Vulcanizable polymer compositions based on backbone-functionalized polydienes having the general formula (I): ##STR00001##

Acido-basic properties of a system containing a polymer fragment obtained by oxidative cleavage of a carbon-carbon double bond of a diene rubber polymer and a functional molecule having in a structure thereof an alkoxysilyl group and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde group and a carbonyl group are changed such that the system becomes basic when acidic, and becomes acidic when basic, thereby combining the polymer fragment with the functional molecule to form a modified diene rubber polymer having an alkoxysilyl group incorporated therein. A silane monomer comprising tetraalkoxysilane and/or alkyl trialkoxysilane is added to the system containing the modified diene rubber polymer, followed by condensation polymerization, thereby forming silica.

Acido-basic properties of a system containing a polymer fragment obtained by oxidative cleavage of a carbon-carbon double bond of a diene rubber polymer and a functional molecule having in a structure thereof an alkoxysilyl group and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde group and a carbonyl group are changed such that the system becomes basic when acidic, and becomes acidic when basic, thereby combining the polymer fragment with the functional molecule to form a modified diene rubber polymer having an alkoxysilyl group incorporated therein. A silane monomer comprising tetraalkoxysilane and/or alkyl trialkoxysilane is added to the system containing the modified diene rubber polymer, followed by condensation polymerization, thereby forming silica.

Acido-basic properties of a system containing a polymer obtained by decomposing by oxidative cleavage of a carbon-carbon double bond, and a trifunctional molecule having an alkoxysilyl group in the structure as represented by the formula (A) are changed such that the system is changed into a basic system when the system is acidic and the system is changed into an acidic system when the system is basic to combine the decomposed polymer and the trifunctional molecule, thereby introducing the alkoxysilyl group into the main chain. Furthermore, acido-basic properties of a system containing a polymer obtained by decomposing by oxidative cleavage of a carbon-carbon double bond to decrease the molecular weight, and a functional molecule having an alkoxysilyl group as represented by the formula (a) are changed in the same manner as above to combine the decomposed polymer and the functional molecule, thereby introducing the alkoxysilyl group in a molecular terminal. ##STR00001##

Acido-basic properties of a system containing a polymer obtained by decomposing by oxidative cleavage of a carbon-carbon double bond, and a trifunctional molecule having an alkoxysilyl group in the structure as represented by the formula (A) are changed such that the system is changed into a basic system when the system is acidic and the system is changed into an acidic system when the system is basic to combine the decomposed polymer and the trifunctional molecule, thereby introducing the alkoxysilyl group into the main chain. Furthermore, acido-basic properties of a system containing a polymer obtained by decomposing by oxidative cleavage of a carbon-carbon double bond to decrease the molecular weight, and a functional molecule having an alkoxysilyl group as represented by the formula (a) are changed in the same manner as above to combine the decomposed polymer and the functional molecule, thereby introducing the alkoxysilyl group in a molecular terminal. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to neodymium-catalyzed polybutadienes (NdBR) comprising >95 wt % of cis-1,4 units and <1 wt % of 1,2-vinyl content, based on the neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene, wherein the NdBR evinces a molar mass breakdown of not less than 25%.

The invention relates to neodymium-catalyzed polybutadienes (NdBR) comprising >95 wt % of cis-1,4 units and <1 wt % of 1,2-vinyl content, based on the neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene, wherein the NdBR evinces a molar mass breakdown of not less than 25%.

A method is provided for preparing a reprocessed rubber from thermoset rubber particles. The method includes providing a plurality of thermoset rubber particles, inducing dynamic swelling and dynamic compatibilization of the plurality of rubber particles, admixing at least one de-linking agent with the swelled and wetted rubber particles, and wherein the step of admixing the at least one de-linking agent is carried out under thermo-mechanical mixing.

A method is provided for preparing a reprocessed rubber from thermoset rubber particles. The method includes providing a plurality of thermoset rubber particles, inducing dynamic swelling and dynamic compatibilization of the plurality of rubber particles, admixing at least one de-linking agent with the swelled and wetted rubber particles, and wherein the step of admixing the at least one de-linking agent is carried out under thermo-mechanical mixing.

Preparing a microbially desulfurized crumb rubber includes combining microorganisms capable of breaking crosslinked sulfur bonds, sulfur-containing crumb rubber, and a salt solution to yield a mixture; combining a buffer with the mixture to yield a buffered mixture, thereby adjusting a pH of the mixture; providing oxygen to the buffered mixture; incubating the buffered mixture for a length of time to yield a microbially desulfurized mixture; combining the microbially desulfurized mixture with bitumen to yield a precursor; and heating the precursor to yield the microbially desulfurized crumb rubber. The microbially desulfurized crumb rubber can be combined with bitumen to yield a modified bitumen. The modified bitumen can be combined with asphalt to yield a modified asphalt.