Process for tin/silicon coupling functionalized rubbers
US6559240B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08F36/04
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Rubbery polymers made by anionic polymerization can be coupled with both tin halides and silicon halides to improve the characteristics of the rubber for use in some applications, such as tire treads. In cases where the rubbery polymer is synthesized by anionic polymerization utilizing a polar modifier it is difficult to attain a high level of coupling. This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that the coupling efficiency of rubbery polymers made with polar modifiers can be significantly improved by initiating the anionic polymerization with an alkylsilyloxy protected functional lithium initiator having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of: (a): wherein X represents a group IVa element selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, germanium, and tin, wherein Y represents phosphorous or nitrogen, wherein R represents alkyl groups that can be the same or different, wherein the alkyl groups contain from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, and wherein A represents an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.