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US5359016A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for the synthesis of styrene-isoprene rubber

Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
•
Filing: 1993-03-29
•
Granted: 1994-10-25
•
Expires: 2013-03-29
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Abstract

Abstract The subject invention relates to a technique for synthesizing rubbery copolymers of styrene and isoprene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire tread rubber compounds. By utilizing these styrene-isoprene rubbers in tire treads, tires having improved wet skid resistance can be built without sacrificing rolling resistance or tread wear characteristics. This invention more specifically discloses a process for the synthesis of styrene-isoprene rubbers which comprises copolymerizing isoprene monomer and styrene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) an alkyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether modifier, wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to the lithitium initiator is within the range of 2:1 to 40:1. The subject invention further discloses a process for the synthesis of styrene-isoprene rubbers which comprises copolymerizing isoprene monomer and styrene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) 2,2-ditetrahydrofurylpropane as a modifier, wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to the lithium initiator is within the range of 1:1 to 40:1.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wen-Liang Hsu
  • 👤 Adel F. Halasa
  • 👤 Barry A. Matrana

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:44
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F236/00; C08F236/02; C08F236/04; C08F236/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A process for the synthesis of styrene-isoprene rubbers which comprises copolymerizing isoprene monomer and styrene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) a modifier having the structural formula: ##STR3## wherein n represents an integer within the range of 3 to 6, and wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to the lithium initiator is within the range of 2:1 to 40:1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
A process for the synthesis of styrene-isoprene rubbers which comprises copolymerizing isoprene monomer and styrene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator and (b) a modifier having the structural formula: ##STR3## wherein n represents an integer within the range of 3 to 6, and wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to the lithium initiator is within the range of 2:1 to 40:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
A process as specified in claim 1 wherein the modifier is an alkyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether selected from the group consisting of methyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether, ethyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether, propyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether, and butyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A process as specified in claim 2 wherein the initiator is an alkyl lithium compound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
A process as specified in claim 3 wherein the initiator is n-butyl lithium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A process as specified in claim 3 wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to lithium in the lithium initiator is within the range of 2:1 to about 15:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
A process as specified in claim 3 wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to lithium in the lithium initiator is within the range of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
A process as specified in claim 3 wherein the molar ratio of the modifier to lithium in the lithium catalyst is within the range of about 2:1 to about 5:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A process as specified in claim 5 wherein said polymerization is carried out at a temperature which is within the range of about 30° C. to about 125° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process as specified in claim 8 wherein from about 0.01 phm to about 0.1 phm of the organolithium initiator is present.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process as specified in claim 9 wherein the modifier is methyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ether.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
A process as specified in claim 8 wherein the monomer charge polymerized contains from about 60 weight percent to about 90 weight percent isoprene and from about 10 weight percent to about 40 weight percent styrene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A process as specified in claim 8 wherein the monomer charge polymerized contains from about 75 weight percent to about 85 weight percent isoprene and from about 15 weight percent to about 25 weight percent styrene.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3847883A Cited
US4367325A Cited
US4429091A Cited
US4696986A Cited
US5137998A Cited
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US5231153A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-10-24 1998-04-25 1998-10-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-10-24 2002-04-25 2002-10-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-10-24 2006-04-25 2006-10-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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