PVC-free polymer compound for producing seals containing scavengers for screw caps, in particular twist crown corks, characterized in that the Shore A hardness of the polymer compound lies between 50 and 90 and, in a compression set test analogous to ASTM D395-97, Method B, the polymer compound has a compression set of between 30% and 90% after it has been left for 22 hours at 70 C. under a compression of 25%.

PVC-free polymer compound for producing seals containing scavengers for screw caps, in particular twist crown corks, characterized in that the Shore A hardness of the polymer compound lies between 50 and 90 and, in a compression set test analogous to ASTM D395-97, Method B, the polymer compound has a compression set of between 30% and 90% after it has been left for 22 hours at 70 C. under a compression of 25%.

The invention provides a method for producing a modified conjugated diene (co)polymer, the method including comprising: a modification reaction step including causing an organic silane compound to react with a conjugated diene (co)polymer having an active site at the active site, the organic silane compound having a characteristic group for forming a silanol group through hydrolysis and, in the vicinity of the characteristic group, (i) a functional group which binds the organic silane compound to the conjugated diene (co)polymer via addition to or substitution at the active site and which promotes reaction between the silanol group and a reinforcing filler after the addition or substitution reaction, or (ii) a functional group which promotes reaction between the silanol group and a reinforcing filler, and a hydrolyzation step performed after the modification reaction step; a modified conjugated diene (co)polymer having, at a molecular end of the conjugated diene (co)polymer, a silanol group, and a functional group in the vicinity of the silanol group, the functional group accelerating reaction between the silanol group and the reinforcing filler; a rubber composition containing the (co)polymer and carbon black having specific characteristics; and a tire formed from the rubber composition.

The invention provides a method for producing a modified conjugated diene (co)polymer, the method including comprising: a modification reaction step including causing an organic silane compound to react with a conjugated diene (co)polymer having an active site at the active site, the organic silane compound having a characteristic group for forming a silanol group through hydrolysis and, in the vicinity of the characteristic group, (i) a functional group which binds the organic silane compound to the conjugated diene (co)polymer via addition to or substitution at the active site and which promotes reaction between the silanol group and a reinforcing filler after the addition or substitution reaction, or (ii) a functional group which promotes reaction between the silanol group and a reinforcing filler, and a hydrolyzation step performed after the modification reaction step; a modified conjugated diene (co)polymer having, at a molecular end of the conjugated diene (co)polymer, a silanol group, and a functional group in the vicinity of the silanol group, the functional group accelerating reaction between the silanol group and the reinforcing filler; a rubber composition containing the (co)polymer and carbon black having specific characteristics; and a tire formed from the rubber composition.

Curable rubber compositions and cured articles are based on the use of zinc activator compositions for the sulfur cure. Activator compositions contain zinc and a polymeric component having a plurality of COOH groups, at least some of which are neutralized with the zinc. With polymeric zinc activators, sulfur cure can be activated at levels of zinc below those used in conventional systems.

Curable rubber compositions and cured articles are based on the use of zinc activator compositions for the sulfur cure. Activator compositions contain zinc and a polymeric component having a plurality of COOH groups, at least some of which are neutralized with the zinc. With polymeric zinc activators, sulfur cure can be activated at levels of zinc below those used in conventional systems.

The invention relates to a functionalized diene elastomer composed: a) of a diene elastomer functionalized, at the chain end or in the middle of the chain, by a tin functional group, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before functionalization and a polydispersity index before functionalization of less than or equal to 1.3, b) of a diene elastomer star-branched with a tin compound, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before star-branching and a polydispersity index before star-branching of less than or equal to 1.3, and c) of a content of less than 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the functionalized diene elastomer, of a non-tin-functional diene elastomer, the said diene elastomers a), b) and c) being, before optional functionalization or optional star-branching, the same in nature.

The invention relates to a functionalized diene elastomer composed: a) of a diene elastomer functionalized, at the chain end or in the middle of the chain, by a tin functional group, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before functionalization and a polydispersity index before functionalization of less than or equal to 1.3, b) of a diene elastomer star-branched with a tin compound, exhibiting a monomodal distribution of molecular weights before star-branching and a polydispersity index before star-branching of less than or equal to 1.3, and c) of a content of less than 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the functionalized diene elastomer, of a non-tin-functional diene elastomer, the said diene elastomers a), b) and c) being, before optional functionalization or optional star-branching, the same in nature.

An acid modified asphalt binder is combined with an emulsifier solution to produce an emulsified asphalt binder. The acid modified asphalt binder may be formed by combining an asphalt binder, a phosphorous-based acid, and, optionally, a polymer modifier. The emulsifier solution may be produced by forming an aqueous solution of an amine and a phosphorous-based acid, which forms an aqueous solution comprising an amine phosphate. The emulsified asphalt binder may be combined with an aggregate to form a paving material. In other examples, the emulsified asphalt binder may be used alone, for example in a chip seal application, or in a diluted form, for example in a fog seal application.

An acid modified asphalt binder is combined with an emulsifier solution to produce an emulsified asphalt binder. The acid modified asphalt binder may be formed by combining an asphalt binder, a phosphorous-based acid, and, optionally, a polymer modifier. The emulsifier solution may be produced by forming an aqueous solution of an amine and a phosphorous-based acid, which forms an aqueous solution comprising an amine phosphate. The emulsified asphalt binder may be combined with an aggregate to form a paving material. In other examples, the emulsified asphalt binder may be used alone, for example in a chip seal application, or in a diluted form, for example in a fog seal application.