anionic diene polymerization process with branching
Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
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Filing: 1987-03-13
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Granted: 1989-07-04
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Expires: 2007-03-13
Abstract
Abstract Metals from Groups I and II and organometallic compounds thereof can be used to catalyze the polymerization of diene monomers into polymers. The polymers formed in such polymerizations are terminated with the metal used to catalyze the polymerization and are sometimes referred to as living polymers. Very useful blends of such polymers can be made by utilizing the process of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention discloses a process for preparing a polydiene rubber blend comprising: (1) polymerizing at least one diene monomer utilizing at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of Group I metals, Group II metals, organometallic compounds containing a Group I metal, and organometallic compounds containing a Group II metal, to a conversion which is within the range of 30% to 70% to produce low molecular weight polydiene chains; (2) joining from 20% to 70% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains with a suitable branching agent; and (3) allowing the polymerization to continue so as to produce said polydiene rubber blends.
Inventors
- 👤 Adel F. Halasa
- 👤 Sylvia E. Robertson-Wilcox
- 👤 David J. Zanzig
- 👤 Richard J. Arconti
- 👤 Wen L. Hsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:06
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F36/00; C08F36/02; C08F36/04; C08C; C08C19/00; C08C19/30; C08C19/42; C08C19/44; C08F4/00; C08F4/42; C08F4/44; C08L; C08L21/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A process for preparing a polydiene rubber blend consisting of: (1) polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer utilizing at least one organolithium catalyst which is represented by the formula R(Li) x wherein R represents a hydrocarbyl radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein x is an integer of 1 to 4, to a conversion which is within the range of 30% to 70% to produce low molecular weight polydiene chains; (2) joining from 20% to 70% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains with tin tetrachloride; (3) allowing the polymerization to continue so as to produce said polydiene rubber blends; and (4) recovering the polydiene rubber blend.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A process for preparing a polydiene rubber blend consisting of: (1) polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer utilizing at least one organolithium catalyst which is represented by the formula R(Li) x wherein R represents a hydrocarbyl radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein x is an integer of 1 to 4, to a conversion which is within the range of 30% to 70% to produce low molecular weight polydiene chains; (2) joining from 20% to 70% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains with tin tetrachloride; (3) allowing the polymerization to continue so as to produce said polydiene rubber blends; and (4) recovering the polydiene rubber blend.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A process for preparing a polydiene rubber blend consisting of: (1) polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer to a conversion which is within the range of 30% to 70% utilizing at least one organolithium initiator which is represented by the formula R(Li) x wherein R represents a hydrocarbyl radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein x is an integer of 1 to 4, to produce low molecular weight polydiene chains; (2) joining from 20% to 70% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains with tin tetrachloride to produce a composition which is comprised of a branched polymer and residual low molecular weight polydiene chains; (3) allowing the polymerization to continue so as to increase the molecular weight of the low molecular weight polydiene chains to form said polydiene rubber blend which is comprised of said branched polymer and a high molecular weight polydiene polymer; and (4) recovering the polydiene rubber blend.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A process for preparing a polydiene rubber blend consisting of: (1) polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer to a conversion which is within the range of 30% to 70% utilizing at least one organolithium initiator which is represented by the formula R(Li) x wherein R represents a hydrocarbyl radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein x is an integer of 1 to 4, to produce low molecular weight polydiene chains; (2) joining from 20% to 70% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains with tin tetrachloride to produce a composition which is comprised of a branched polymer and residual low molecular weight polydiene chains; (3) allowing the polymerization to continue so as to increase the molecular weight of the low molecular weight polydiene chains to form said polydiene rubber blend which is comprised of said branched polymer and a high molecular weight polydiene polymer; and (4) recovering the polydiene rubber blend.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The polydiene rubber blend made by the process specified in claim 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The polydiene rubber blend made by the process specified in claim 2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as specified in claim 1 wherein the polymerization is conducted under solution polymerization conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as specified in claim 5 wherein said joining is done after a conversion within the range of 40% to 60% has been attained.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as specified in claim 6 wherein said polymerization is conducted at a temperature within the range of -20° C. to 150° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as specified in claim 7 wherein from 40 to 60 weight percent of said low molecular weight polydiene chains are joined.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as specified in claim 8 wherein said polymerization is conducted at a temperature within the range of 30° C. to 125° C. and wherein from 0.01 to 1 phm of said organolithium compound is utilized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as specified in claim 9 wherein said diene monomer contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as specified in claim 9 wherein said diene monomer is 1,3-butadiene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as specified in claim 11 wherein said joining is done after a conversion within the range of 45% to 55%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as specified in claim 12 wherein from 45% to 55% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains are joined.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as specified in claim 13 wherein said organolithium compound is an alkyl lithium compound.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as specified in claim 14 wherein a modifier is added after the low molecular weight polydiene chains are joined.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A rubber blend as specified in claim 4 which is comprised of a branched polymer which is comprised of 50 to 70% butadiene, 30 to 40% isoprene, and 3 to 10% styrene; and a high molecular weight polydiene polymer which is comprised of 30 to 50% butadiene, 30 to 50% isoprene, and 10 to 30% styrene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A polydiene rubber blend as specified in claim 4 which is comprised of a branched polymer which is comprised of about 60% butadiene, about 35% isoprene, and about 5% styrene; and a high molecular weight polydiene polymer which is comprised of about 40% butadiene, 40% isoprene, and 20% styrene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as specified in claim 2 wherein the joining agent is tin tetrachloride.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-03 | 1993-01-02 | 1993-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-03 | 1997-01-02 | 1997-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-03 | 2001-01-02 | 2001-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |