Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60C—VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES
  • B60C1/00—Tyres characterised by the chemical composition or the physical arrangement or mixture of the composition
  • B60C1/0016—Compositions of the tread
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08C—TREATMENT OR CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF RUBBERS
  • C08C19/00—Chemical modification of rubber
  • C08C19/22—Incorporating nitrogen atoms into the molecule
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08C—TREATMENT OR CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF RUBBERS
  • C08C19/00—Chemical modification of rubber
  • C08C19/25—Incorporating silicon atoms into the molecule
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08C—TREATMENT OR CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF RUBBERS
  • C08C19/00—Chemical modification of rubber
  • C08C19/30—Addition of a reagent which reacts with a hetero atom or a group containing hetero atoms of the macromolecule
  • C08C19/42—Addition of a reagent which reacts with a hetero atom or a group containing hetero atoms of the macromolecule reacting with metals or metal-containing groups
  • C08C19/44—Addition of a reagent which reacts with a hetero atom or a group containing hetero atoms of the macromolecule reacting with metals or metal-containing groups of polymers containing metal atoms exclusively at one or both ends of the skeleton
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F2/00—Processes of polymerisation
  • C08F2/60—Polymerisation by the diene synthesis
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F236/00—Copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds
  • C08F236/02—Copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds the radical having only two carbon-to-carbon double bonds
  • C08F236/04—Copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds the radical having only two carbon-to-carbon double bonds conjugated
  • C08F236/10—Copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds the radical having only two carbon-to-carbon double bonds conjugated with vinyl-aromatic monomers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F297/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer
  • C08F297/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer using a catalyst of the anionic type
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F36/00—Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds
  • C08F36/02—Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds the radical having only two carbon-to-carbon double bonds
  • C08F36/04—Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds the radical having only two carbon-to-carbon double bonds conjugated
  • C08F36/14—Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, at least one having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds the radical having only two carbon-to-carbon double bonds conjugated containing elements other than carbon and hydrogen
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F8/00—Chemical modification by after-treatment
  • C08F8/42—Introducing metal atoms or metal-containing groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/02—Elements
  • C08K3/04—Carbon
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/34—Silicon-containing compounds
  • C08K3/36—Silica
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/0008—Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59
  • C08K5/0025—Crosslinking or vulcanising agents; including accelerators
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/04—Oxygen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/09—Carboxylic acids; Metal salts thereof; Anhydrides thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L15/00—Compositions of rubber derivatives
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L9/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L9/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
  • C08L9/06—Copolymers with styrene
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F2810/00—Chemical modification of a polymer
  • C08F2810/20—Chemical modification of a polymer leading to a crosslinking, either explicitly or inherently
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/02—Elements
  • C08K3/06—Sulfur
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/18—Oxygen-containing compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls
  • C08K3/20—Oxides; Hydroxides
  • C08K3/22—Oxides; Hydroxides of metals
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/16—Nitrogen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/17—Amines; Quaternary ammonium compounds
  • C08K5/18—Amines; Quaternary ammonium compounds with aromatically bound amino groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/16—Nitrogen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/29—Compounds containing one or more carbon-to-nitrogen double bonds
  • C08K5/31—Guanidine; Derivatives thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/36—Sulfur-, selenium-, or tellurium-containing compounds
  • C08K5/45—Heterocyclic compounds having sulfur in the ring
  • C08K5/46—Heterocyclic compounds having sulfur in the ring with oxygen or nitrogen in the ring
  • C08K5/47—Thiazoles
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/54—Silicon-containing compounds
  • C08K5/548—Silicon-containing compounds containing sulfur
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L2312/00—Crosslinking
  • C08L2312/08—Crosslinking by silane
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

• the invention relates to the use of an alkali metal salt de ⁇ rivative of a specific vinyl aromatic monomer, as an initiator for the copolymerisation of i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and ii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers. Further ⁇ more, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a copolymer component comprising coupled copolymer and terminally modified copolymer, and to the copolymer component. Also, the invention relates to a method for preparing a rub ⁇ ber, and to the rubber. Moreover, the invention relates to a rubber composition comprising the rubber. Finally, the invention relates to a tire component comprising the rubber, and to a tire comprising the tire component.
• EP 2 196 326 Al discloses a process for the copolymerization of amine monomer and conjugated diolefin monomer, and that polymers can be terminated with a terminating agent having a hydrolyzable group.
• amine monomer is vinylbenzylpyrrolidine .
• initiation systems in ⁇ clude anionic initiators, such as alkyl lithium compounds.
• EP 2 772 515 Al teaches a rubber composition comprising a conjugated diene polymer and a silica.
• the polymer is obtained by polymerizing a monomer component including (i) conjugated diene compound and (ii) silicon-containing vinyl compound, in the presence of a polymerization initiator.
• the teaching of this document allows one to obtain elastomers with functional groups that are able to interact with the filler, but these features are achieved by use of additional organosilicon comonomer which is located in the polymer main chain and may deteriorate the processability of rubber. Also, there is no possibility to control weak interactions between rubber and filler, since the amine initiators contain only one amino group .
• US 2010/116404 Al teaches the synthesis of functionalized elastomer derived from styrene, 1 , 3-butadiene, and an amine- substituted styrene.
• the functionalized elastomer is used, in admixture with diene-based elastomer, and in further admixture with polyketone short fiber.
• US 6,627,722 B2 discloses a polymer containing units of a vinyl aromatic monomer (ring-substituted with one or two alkyleniminealkyl groups) that can be polymerized into rubbery polymers having low hysteresis and good compatibility with fillers, such as carbon black and silica.
• EP 2 182 028 Al teaches modified butadiene rubber having a vi ⁇ nyl content of 35% by weight or less and having, in a main chain, a nitrogen-containing styrene derivative which provides improving rolling resistance performance.
• the N-functionalized styrene derivatives are based on divinylbenzenes .
• US 5,550,203 B teaches anionic initiators for use in polymer ⁇ izing olefin-containing monomers.
• the initiators are derived from amines.
• the alkali metal is selected from lithium, sodium, and potassium;
• R is selected from groups of formula (B) and (C) :
• x is an integer of from 1 to 10;
• n is an integer of from 2 to 10;
• R 1 and R 2 groups within a repeat unit and in differ ⁇ ent repeat units are independently selected from a hydro ⁇ gen atom and an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from alkyl groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, aryl groups having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, allyl groups having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and alkyloxy groups having the structural formula - (C3 ⁇ 4) y _ 0- (C3 ⁇ 4) ⁇ -(3 ⁇ 4, wherein y is an integer of from 1 to 10 and z is an integer of from 1 to 10; as an initiator for the copolymerization of i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and ii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers .
• the present invention provides copolymer elastomers of dienes with strictly designed micro- and macrostructure and with pre ⁇ cisely selected location, type and amount of functional groups in the polymer chain.
• the copolymers prepared according to the present invention contain two types of functional groups, which performs a balance between strong and weak interactions between polymer and filler (in particular silica and/or carbon black) .
• a first type of functional group which is chemically bound and incorporated into the polymer chain is a tertiary amine group which provides weak interactions between polymer and fillers (such as silica and/or carbon black) .
• Weak interactions such as for example hydrogen bonds formed between silica particles and tertiary amino-group from polymer chain, contribute to higher tan ⁇ at 0°C, which corresponds to enhanced wet traction when these types of polymers are used in tread parts of tires.
• a second type of functional group may be an alkoxysilyl group (SiOR) and may be chemically bound and incorporated at a ter ⁇ minus of the polymer chain; this allows for the formation of strong intermolecular bonds between polymer and silica. Strong interactions significantly improve (tan ⁇ at 60°C) which re ⁇ lates to rolling resistance and hysteresis loss, i.e. the failure of a property that has been changed by an external agent to return to its original value when the cause of the change is removed.
• SiOR alkoxysilyl group
• the vulcanizable copolymer components of the invention are based on functionalized polymers, and articles prepared there ⁇ from exhibit multiple advantages as compared to the articles based on non-functionalized polymers, particularly with regard to reduced hysteresis at similar or improved wet traction. Furthermore, the modification of the polymer with a combina- tion of functional groups of both types provides far better reduction of hysteresis of vulcanizates in comparison with vulcanizates prepared from non-functionalized compounds or those containing only one type of functional group.
• the present invention allows for the preparation of function- alized polymers with controlled micro- and macrostructure and with precisely controlled location of functional groups of a given type. Furthermore, the present invention gives copolymer components comprising fractions Q and T, both being function- alized via various patterns.
• the content of fraction Q, indi ⁇ cated as x may range from 0.01 - to 100 weight percent, and the content of fraction T, indicated as y, expressed as 100-x weight percent, may range from 99.99 - to 0.01 weight percent.
• the overall content of both fractions typically sums up to about 100 weight percent.
• F represents the monomer of formula (A) , containing a functional group capable of forming weak interac ⁇ tions with filler.
• F 1 can be located at the alpha and/or the omega end of the copolymer;
• F 2 represents the same monomer as F 1 , or a different one, and also contains functional group capable of weak interactions, similar or different than in F 1 .
• F 2 is located more in the centre of the copolymer.
• F represents the terminal modifying agent as used for the functionalization of the omega terminus of the polymer and typically contains alkoxysilyl groups responsible for strong interactions .
• n indicates the number of repeating units of F 1 , and prefera ⁇ bly ranges from 1 to 20 repeating units
• m indicates the number of repeating units of F 2 , and prefera ⁇ bly ranges from 1 to 20 repeating units
• p represents the num ⁇ ber of polymer chains covalently bound to F 3 (derived from the terminal modifying agent) , preferably being in a range of from 0 and 10.
• J represents the organic residue of the organometallic com ⁇ pound used to prepare the initiator of the invention and may e.g. be an alkyl group, aryl group, phenyl group, protected amine or protected hydroxyl group.
• X represents the moiety derived from the coupling agent react ⁇ ed with the nucleophilic end of the copolymer, the coupling agent typically having general formula X 1 n Y p X 2 m (E) .
• the invention relates to the use of the al ⁇ kali metal salt derivative as defined above, as an initiator for the copolymerization of i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and ii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers.
• the invention in a second aspect, relates to a process for the preparation of a copolymer component comprising a coupled copolymer and a terminally modified copolymer. In a third aspect, the invention relates to a copolymer compo ⁇ nent comprising coupled copolymer and terminally modified co ⁇ polymer .
• the invention relates to a method for pre ⁇ paring a rubber comprising vulcanizing the copolymer component according to the third aspect.
• the invention relates to the rubber as ob ⁇ tainable with the method according to the fourth aspect.
• the invention relates to a rubber composi ⁇ tion comprising the rubber according to the fifth aspect.
• the invention relates to a tire component comprising the rubber composition according to the sixth aspect .
• the invention relates to a tire comprising the tire component according to the seventh aspect.
• the invention relates to the use of an alkali metal salt derivative of a vinyl aromatic monomer having general formula (A)
• the alkali metal is selected from lithium, sodium, and po ⁇ tassium
• R is selected from groups of formula (B) and (C) :
• x is an integer of from 1 to 10;
• n is an integer of from 2 to 10;
• R 1 and R 2 groups within a repeat unit and in different re ⁇ peat units are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from alkyl groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, aryl groups having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, allyl groups having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and alkyloxy groups having the structural formula - (C3 ⁇ 4) y _ 0- (C3 ⁇ 4) z ⁇ C3 ⁇ 4, wherein y is an integer of from 1 to 10 and z is an integer of from 1 to 10; as initiator for the copolymerization of i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and ii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers .
• the alkali metal is selected from lithium, sodium, and potas ⁇ sium, and is preferably lithium.
• the alkali metal typically becomes part of the alkali metal salt derivative of the invention by reaction of an organome- tallic compound with the vinyl aromatic compound of formula (A) .
• the alkali metal salt derivative is typically pre ⁇ pared by reaction of one or more organometallic compounds with one or more monomers having general formula (A) .
• the time of reaction between organometallic compound and monomer of formu ⁇ la (A) is preferably from 1 to 60 min, more preferably from 1 to 20 min and most preferably from 1 to 10 min.
• the organometallic compound may be an organometallic lithium compound, organic sodium compound, or organic potassium com ⁇ pound :
• organometallic lithium compound there are preferred those having a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; for example, methyllithium, ethyllithium, n-propyllithium, isopropyllithium, n-butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, tert- butyllithium, tert-octyllithium, n-decyllithium, phenyl- lithium, 2-naphthyllithium, 2-butylphenyllithium, 4-phenyl- butyllithium, cyclohexyllithium and cyclopentyllithium; of these compounds, n-butyllithium and sec-butyllithium are preferred .
• organometallic sodium compound there are preferred those having a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; for example, methylsodium, ethylsodium, n-propylsodium, isopropylsodium, n-butylsodium, sec-butylsodium, tert-butyl- sodium, tert-octylsodium, n-decylsodium, phenylsodium, 2- naphthylsodium, 2-butylphenylsodium, 4-phenylbutylsodium, cyclohexylsodium and cyclopentylsodium; of these compounds, n- butylsodium and sec-butylsodium are preferred.
• organometallic potassium compound there are pre ⁇ ferred those having a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; for example, methylpotassium, ethylpotassium, n- propylpotassium, isopropylpotassium, n-butylpotassium, sec- butylpotassium, tert-butylpotassium, tert-octylpotassium, n- decylpotassium, phenylpotassium, 2-naphthylpotassium, 2-butyl- phenylpotassium, 4-phenylbutylpotassium, cyclohexylpotassium and cyclopentylpotassium; of these compounds, n-butylpotassium and sec-butylpotassium are preferred.
• the mole ratio of organometallic compound to monomer of formu ⁇ la (I) is preferably in a range of from 0.05:1 to 1:1, more preferably in a range of from 0.1:1 to 1:1, most preferably in a range of from 0.2:1 to 1:1.
• the organometallic compound is an organometallic lithium compound, preferably selected from n-butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, and tert-butyllithium.
• R is preferably a group of formula (B) .
• - x is 1 or 2, preferably 1 ;
• R 1 is a hydrogen atom, preferably wherein R 1 and R 2 are both a hydrogen atom, and
• - n is 4 or 6, preferably 4.
• the compound of formula (A) is N- vinylbenzylpyrrolidine
• the W-vinylbenzyl- pyrrolidine is N- ( 3-vinylbenzyl ) pyrrolidine or N- (4 -vinyl- benzyl) pyrrolidine, and more preferably the mixture of N- (3- vinylbenzyl ) pyrrolidine and N- (4-vinylbenzyl) pyrrolidine .
• the alkali metal salt derivative is of formula (D)
• M + is the alkali metal, preferably lithium; n is an integer of from 0 to 20, preferably from 0 to 10 and most preferably from 0 to 5; and
• C 4 H 9 is n-C 4 Hg or sec-C ⁇ g.
• the alkali metal salt derivative according to the invention acts as a functionalizing agent allowing modification of the a-terminal of the copoly ⁇ mer.
• the number of repeating units of functionalized monomer of formula (A) can be controlled and adjusted to the particu ⁇ lar needs of the specific application.
• the derivative is according to the first aspect used as an in ⁇ itiator for the copolymerization of i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and ii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers.
• the copolymer comprises, in addition to units derived from the monomer of formula (A) , units derived from one or more conjugated diene monomers.
• Any anionically polymerizable conjugated diolefin may be used.
• Conjugated diolefin monomers containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms are generally preferred.
• Vinyl-substituted aromatic mono ⁇ mers can also be copolymerized with one or more diene monomers into rubbery polymers, for example styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) .
• SBR styrene-butadiene rubber
• conjugat ⁇ ed diene monomers that can be copolymerized according to the invention include 1 , 3-butadiene, isoprene, 1 , 3-pentadiene, 2 , 3-dimethyl-l , 3-butadiene, 2 -methyl- 1 , 3-pentadiene, 2,3- dimethyl-1 , 3-pentadiene, 2-phenyl-l , 3-butadiene, and 4,5- diethyl-1 , 3-octadiene .
• Preferred conjugated dienes are 1 , 3-butadiene and isoprene, in particular 1 , 3-butadiene .
• the copolymer of the present invention further comprises one or more vinyl aromatic monomers.
• the invention in a second aspect, relates to the preparation of a copolymer component comprising coupled copolymer and terminally modified copolymer, the process comprising: a) providing an initiator component comprising one or more of the alkali metal salt derivatives as defined according to the first aspect; b) contacting a monomer component comprising i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and
• step b) is the addition of the initiator component to the monomer component, to initiate anionic copolymeriza ⁇ tion.
• the copolymer is typically prepared by forming a solution of the one or more anionically copolymerizable monomers i) and ii) above in a solvent, and initiating the copolymerization of the monomers with the alkali metal derivative as described above.
• the solvents used in such solution polymerizations will normally contain from about 4 to about 10 carbon atoms per molecule and will be liquids under the conditions of the polymerization.
• Suitable or ⁇ ganic solvents include pentane, isooctane, cyclohexane, n- hexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, tetrahydro- furan, and the like, alone or in admixture.
• Copolymers of the invention typically comprise from about 99.99 to 30 percent by weight of diene units and from 0.01 to 70 percent by weight of vinyl aromatic monomer units.
• Copolymers described by this invention typically have 1,2- microstructure contents in a range of from 5% to 100%, prefer ⁇ ably from 10% to 90% and most preferably from 20% to 80%, based upon the diene content.
• an internal modifier may op ⁇ tionally be added to the polymerization, with the usage be ⁇ tween 0 to 90 or more equivalents per equivalent of lithium. The amount depends upon the type of internal modifier and the amount of vinyl desired, the level of styrene employed and the temperature of the polymerization.
• the polymerization process of this invention is normally conducted in the presence of po ⁇ lar internal modifiers, such as tertiary amines, alcoholates or alkyltetrahydrofurfuryl ethers.
• Some representative examples of specific internal polar modifiers that can be used in ⁇ clude methyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, ethyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, propyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, butyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, hexyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, octyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, dodecyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, diethyl ether, di-n- propyl ether, diisopropyl ether, di-n-butyl ether, tetra- hydrofuran, dioxane, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol dieth
• a potassium or sodium compound may be added in step b) , pref ⁇ erably together with the polymerization initiator, when it is intended to increase the reactivity of the polymerization ini ⁇ tiator or when it is intended to arrange the vinyl aromatic monomer at random in the copolymer obtained, or to allow the obtained copolymer to contain the vinyl aromatic monomer as a single chain.
• potassium or sodium compound added to ⁇ gether with the polymerization initiator there can be used, for example: alkoxides and phenoxides, typified by isoprop- oxide, tert-butoxide, tert-amyloxide, n-heptaoxide, benzyl- oxide, phenoxide and mentholate; potassium or sodium salts of organic sulfonic acids such as dodecylbenzensulfonic acid, tetradecylbenzenesulfonic acid, hexadecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and octadecylbenzenesulfonic acid.
• alkoxides and phenoxides typified by isoprop- oxide, tert-butoxide, tert-amyloxide, n-heptaoxide, benzyl- oxide, phenoxide and mentholate
• potassium or sodium salts of organic sulfonic acids such as
• the potassium or sodium compound is preferably added in an amount of 0.005 to 0.5 mol per mol equivalent polymerization initiator.
• the amount is less than 0.005 mol, the addi ⁇ tion effect of the potassium compound (the increase in the re ⁇ activity of polymerization initiator and the randomization or single chain addition of aromatic vinyl compound) may not ap ⁇ pear.
• the amount is more than 0.5 mol, there may be a reduction in polymerization activity and a striking reduction in productivity and, moreover, there may be a reduc ⁇ tion in the internal modification efficiency in this primary modification reaction.
• the copolymer can be made in a batch process, or in a continu ⁇ ous process by continuously charging the monomers i) and ii) into a polymerization zone.
• the initiator of the invention is preferably added (step b) ) .
• the resultant reac ⁇ tion mixture is typically agitated, to sustain homogenization of temperature and of all reagents in polymer solution.
• the reaction is typically carried out under anhydrous, anaerobic conditions. Reaction can be carried out for about 0.1 to 24 hours, depending on the temperature, molecular weight of de ⁇ sired product and modifier used.
• steps d) , e) and f) should be performed, depending on the de ⁇ sired structure of the product.
• functionalization of the omega terminal of the copolymer is performed, according to steps e) and f) .
• step d) and to perform omega end functionalization, addition of functionalized monomer to living polymer solution resulting from step c) is performed. It is preferable to use one of the functionalized monomers of general formula (I) . Addi ⁇ tion of functionalized monomer according to step d) should most preferably be performed at conditions that are similar to the polymerization conditions in step c) .
• nl is an integer of from 0 to 20
• n2 is an integer of from 0 to 10, 000
• n3 is an integer of from 0 to 10,000
• n4 is an integer of from 0 to 20
• Coupling in step e) is preferably done by addition of the se ⁇ lected coupling agent to the copolymer system resulting from step d) .
• the addition is at conditions similar or close to the polymerization conditions described for step c) .
• the frac ⁇ tion of copolymer chains being coupled can vary between 0.01 (nearly no coupling) to 99.99% (nearly all chains subjected to coupling) , which is achieved by the controlled addition of coupling agent, in the amount required to bond the desired fraction of the copolymer chains.
• the exact amount of coupling agent is calculated based on its theoretical functionality and required coupling fraction. Functionality of coupling compound should be understood as theoretical number of living chain ends which may undergo a reaction with coupling agent.
• nl is an integer of from 0 to 20
• n2 is an integer of from 0 to 10, 000
• n3 is an integer of from 0 to 10,000
• n4 is an integer of from 0 to 20
• R 1 and R 2 represent the functional groups described pre ⁇ viously
• pi is an integer which describes the functionality of the coupling agent
• X represents the residue of the cou ⁇ pling agent.
• the resulting copolymer can be described as follows (see formula (VII) in Figure 3) .
• step f) the terminal modifying agent responsible for for ⁇ mation of strong interactions with fillers such as silica or carbon black is added to the copolymer solution, providing the final copolymer described earlier as x Fraction T" .
• terminal modifying agent reacts with any remaining living polymer chains which were not reacted earlier with coupling agent, as described in step e) above.
• any compound containing at least one atom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and silicon, and being reactive toward a living polymer chain, can be used as terminal modifying agent .
• the terminal modifying group containing at least one atom selected from the group consist ⁇ ing of nitrogen, oxygen and silicon include : an amino group, an amide group, an alkoxysilyl group, an isocyanato group, an imino group, an imidazole group, an urea group, an ether group, a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, a nitrile group, a pyridyl group .
• terminal modifying agents include :
• the amount of terminal modifying agent to be used depends on its functionality (i.e. number of groups being able to form bonds with living polymer chains) and the amount of living polymer chains. It is well known that in case of terminal mod ⁇ ifying agents bearing a functionality greater than 1, exact control of the amount of coupling agent used allows to further influence copolymer properties and i.e. introduce additional coupling. Preferred amounts of terminal modifying agent are in a range of from 0.001 to 50 mol per 1 mol of living chain ends, more preferably is to use range from 0.5 mol to 10 mol per 1 mol of living chain ends.
• nl is an integer of from 0 to 20
• n2 is an integer of from 0 to 10, 000
• n3 is an integer of from 0 to 10,000
• n4 is an integer of from 0 to 20 and where n2+n3 >0;
• Rl, R2, R3, R4 represent functional groups described above (see step a) ;
• p2 describes the functionality of the terminal modifying agent and can vary from 1 to 9;
• F represents the residue of the terminal modifying agent.
• the invention relates to a copolymer compo ⁇ nent comprising coupled copolymer I) and terminally modified copolymer II).
• the coupled copolymer I) is obtained by a process comprising la. contacting a monomer component comprising i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and ii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, in the presence of an initi ⁇ ator component comprising one or more alkali metal salt derivatives as defined according to the first aspect ; lb. further copolymerization in the presence of one or more functionalized monomers, to result in a func- tionalized copolymer; and
• the terminally modified copolymer II) is being obtained by a process comprising
• the copolymer is obtained by the process according to the second aspect.
• the copolymer component comprises
• Coupled copolymer 1 to 99 % by weight of coupled copolymer, prefera ⁇ bly 50 to 90 % by weight of coupled copolymer, more preferably 60 to 80 % by weight of coupled copolymer; and
• terminally modified copoly ⁇ mer preferably 10 to 50% by weight of terminally modified copolymer, more preferably 20 to 40% by weight of terminally modified copolymer.
• copolymer component wherein the coupled copolymer has 1 to 11 terminal groups based on the vinyl aro ⁇ matic monomer having general formula (A), preferably 1 to 5.
• the coupling agent is preferably of general formula (E) :
• Y is selected from silicon (Si) , tin (Sn) , titanium (Ti) , sulfur (S) , carbon (C) , germanium (Ge) , zirconium (Zr) , lead (Pb) , hafnium (Hf) , oxygen (0) , and nitrogen (N) atoms and methylene (C3 ⁇ 4) groups, or their combination; and p is in a range of from 1 to 20;
• X 1 is independently selected from
• hydrocarbyloxy groups where the hydrocarbyl group may contain 1-20 atoms;
• alkylsilyl groups where the alkyl group may con ⁇ tain 1-20 atoms;
• alkoxysilyl groups where the alkyl group may contain 1-10 carbon atoms
• n is in the range of from 0 to 6;
• X 2 is independently selected from hydrogen (H) , chlorine (CI) , bromine (Br) iodine (I), and fluorine (F) or their combination;
• hydrocarbyloxy groups where the hydrocarbyl group may contain 1-20 atoms;
• alkylsilyl groups where the alkyl group may con ⁇ tain 1-20 atoms;
• alkoxysilyl groups where the alkyl group may contain 1-10 carbon atoms
• m is in the range of from 0 to 6.
• the coupling agent is a silicon halide cou ⁇ pling agent
• the silicon halide coupling agent is prefera ⁇ bly selected from silicon tetrachloride, silicon tetrabromide, silicon tetrafluoride, silicon tetraiodide, hexachloro- disilane, hexabromodisilane, hexafluorodisilane, hexaiododi- silane, octachlorotrisilane, octabromotrisilane, octafluoro- trisilane, octaiodotrisilane, hexachlorodisiloxane,
• R 5 is a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms; n is an integer of from 0 to 2; and X 3 is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine atoms .
• a copolymer component wherein the termi ⁇ nal modified copolymer has 1 to 11 terminal groups based on the vinyl aromatic monomer having general formula (I), at the terminus other than the terminus modified with the terminal modified agent.
• copolymer component wherein the terminal modifying agent comprises alkoxysilyl groups.
• the invention relates to a method for pre ⁇ paring a rubber comprising vulcanizing the copolymer component according to the third aspect.
• the invention relates to a rubber as ob ⁇ tainable according to the method of the fourth aspect.
• the invention relates to a rubber composi ⁇ tion comprising x) the rubber according to the fifth aspect.
• the rubber composition further comprises y) a filler component comprising one or more fillers.
• the filler is preferably selected from silica and carbon black. It is prererred that the y) filler component comprises silica and carbon black.
• the rubber composition comprises
• a rubber component comprising 15 % by weight or more (preferably 20 % by weight or more, more preferably 30 % by weight or more) of the rubber of the fifth aspect, and y) a filler component in an amount of 10 to 150 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the rubber com ⁇ ponent .
• the rubber component may further comprise one or more further rubbers, and the further rubber is preferably selected from natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene- -olefin copolymer rubber, ethylene- -olefin-diene copolymer rubber, acrylonitrile- butadiene copolymer rubber, chloroprene rubber, and halo- genated butyl rubber.
• the further rubber is preferably selected from natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene- -olefin copolymer rubber, ethylene- -olefin-diene copolymer rubber, acrylonitrile- butadiene copolymer rubber, chloroprene rubber, and halo- genated butyl rubber.
• the invention relates to a tire component comprising the rubber composition according to the sixth aspect .
• the invention relates to a tire comprising the tire component according to the seventh aspect.
• n-butyllithium When the desired temperature had been reached, 0.045 mmoles of n-butyllithium were added to perform quenching of residual impurities. Then, 0.845 mmoles of n-butyllithium were added to initiate the polymerization process. The reaction was carried out as an isothermic process for 60 minutes. 0.0525 mmoles of silicontetrachloride were then added to the polymer solution as a coupling agent. Coupling was performed for 5 minutes. The reaction was terminated using 1 mmol of nitrogen- purged isopropyl alcohol and was then rapidly stabilized by addition of 2-methyl-4, 6-bis (octylsulfanylmethyl) phenol in an amount of 1.0 phr polymer. The polymer solution was then treated with ethanol, and precipitation of polymer occurred. The final product was dried overnight in a vacuum oven.
• cyclohexane 820 g were added to the inerted two liter reac ⁇ tor, followed by the addition of 31 grams of styrene and 117 grams of 1 , 3-butadiene .
• the inhibitors from the styrene and the 1 , 3-butadiene were removed.
• 4.45 mmoles of tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) were then added as a sty ⁇ rene randomizer and to increase the vinyl content of the units derived from butadiene monomer.
• TEDA tetramethylethylenediamine
• n-buthyllithium Upon reaching this temperature, 0.067 mmoles of n-buthyllithium were added to the reactor, to quench residual impurities .
• 20 grams of cyclohexane were added, followed by addition of 1.70 mmoles of n-butyllithium and 1.70 mmoles of 1- (4-ethenylbenzyl) pyrrolidine .
• the mixture was mixed for 10 minutes at room temperature and transferred as initiator into the two liter reactor. The reaction was carried out as an isothermic process for 45 minutes.
• the reaction was terminated using 1 mmol of nitro ⁇ gen-purged isopropyl alcohol and rapidly stabilized by the ad ⁇ dition of 2-methyl-4, 6-bis (octylsulfanylmethyl) phenol at 1.0 phr polymer.
• the polymer solution was treated with ethanol, and precipitation of polymer occurred.
• the final product was dried overnight in a vacuum oven.
• Tyre predictors (tan ⁇ at 60°C, tan ⁇ at 0°C, tan ⁇ at -10°C)
• DMA 450+ MetraviB dynamic mechanical ana ⁇ lyzer
• Table 1 shows the characterization results for the three sam ⁇ ples synthesized for this study.
• each unvulcanized rubber composition was vulcanized at 170°C, for T95+1.5 minutes (based on RPA re ⁇ sults) to obtain rubber compositions (vulcanized composi ⁇ tions) .
• Each vulcanized rubber composition was evaluated and measured for the above-mentioned tensile properties, tire pre ⁇ dictors and rebound resilience. The results are shown in Ta ⁇ ble 3. Table 2.
• 3ISAF-N23 a product of Cabot Corporation
• the tyre predictors of rub ⁇ ber composition 3 according to the invention are improved relative to those of the control rubber composition 1 and of the other rubber composition 2 according to the invention. Moreover, said tyre predictors are improved for rubber compo ⁇ sition 2 according to the invention relative to the control rubber composition 1.

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