This invention relates to processes for forming hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated anionic polymer distributions via novel polymerization conditions in which molecular hydrogen is a chain transfer agent and a Lithium Aminoalkoxide Complexed Saline Hydride (LOXSH) forms an anionic polymer chain initiating species by addition of saline hydride to an anionically polymerizable hydrocarbon monomer. This invention further relates to polystyrene compositions having greatly improved microstructures free of co-product polymer chain distributions. This invention also relates to novel hydrocarbon soluble saline hydride catalyst and reagent compositions useful in conducting the hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated polymerizations of this invention. This invention further relates to hydrocarbon soluble lithium hydride catalysts and reagent compositions formed from dimethylaminoethanol, an alkyllithium reagent and molecular hydrogen. It also relates to the catalyst forming processes, the use of the catalyst in hydrogen mediated anionic polymerization of styrene (HMAPS) and the resulting low molecular weight polystyrene distributions of low asymmetry and high “head to tail” microstructure.

This invention relates to processes for forming hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated anionic polymer distributions via novel polymerization conditions in which molecular hydrogen is a chain transfer agent and a Lithium Aminoalkoxide Complexed Saline Hydride (LOXSH) forms an anionic polymer chain initiating species by addition of saline hydride to an anionically polymerizable hydrocarbon monomer. This invention further relates to polystyrene compositions having greatly improved microstructures free of co-product polymer chain distributions. This invention also relates to novel hydrocarbon soluble saline hydride catalyst and reagent compositions useful in conducting the hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated polymerizations of this invention. This invention further relates to hydrocarbon soluble lithium hydride catalysts and reagent compositions formed from dimethylaminoethanol, an alkyllithium reagent and molecular hydrogen. It also relates to the catalyst forming processes, the use of the catalyst in hydrogen mediated anionic polymerization of styrene (HMAPS) and the resulting low molecular weight polystyrene distributions of low asymmetry and high “head to tail” microstructure.

The present invention relates to a block copolymer, being the reaction product of: at least one functionalized polyfarnesene comprising a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and having at least one functional terminal end selected from the group comprising hydroxyl, amino, epoxy, isocyanato, and carboxylic acid; and at least one lactide;
forming at least one polyfarnesene block and at least one polylactide block.

The present invention also relates to a process for preparing said block copolymer, a polymer composition comprising said block copolymer, an article comprising said block copolymer, the use of said block copolymers as impact modifier and the use of said block copolymer as compatibilizer.

The present invention relates to novel polymerizable multivinylaminosilanes which are useful as branching agents for synthetic and natural rubber. The compounds of the invention can be used as such in the polymerization of conjugated diene monomers, optionally together with aromatic vinyl monomers, thus producing polymers, specifically elastomeric polymers, which can favorably be used in rubber articles such as tires.

The present invention relates to novel polymerizable multivinylaminosilanes which are useful as branching agents for synthetic and natural rubber. The compounds of the invention can be used as such in the polymerization of conjugated diene monomers, optionally together with aromatic vinyl monomers, thus producing polymers, specifically elastomeric polymers, which can favorably be used in rubber articles such as tires.

The present invention relates to a polymerization initiator represented by Formula 1, a modified conjugated diene-based polymer, methods for preparing them, a rubber composition comprising the modified conjugated diene-based polymer, and a tire prepared from the rubber composition. ##STR00001## (In Formula 1, the definition of each substituent is the same as defined in the description.)

The present invention relates to a polymerization initiator represented by Formula 1, a modified conjugated diene-based polymer, methods for preparing them, a rubber composition comprising the modified conjugated diene-based polymer, and a tire prepared from the rubber composition. ##STR00001## (In Formula 1, the definition of each substituent is the same as defined in the description.)

This invention relates to processes for forming hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated anionic polymer distributions via novel polymerization conditions in which molecular hydrogen is a chain transfer agent and a Lithium Aminoalkoxide Complexed Saline Hydride (LOXSH) forms an anionic polymer chain initiating species by addition of saline hydride to an anionically polymerizable hydrocarbon monomer. This invention further relates to polystyrene compositions having greatly improved microstructures free of co-product polymer chain distributions. This invention also relates to novel hydrocarbon soluble saline hydride catalyst and reagent compositions useful in conducting the hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated polymerizations of this invention. This invention further relates to hydrocarbon soluble lithium hydride catalysts and reagent compositions formed from dimethylaminoethanol, an alkyllithium reagent and molecular hydrogen. It also relates to the catalyst forming processes, the use of the catalyst in hydrogen mediated anionic polymerization of styrene (HMAPS) and the resulting low molecular weight polystyrene distributions of low asymmetry and high head to tail microstructure.

This invention relates to processes for forming hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated anionic polymer distributions via novel polymerization conditions in which molecular hydrogen is a chain transfer agent and a Lithium Aminoalkoxide Complexed Saline Hydride (LOXSH) forms an anionic polymer chain initiating species by addition of saline hydride to an anionically polymerizable hydrocarbon monomer. This invention further relates to polystyrene compositions having greatly improved microstructures free of co-product polymer chain distributions. This invention also relates to novel hydrocarbon soluble saline hydride catalyst and reagent compositions useful in conducting the hydrogen mediated saline hydride initiated polymerizations of this invention. This invention further relates to hydrocarbon soluble lithium hydride catalysts and reagent compositions formed from dimethylaminoethanol, an alkyllithium reagent and molecular hydrogen. It also relates to the catalyst forming processes, the use of the catalyst in hydrogen mediated anionic polymerization of styrene (HMAPS) and the resulting low molecular weight polystyrene distributions of low asymmetry and high head to tail microstructure.

The invention relates to an elastomeric polymer composition and its preparation. The polymer composition includes, in combination, a single terminally modified conjugated diene (co)polymer and a dual terminally modified conjugated diene (co)polymer. The polymer composition is useful in the preparation of a vulcanized and, thus, crosslinked elastomeric composition having relatively low hysteresis loss, good grip and low heat build-up properties.