The present invention relates to water and solvent-free polymers, in particular water and solvent-free synthetic rubber products like non-halogenated and halogenated butyl rubber products as well as a process for the production thereof. The invention further relates to a device suitable to accomplish said process.

The present invention relates to water and solvent-free polymers, in particular water and solvent-free synthetic rubber products like non-halogenated and halogenated butyl rubber products as well as a process for the production thereof. The invention further relates to a device suitable to accomplish said process.

A method for producing a polymer has: a polymerization step of polymerizing at least a conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent using an organolithium compound as a polymerization initiator, and obtaining a polymer; and, following steps (1) to (4), successively performing after the polymerization step: (1) a step of mixing an acid and water of 20 to 300 parts by mass into the solution containing the polymer of 100 parts by mass, (2) a step of adjusting an amount of the water to 10 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the solution containing the polymer, (3) a step of adding a carbon oxide gas and/or a compound to be decarboxylated to the solution containing the polymer, and (4) a step of removing a solvent from the solution containing the polymer until a concentration of the polymer reaches 95 mass % or more.

A method for producing a polymer has: a polymerization step of polymerizing at least a conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent using an organolithium compound as a polymerization initiator, and obtaining a polymer; and, following steps (1) to (4), successively performing after the polymerization step: (1) a step of mixing an acid and water of 20 to 300 parts by mass into the solution containing the polymer of 100 parts by mass, (2) a step of adjusting an amount of the water to 10 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the solution containing the polymer, (3) a step of adding a carbon oxide gas and/or a compound to be decarboxylated to the solution containing the polymer, and (4) a step of removing a solvent from the solution containing the polymer until a concentration of the polymer reaches 95 mass % or more.

The present invention relates to an integrated process for processing and utilising every part of the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum) which comprises the following steps in sequence: separating the stem and branches (3) from the leaves (2) of said plant with a mechanical treatment (1); treating the leaves (100) to produce waxes and essential oils (102), and a fraction (101) containing cellulose, hemicellulose (carbohydrates) and, to a minor extent, salts, organic compounds and lignin; extracting (200) from the stem and branches a liquid phase (4), so forming a first solid woody residue (5), indicated with bagasse in the present text; treating said first solid woody residue (5) to prepare sugars, resin, rubber and lignin.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition that has tensile strength at break and tensile elongation superior to a rubber composition produced without mixing a cellulose nanofiber and to provide a latex immersion liquid that is a raw material for the rubber composition and is used at a latex immersion step. Namely, the present invention provides a latex immersion liquid that includes (1) a rubber latex, (2) a modified cellulose nanofiber having an average fiber length of 200-400 nm, and (3) a defoaming agent and also provides a rubber composition produced through a latex immersion step using the obtained latex immersion liquid.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition that has tensile strength at break and tensile elongation superior to a rubber composition produced without mixing a cellulose nanofiber and to provide a latex immersion liquid that is a raw material for the rubber composition and is used at a latex immersion step. Namely, the present invention provides a latex immersion liquid that includes (1) a rubber latex, (2) a modified cellulose nanofiber having an average fiber length of 200-400 nm, and (3) a defoaming agent and also provides a rubber composition produced through a latex immersion step using the obtained latex immersion liquid.

Disclosed are polymeric compositions comprising polyhydroxyalkanoates. These compositions can comprise a blend comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer, and a rubber polymer. The blend can comprise a biphasic mixture comprising a first phase comprising the PHA polymer, and a second phase comprising the rubber polymer dispersed with the first phase. The rubber polymer can be crosslinked, for example, through reaction with a free radical initiator. By incorporating the dynamically crosslinked rubber polymer, the polymer composition can exhibit one or more improved characteristics relative to PHA alone, including improved thermal stability, improved melt strength, improved flexibility, improved toughness, or a combination thereof. Also provided are articles formed at least in part from these polymeric compositions, as well as methods of making these polymeric compositions.

A method for producing a polymer latex, including an emulsification step of mixing a polymer solution obtained by dissolution of synthetic polyisoprene and/or a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer in an organic solvent, with an aqueous solution including 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of a rosinate based on 100 parts by weight in total of the synthetic polyisoprene and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, and emulsifying the resultant in water to thereby obtain an emulsified liquid, a solvent removal step of removing the organic solvent in the emulsified liquid, and a concentration step of concentrating the emulsified liquid from which the organic solvent is removed, and also adjusting the content rate of the rosinate in the emulsified liquid after concentration, in the range of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight in total of the synthetic polyisoprene and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer in the emulsified liquid.

A method for producing a polymer latex, including an emulsification step of mixing a polymer solution obtained by dissolution of synthetic polyisoprene and/or a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer in an organic solvent, with an aqueous solution including 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of a rosinate based on 100 parts by weight in total of the synthetic polyisoprene and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, and emulsifying the resultant in water to thereby obtain an emulsified liquid, a solvent removal step of removing the organic solvent in the emulsified liquid, and a concentration step of concentrating the emulsified liquid from which the organic solvent is removed, and also adjusting the content rate of the rosinate in the emulsified liquid after concentration, in the range of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight in total of the synthetic polyisoprene and the styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer in the emulsified liquid.