To provide a catalyst composition having high polymerization activity. To provide a polymer manufacturing method. To provide a polymer manufactured by the polymer manufacturing method. To provide a rubber composition including the polymer. To provide a tire using the rubber composition. A catalyst composition including a compound represented by Structural Formula I below, wherein the compound has an OH group at at least one position of the bipyridyl ring; M is a transition metal, a lanthanoid, scandium, or yttrium; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are a hydrocarbon group having one or more carbon atoms or a halogen atom; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different from each other. A polymer manufacturing method including a step of polymerizing one or more selected from the group consisting of a conjugated diene compound and a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the presence of the catalyst composition. A polymer manufactured by the manufacturing method. A rubber composition including the polymer. A tire using the rubber composition. ##STR00001##

Disclosed is a functionalizing method for the end functionalisation of trans-1,4 stereo-regular polydiene chains obtained by the coordination catalytic polymerisation of at least one conjugated diene monomer. It also relates to a polydiene having a trans-1,4 chain formation rate of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, and an end functionalisation rate higher than 70%, preferably higher than 80%, and more preferably higher than 90%.

Disclosed is a functionalizing method for the end functionalisation of trans-1,4 stereo-regular polydiene chains obtained by the coordination catalytic polymerisation of at least one conjugated diene monomer. It also relates to a polydiene having a trans-1,4 chain formation rate of at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, and an end functionalisation rate higher than 70%, preferably higher than 80%, and more preferably higher than 90%.

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a single core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an inner core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene.

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a single core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an inner core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene.

It has been unexpectedly found that certain neodymium catalyst systems can be used to copolymerize isoprene and 1,3-butadiene to produce random isoprene-butadiene copolymer rubbers which are not tapered. These random isoprene-butadiene copolymer rubbers have properties which are beneficial for use in rubber formulations for manufacturing a wide variety of rubber products, such as tires, hoses, conveyor belts, power transmission belts, and shoe soles. These random isoprene-butadiene rubbers are synthesized by copolymerizing (a) isoprene monomer or a substituted isoprene monomer and (b) 1,3-butadiene monomer in the presence of a neodymium catalyst system, wherein the neodymium catalyst system is prepared by (1) reacting a neodymium carboxylate with an organoaluminum compound in the presence of a conjugated diolefin monomer to produce neodymium-aluminum catalyst component, and (2) subsequently reacting the neodymium-aluminum catalyst component with an alkyl aluminum chloride to produce the neodymium catalyst system.

It has been unexpectedly found that certain neodymium catalyst systems can be used to copolymerize isoprene and 1,3-butadiene to produce random isoprene-butadiene copolymer rubbers which are not tapered. These random isoprene-butadiene copolymer rubbers have properties which are beneficial for use in rubber formulations for manufacturing a wide variety of rubber products, such as tires, hoses, conveyor belts, power transmission belts, and shoe soles. These random isoprene-butadiene rubbers are synthesized by copolymerizing (a) isoprene monomer or a substituted isoprene monomer and (b) 1,3-butadiene monomer in the presence of a neodymium catalyst system, wherein the neodymium catalyst system is prepared by (1) reacting a neodymium carboxylate with an organoaluminum compound in the presence of a conjugated diolefin monomer to produce neodymium-aluminum catalyst component, and (2) subsequently reacting the neodymium-aluminum catalyst component with an alkyl aluminum chloride to produce the neodymium catalyst system.

A resin composition includes 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin and 20 parts by weight to 150 parts by weight of a homopolymer of Formula (1). The resin composition is useful for making different articles, including a prepreg, a resin film, a laminate or a printed circuit board, which may achieve excellent multi-layer board thermal resistance and thermal resistance after moisture absorption and achieve high glass transition temperature, low dissipation factor, and low Z-axis ratio of thermal expansion. ##STR00001##

A resin composition includes 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin and 20 parts by weight to 150 parts by weight of a homopolymer of Formula (1). The resin composition is useful for making different articles, including a prepreg, a resin film, a laminate or a printed circuit board, which may achieve excellent multi-layer board thermal resistance and thermal resistance after moisture absorption and achieve high glass transition temperature, low dissipation factor, and low Z-axis ratio of thermal expansion. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides an asphalt composition obtained by blending an asphalt and an addition polymerization-type polymer, the addition polymerization-type polymer having a hydroxyl value of 10 mgKOH/g or more and 60 mgKOH/g or less and having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of 2,500 or more and 70,000 or less.