Reinforcing fibers containing hydrophilic fibers and an adhesive component, wherein at least a part of the surfaces of the hydrophilic fibers have the adhesive component, the adhesive component contains a modified conjugated diene rubber having a hydrogen-bonding functional group in a part of the conjugated diene rubber, and the number of the hydrogen-bonding functional groups in the modified conjugated diene rubber is 2 to 150 per molecule on average; a method for producing the reinforcing fibers; and a molded article using the reinforcing fibers.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A production method for a branched conjugated diene-based polymer, comprising: a polymerizing step of obtaining a conjugated diene-based polymer having an active end by polymerizing or copolymerizing a conjugated diene compound, or a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound with an alkali metal compound or an alkaline earth metal compound used as a polymerization initiator; and a branching step of introducing a branch structure by reacting a styrene derivative as a branching agent with the active end of the conjugated diene-based polymer.

This invention relates to a process for forming a long-chain branched polymer and a long-chain branched polymer resulting from the process. The process comprises reacting (a) a polyolefin base polymer with (b) a coupling agent comprising a polymeric coupling agent, optionally blended with a molecular coupling agent, the polymeric coupling agent being a modified polyolefin having a reactive coupling group at one or more terminal ends of the modified polyolefin chain, to couple the polyolefin base polymer (a) with the coupling agent (b) to form a long-chain branched polymer having a long-chain branching and/or higher surface energy relative to the polyolefin base polymer.

Recycled rubber is provided, which is formed by depolymerizing 100 parts by weight of rubber and 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of modifier, wherein the modifier is formed by reacting (a) R.sup.1-M, (b) double bond monomer, (c) ethylene sulfide, and (d) polymerization terminator, wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.4-C.sub.16 alkyl group, M is Li, Na, K, Ba, or Mg and (b) double bond monomer is 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-pentadiene, 2-phenyl-1,3-butadiene, 4,5-diethyl-1,3-octadiene, styrene, 1-ethylene naphthalene, 3-methylstyrene, 3,5-diethylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 2,4,6-trimethylstyrene, 4-dodecylstyrene, 3-methyl-5-n-hexylstyrene, 4-phenylstyrene, 2-ethyl-4-benzylstyrene, 3,5-diphenylstyrene, 2,3,4,5-tetraethyl styrene, 3-ethyl-1-vinylnaphthalene, 6-isopropyl-1-vinylnaphthalene, 6-cyclohexyl-1-vinylnaphthalene, 7-dodecyl-2-vinylnaphthalene, α-methyl styrene, or a combination thereof.

There is disclosed a method of forming a polymer coated sulphur cured rubber composition wherein the bond strength between the polymer coating and the sulphur cured rubber is surprisingly great. The method includes providing a sulphur curable rubber composition comprising a compound including at least one thiol group, and/or contacting a sulphur curable rubber composition with a compound including at least one thiol group, and contacting the sulphur curable composition with a second polymeric precursor including a diallylamide group. The compound including at least one thiol group and the second polymeric precursors are reacted together to form a polymeric layer; and the sulphur curable rubber composition is cured to form a polymer coated sulphur cured rubber composition.

There is disclosed a method of forming a polymer coated sulphur cured rubber composition wherein the bond strength between the polymer coating and the sulphur cured rubber is surprisingly great. The method includes providing a sulphur curable rubber composition comprising a compound including at least one thiol group, and/or contacting a sulphur curable rubber composition with a compound including at least one thiol group, and contacting the sulphur curable composition with a second polymeric precursor including a diallylamide group. The compound including at least one thiol group and the second polymeric precursors are reacted together to form a polymeric layer; and the sulphur curable rubber composition is cured to form a polymer coated sulphur cured rubber composition.

A method for stabilizing a natural rubber such as guayule. The method includes the step of introducing at least one of an Extraction Curves for Guayule Rubber Samples amine and a phenolic anti-oxidant, such as MADA, to a latex form of the rubber under conditions such that the anti-oxidant becomes chemically bound to the rubber. The method includes the further step of subsequently treating the rubber to remove at least a substantial portion of entrained resins. The method can yield a rubber composition of, for example, guayule rubber and including an anti-oxidant chemically bound thereto. The resultant rubber can be suitable for use in tire construction.

A method for stabilizing a natural rubber such as guayule. The method includes the step of introducing at least one of an Extraction Curves for Guayule Rubber Samples amine and a phenolic anti-oxidant, such as MADA, to a latex form of the rubber under conditions such that the anti-oxidant becomes chemically bound to the rubber. The method includes the further step of subsequently treating the rubber to remove at least a substantial portion of entrained resins. The method can yield a rubber composition of, for example, guayule rubber and including an anti-oxidant chemically bound thereto. The resultant rubber can be suitable for use in tire construction.