Disclosed herein are copolymers formed by cationic polymerization of one or more cyclic dienes and a comonomer selected from the group consisting of a monoterpene, a branched styrene, and combinations thereof, in the presence of a catalyst. Random copolymers having repeat units derived from a cyclic conjugated diene, such as 1,3-cyclohexadiene, and a comonomer such as a monoterpene, can be prepared as soluble products in hydrocarbon solvents. The copolymers can be crosslinked with various crosslinking agents to form materials having good oxidative stability and fire retardancy. The uncrosslinked and crosslinked copolymers have useful properties such as a low dissipation factor, low dielectric constants, and a good balance of thermomechanical and electrical properties that make them valuable in electronic applications.

A method for preparing a modified conjugated diene-based polymer having excellent compounding properties and improved processability is disclosed herein. According to the method, a first polymer including a functional group is prepared using a modifier represented by Formula 1, and the first polymer is mixed with a sulfur halide. A modified conjugated diene-based polymer having excellent affinity with a filler, excellent compounding properties such as tensile properties and viscoelasticity properties, and excellent compounding processability, may be prepared.

A method for preparing a modified conjugated diene-based polymer having excellent compounding properties and improved processability is disclosed herein. According to the method, a first polymer including a functional group is prepared using a modifier represented by Formula 1, and the first polymer is mixed with a sulfur halide. A modified conjugated diene-based polymer having excellent affinity with a filler, excellent compounding properties such as tensile properties and viscoelasticity properties, and excellent compounding processability, may be prepared.

A block copolymer or a hydrogenate thereof, containing a polymer block (A) and a polymer block (B), in which the polymer block (B) has a structural unit derived from a conjugated diene compound, the structural unit including one or more kinds of alicyclic skeletons (X) represented by a formula (X) in the main chain.

Provided are a method for preparing a conjugated diene-based polymer and a method for preparing a graft copolymer including the same. The method for preparing a conjugated diene-based polymer includes enlarging a first conjugated diene-based polymer in multiple stages to prepare a second conjugated diene-based polymer, wherein the multi-stage enlargement includes a primary enlargement stage and a secondary enlargement stage, and a weight ratio of acids added in the primary enlargement stage and the secondary enlargement stage is 70:30 to 90:10. A graft copolymer prepared by the above-described method can be used to form a thermoplastic resin molded article excellent in all of plating characteristics, mechanical properties, surface characteristics, colorability, and processability.

The disclosure relates to methods for producing poly(cyclohexadiene) homopolymers (PCHD). The PCHD is formed by polymerizing a 1,3-cyclohexadiene monomer in the presence of a catalyst, in a hydrocarbon solvent, and at a temperature of −100° C. to 120° C. The catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a Bronsted acid, a Lewis acid, and combinations thereof. PCHD produced under these conditions has good solubility in non-polar solvents, and a number average molecular weight of 300 to 5,000 Dalton; a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 15,000 Delton; and a polydispersity index of 3.0 to 8.0. The PCHD is useful for producing crosslinked materials having good physical properties. The crosslinked materials can be combined with a rubbery polymer to produce compositions valuable for further downstream uses.

An oxo-nitrogenated iron complex having general formula (I) or (II) wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; R.sub.3, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, identical or different, represent a halogen atom such as, for example, chlorine, bromine, iodine; or are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, —OCOR.sub.4 groups or —OR.sub.4 groups wherein R.sub.4 is selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups. Said oxo-nitrogenated iron complex having general formula (I) or (II) can be advantageously used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

An oxo-nitrogenated iron complex having general formula (I) or (II) wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; R.sub.3, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, identical or different, represent a halogen atom such as, for example, chlorine, bromine, iodine; or are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, —OCOR.sub.4 groups or —OR.sub.4 groups wherein R.sub.4 is selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups. Said oxo-nitrogenated iron complex having general formula (I) or (II) can be advantageously used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

The present invention provides a catalyst composition including a functionalizing agent of the following Formula 1 together with a rare earth metal compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen compound, having good catalytic activity and polymerization reactivity and useful for the preparation of a conjugated diene-based polymer having high linearity and excellent processability, and a conjugated diene-based polymer prepared using the catalyst composition
(X.sub.1).sub.a—Sn—(X.sub.2).sub.4-a  [Formula 1]
wherein, a, X.sub.1, and X.sub.2 are the same as defined in the disclosure.

The present invention provides a catalyst composition including a functionalizing agent of the following Formula 1 together with a rare earth metal compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen compound, having good catalytic activity and polymerization reactivity and useful for the preparation of a conjugated diene-based polymer having high linearity and excellent processability, and a conjugated diene-based polymer prepared using the catalyst composition
(X.sub.1).sub.a—Sn—(X.sub.2).sub.4-a  [Formula 1]
wherein, a, X.sub.1, and X.sub.2 are the same as defined in the disclosure.