A method for manufacturing micronized rubber powders including grinding of a rubber granulated feedstock, size classification and storage of the micronized rubber powders thus obtained. A rubber formulation including at least one natural or synthetic rubber, a micronized rubber composition and optionally one or more of processing aids, antidegradants, fillers, accelerators and curatives. A method for manufacturing a rubber product, as well as to a solid rubber product.

A method for manufacturing micronized rubber powders including grinding of a rubber granulated feedstock, size classification and storage of the micronized rubber powders thus obtained. A rubber formulation including at least one natural or synthetic rubber, a micronized rubber composition and optionally one or more of processing aids, antidegradants, fillers, accelerators and curatives. A method for manufacturing a rubber product, as well as to a solid rubber product.

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%.

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 rubber composition based on at least an elastomer matrix, a carbon black, a silica, a silane coupling agent and short fibers, wherein the amount in phr of the silica is higher than that of the carbon black, wherein the amount of the silane coupling agent is more than 0.0% and less than 5.0% by weight per 100% by weight of the silica, wherein the amount of the short fibers is more than 0.0 phr and less than 5.0 phr and wherein the number-average length of the short fibers is less than 10 mm.

A rubber composition based on at least an elastomer matrix, a carbon black, a silica, a silane coupling agent and short fibers, wherein the amount in phr of the silica is higher than that of the carbon black, wherein the amount of the silane coupling agent is more than 0.0% and less than 5.0% by weight per 100% by weight of the silica, wherein the amount of the short fibers is more than 0.0 phr and less than 5.0 phr and wherein the number-average length of the short fibers is less than 10 mm.

The present invention relates to a method for separating poly-isoprene and/or other apolar valuable substances from vegetable feedstock, with a first pretreatment (100) of the vegetable feedstock; a percussive, cutting and/or rubbing mechanical processing (102) of the vegetable feedstock after the pre-treatment in a wet phase, during which the polyisoprene and/or other apolar valuable substances contained in the processed raw plant materials are extracted from the vegetable feedstock; and after the mechanical processing (102), a separation (104) of the polyisoprene and/or the other apolar valuable substances from the wet phase. The invention proposes that, before or during the mechanical processing (102) in the wet phase, an adsorber material (106) be added to the ground product mixture to create a method which makes it possible to obtain polyisoprene and other apolar valuable substances from plants having a low rubber content in a technically simpler manner.

The present invention relates to a method for separating poly-isoprene and/or other apolar valuable substances from vegetable feedstock, with a first pretreatment (100) of the vegetable feedstock; a percussive, cutting and/or rubbing mechanical processing (102) of the vegetable feedstock after the pre-treatment in a wet phase, during which the polyisoprene and/or other apolar valuable substances contained in the processed raw plant materials are extracted from the vegetable feedstock; and after the mechanical processing (102), a separation (104) of the polyisoprene and/or the other apolar valuable substances from the wet phase. The invention proposes that, before or during the mechanical processing (102) in the wet phase, an adsorber material (106) be added to the ground product mixture to create a method which makes it possible to obtain polyisoprene and other apolar valuable substances from plants having a low rubber content in a technically simpler manner.