Disclosed herein are hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers useful as papermaking performance additives for enhancing paper softness with little or no negative effect on paper dry strength properties. The hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers are produced by incorporating hydrophobic functional property into primary amine moiety of the vinylamine-containing polymers via reactions with reactive hydrophobes. The hydrophobically modified vinylamine-containing polymers can be further used as base polymers for polymerization with a vinyl monomer by free radical initiated polymerization. The compositions of those hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers have shown improved softness, reduced coefficient friction to paper products while maintained or improved dry strength properties of the paper products.

Disclosed herein are hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers useful as papermaking performance additives for enhancing paper softness with little or no negative effect on paper dry strength properties. The hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers are produced by incorporating hydrophobic functional property into primary amine moiety of the vinylamine-containing polymers via reactions with reactive hydrophobes. The hydrophobically modified vinylamine-containing polymers can be further used as base polymers for polymerization with a vinyl monomer by free radical initiated polymerization. The compositions of those hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers have shown improved softness, reduced coefficient friction to paper products while maintained or improved dry strength properties of the paper products.

Disclosed herein are hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers useful as papermaking performance additives for enhancing paper softness with little or no negative effect on paper dry strength properties. The hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers are produced by incorporating hydrophobic functional property into primary amine moiety of the vinylamine-containing polymers via reactions with reactive hydrophobes. The hydrophobically modified vinylamine-containing polymers can be further used as base polymers for polymerization with a vinyl monomer by free radical initiated polymerization. The compositions of those hydrophobic vinylamine-containing polymers have shown improved softness, reduced coefficient friction to paper products while maintained or improved dry strength properties of the paper products.

Polar silane linkers are provided that attach to resins to form silane-functionalized resins. The functionalized resins can be bound to hydroxyl groups on the surface of silica particles to improve the dispersibility of the silica particles in rubber mixtures. Further disclosed are synthetic routes to provide the silane-functionalized resins, as well as various uses and end products that benefit from the unexpected properties of the silane-functionalized resins. Silane-functionalized resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the silane-functionalized resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, and wet braking performance.

Polar silane linkers are provided that attach to resins to form silane-functionalized resins. The functionalized resins can be bound to hydroxyl groups on the surface of silica particles to improve the dispersibility of the silica particles in rubber mixtures. Further disclosed are synthetic routes to provide the silane-functionalized resins, as well as various uses and end products that benefit from the unexpected properties of the silane-functionalized resins. Silane-functionalized resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the silane-functionalized resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, and wet braking performance.

A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having an -methylstyrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

A star block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer including plurality of the star block copolymers and a method of making both is taught. The star block copolymers of the present invention include a core component having an -methylstyrene oligomer wherein arms emanate from the core component and the arms are poly(isobutylene-block-styrene) diblock copolymers.

Disclosed herein are graft polymers having a copolymer backbone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon branches for use as a nanofiller dispersant and methods for making the same. Also disclosed are elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising a halobutyl rubber matrix, nanoparticles of graphite or grapheme, and the graft polymer. Such elastomeric nanocomposite compositions are suitable as tire innerliners or innertubes.

Disclosed herein are graft polymers having a copolymer backbone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon branches for use as a nanofiller dispersant and methods for making the same. Also disclosed are elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising a halobutyl rubber matrix, nanoparticles of graphite or grapheme, and the graft polymer. Such elastomeric nanocomposite compositions are suitable as tire innerliners or innertubes.

Described herein is the synthesis of adhesive complex coacervates and their use thereof. The adhesive complex coacervates are composed of a mixture of one or more polycations and one or more polyanions. The polycations and polyanions in the adhesive complex coacervate are crosslinked with one another by covalent bonds upon curing. The adhesive complex coacervates have several desirable features when compared to conventional bioadhesives, which are effective in water-based applications. The adhesive complex coacervates described herein exhibit good interfacial tension in water when applied to a substrate (i.e., they spread over the interface rather than being beaded up). Additionally, the ability of the complex coacervate to crosslink intermolecularly increases the cohesive strength of the adhesive complex coacervate. The adhesive complex coacervates have numerous biological applications as bioadhesives and drug delivery devices. In particular, the adhesive complex coacervates described herein are particularly useful in underwater applications and situations where water is present such as, for example, physiological conditions.