Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

A water-based hydrogel polymer coating and a method of application to natural rubber or other elastomeric latex products are provided. The water-based hydrogel polymer is mixed with a blend of at least one elastomeric material to provide a hydrogel polymer blend composition. The water-based hydrogel polymer blend composition is applied in a single application to an elastomeric article, such as gloves, without additional solvents in the polymer blend composition and without a separate acid or chemical priming step. The water-based hydrogel coating herein provides increased lubricity to facilitate improved wet and dry donning of the elastomeric article.

A water-based hydrogel polymer coating and a method of application to natural rubber or other elastomeric latex products are provided. The water-based hydrogel polymer is mixed with a blend of at least one elastomeric material to provide a hydrogel polymer blend composition. The water-based hydrogel polymer blend composition is applied in a single application to an elastomeric article, such as gloves, without additional solvents in the polymer blend composition and without a separate acid or chemical priming step. The water-based hydrogel coating herein provides increased lubricity to facilitate improved wet and dry donning of the elastomeric article.

A process for manufacturing a masterbatch comprises the following steps: (a) bringing at least one initial polymer comprising at least one carbon-carbon unsaturation into contact with at least one 1,3-dipolar grafting agent bearing at least one nitrile oxide dipole in the presence of at least one organophosphorus additive selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid triesters, phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphine oxides and the mixtures of these compounds, and (b) recovering the masterbatch obtained in the preceding step. The masterbatch and compositions containing it and also tires comprising such compositions are also disclosed.

A process for manufacturing a masterbatch comprises the following steps: (a) bringing at least one initial polymer comprising at least one carbon-carbon unsaturation into contact with at least one 1,3-dipolar grafting agent bearing at least one nitrile oxide dipole in the presence of at least one organophosphorus additive selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid triesters, phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphine oxides and the mixtures of these compounds, and (b) recovering the masterbatch obtained in the preceding step. The masterbatch and compositions containing it and also tires comprising such compositions are also disclosed.

An elastomeric composition is disclosed. The elastomeric composition includes, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): 0 to about 50 phr of a polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 linkage content of at least 95%; about 50 to 100 phr of natural rubber or polyisoprene; a curative agent; an antioxidant; about 10 to about 80 phr carbon black; optionally about 30 to about 70 phr silica; about 1 to about 20 phr hydrocarbon resin; and about 5 to about 30 phr of a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methyl-styrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer. The polymer based on ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, oly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer may be functionalized.

An elastomeric composition is disclosed. The elastomeric composition includes, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): 0 to about 50 phr of a polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 linkage content of at least 95%; about 50 to 100 phr of natural rubber or polyisoprene; a curative agent; an antioxidant; about 10 to about 80 phr carbon black; optionally about 30 to about 70 phr silica; about 1 to about 20 phr hydrocarbon resin; and about 5 to about 30 phr of a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methyl-styrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer. The polymer based on ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, oly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer may be functionalized.

An elastomeric composition is disclosed. The elastomeric composition includes, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): 0 to about 50 phr of a polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 linkage content of at least 95%; about 50 to 100 phr of natural rubber or polyisoprene; a curative agent; an antioxidant; about 10 to about 80 phr carbon black; optionally about 30 to about 70 phr silica; about 1 to about 20 phr hydrocarbon resin; and about 5 to about 30 phr of a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methyl-styrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer. The polymer based on ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl rubber, oly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer may be functionalized.

An elastomeric composition is disclosed. The elastomeric composition includes, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr): about 5 to about 40 phr of styrene/butadiene copolymer; about 60 to about 100 phr of natural mbber or polyisoprene; a curative agent; an antioxidant; about 1 to about 20 phr carbon black; about 5 to about 40 phr plasticizing agent; about 40 to about 80 phr silica; about 1 to about 20 phr silane coupling agent and about 5 to about 30 phr of a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethyl-ene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl mbber, poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer. The polymer based on ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, butyl mbber, poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene) and poly(isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene-co-isoprene) terpolymer may be functionalized.