A method of making a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity is described. A conjugated diolefin is reacted in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an initiator to form a polymer. After forming the polymer, alkoxysilane terminal functionalizing groups are bonded to the polymer. An alkoxysilane stabilizing agent is then added to the polymer in the presence of hydrocarbon oil. The polymer is then desolvatized, resulting in a polymer with stable Mooney viscosity, even over prolonged periods of time. Compositions and articles containing the polymer are also described.

A method for making a thermoplastic material includes: (a) partially crosslinking an elastomer composition at a first crosslinking temperature to form a thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition; (b) mixing a thermoplastic polymer composition with the thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition and heating the mixture to a second crosslinking temperature higher than the first crosslinking temperature, wherein the thermoplastic polymer composition is liquid at the second crosslinking temperature; and (c) continuously mixing the mixture while further crosslinking the elastomer composition to form a thermoplastic material having a dispersed phase of crosslinked elastomer composition in the thermoplastic polymer composition. The elastomer composition may include an elastomer compounded with a curing agent and optionally additional components. A thermoplastic material resulting from this process may be molded or shaped by any method used for forming thermoplastic materials into articles, such as molding, extrusion, or thermoforming.

The present invention relates to silane sulfide modifier compounds and methods of making them. The invention also relates to a silane sulfide modified macromolecular compound obtainable by reacting a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a silane sulfide modifier. The silane sulfide modified macromolecular compound may be provided in the form of a polymer composition, and the polymer composition may be vulcanized (cross-linked) by making use of and reaction with at least one vulcanization agent, resulting in a vulcanized polymer composition.

This invention relates to an elastomeric article with improved lubricity and donnablity and reduced stickiness/tackiness. According to the methods of the invention, the internal surface of the elastomeric article is coated with a polyisoprene coating. The coating of the invention is formed from synthetic polyisoprene rubber that may or may not contain minor amounts of other components. The coating is preferably directly bonded to the underlying elastomeric article.

This disclosure describes systems and methods which utilize organoclays compounded with zinc acrylates to improve the performance of drive belts. In performing research on organoclays, the inventors created formulations and methods of compatibilizing organoclays with metal salts of --unsaturated organic acids and incorporating the compatibilized organoclays into the belt compound so that the planar organoclay particles are substantially aligned with the longitudinal plane of the belt. This is shown to provide a) lower Mooney viscosity (resulting in greater ease of processing), b) higher stiffness (both tensile and dynamic) c) improved tear resistance, d) lower crack growth rate and e) nearly equivalent fatigue resistance in spite of the increased stiffness. This combination of traits in the belts created utilizing the organoclay/zinc acrylate technology described herein results in an unexpectedly improved belt.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to two-way shape memory organogels including at least a crosslinked polymer and an organic free phase. In a further aspect, the un-crosslinked polymer or polymer precursor such as, for example, an oligomer, can be crosslinked by a photoinitiator through free-radical polymerization. In one aspect, the polymer can be cis-poly(1,4-butadiene), while the organic free phase can be a plasticizer such as, for example, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. The two-way shape memory organogels have excellent stability in high vacuum environments and at high temperatures, desirable mechanical properties, and reliable actuation reversibility. Also disclosed are methods of making the organogels and sensors and other devices that include the organogels.

We disclose a monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymer containing a plurality of monovinylarene-conjugated diene mixed blocks, wherein each mixed block contains conjugated diene units and monovinylarene units in a weight ratio of about 0.05 to about 0.33. We also disclose a composition containing (a) from about 50 parts by weight to about 95 parts by weight of the monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymer and (b) from about 5 parts by weight to about 50 parts by weight of polystyrene; wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymer and the polystyrene total 100 parts by weight. We further disclose a method of shrink-wrapping an object or a group of objects by wrapping the object or the group of objects with a film containing the composition, to yield a wrapped object or group of objects, and heating the wrapped object or group of objects to a temperature and for a duration sufficient to shrink the film in at least a first direction, to yield a shrink-wrapped object or group of objects.

This invention relates to the preparation of a dynamically vulcanized alloy comprising at least one elastomer and at least one thermoplastic resin. More specifically, the process produces dynamically vulcanized alloys with unique morphological features which have good impermeability and low temperature flexibility. In the process, the thermoplastic resin is added into the extruder in two stages with an intermediate addition of a compatibilizer. Also during the final addition of thermoplastic resin, the elastomeric curatives are added to the extruder.

This invention relates to the preparation of a dynamically vulcanized alloy comprising at least one elastomer and at least one thermoplastic resin, having a G at 1% strain and 100 C. as determined according to ASTM D7605 of about 4,500 to about 7,500 kPa. More specifically, the process produces dynamically vulcanized alloys with unique morphological features which have good impermeability and low temperature flexibility. In the process, the thermoplastic resin is added into the extruder in two stages with an intermediate addition of a compatibilizer. Also during the final addition of thermoplastic resin, the elastomeric curatives are added to the extruder.

Porous resin particles are disclosed that comprise a polymer of a monomer mixture. The monomer mixture includes: a mono(meth)acrylate-based monomer in an amount of 3 wt % to 40 wt % containing: an ethylenic unsaturated group only in a (meth)acrylic acid residue; and a hydroxyl group and at least either an ether group or an ester group in an alcohol residue; another monofunctional vinyl-based monomer in an amount of 10 wt % to 69 wt % containing a single ethylenic unsaturated group; and a polyfunctional vinyl-based monomer in an amount of 30 wt % to 70 wt % containing two or more ethylenic unsaturated groups.