Polymer terminated with polyaromatic hydrocarbon
A functionalized elastomer includes the reaction product of a living elastomeric polymer and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator. The polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator may be selected from 2-naphthaldehyde, 9-anthracenecarboxaldehyde, and 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde. The functionalized elastomer may be compounded in a rubber composition which may be used to form a tire.
1 . A functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living elastomeric polymer and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator, the polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator being 2-naphthaldehyde.
2 . The functionalized elastomer of claim 1 , wherein the living elastomeric polymer is derived from at least one of isoprene, butadiene, and styrene.
3 . The functionalized elastomer of claim 1 , wherein the living elastomeric polymer is derived from butadiene and styrene.
4 . A rubber composition comprising the functionalized elastomer of claim 1 and a filler.
5 . The rubber composition of claim 4 , wherein the filler comprises carbon black.
6 . A tire comprising the rubber composition of claim 4 .
7 . A process of making a functionalized elastomer comprising: terminating the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer with a polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator, the polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator being 2-naphthaldehyde.
8 . The process of claim 7 , further comprising:
producing the living anionic elastomeric polymer by polymerizing at least one monomer in the presence of an organolithium initiator.
9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator is used in an amount ranging from 0.05 to 5 molar equivalents based on the lithium in the organolithium initiator.
10 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the at least one monomer comprises a diene monomer.
11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the diene monomer is selected from the group consisting of 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, and 4,5-diethyl-1,3-octadiene.
12 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the at least one monomer further comprises a styrenic monomer.
13 . The process of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a modifier during the production of the living anionic elastomeric polymer.
14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the modifier is selected from the group consisting of methyltetrahydrofurfurylether, ethyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, propyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, butyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, hexyltetrahydrofurfurylether, octyltetrahydrofurfuryl ether, dodecyltetrahydrofurfurylether, diethyl ether, di-n-propyl ether, diisopropyl ether, di-n-butyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, trimethylamine, triethylamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), N-methyl morpholine, N-ethyl morpholine, N-phenyl morpholine, an oligomeric oxolanyl alkane and 2,2-di-tetrahydrofuryl propane (DTP).
15 . The process of claim 7 , further comprising:
providing a quenching reagent after the termination of the reaction product.
16 . A process for producing a tire comprising: vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising carbon black and a functionalized elastomer; wherein the functionalized elastomer comprises polyaromatic hydrocarbon residue terminal groups derived from 2-naphthaldehyde.
17 . A method for producing a functionalized elastomer, the method comprising:
terminating the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer with a polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator, the polyaromatic hydrocarbon terminator being 2-naphthaldehyde.