METHOD OF PRODUCING FUNCTIONALIZED POLYMERS, RUBBER COMPOSITION, AND PNEUMATIC TIRE
A process for producing a functionalized polymer includes reacting a condensation suppressant comprising an alkoxysilane with an aminosilane functionalized polymer to form a stable functionalized polymer in the polymer cement.
1 . A process for producing a functionalized polymer comprising:
producing an aminosilane functionalized polymer in a polymer cement; and
reacting a condensation suppressant comprising an alkoxysilane with the aminosilane functionalized polymer to form a stable functionalized polymer in the polymer cement.
2 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a quenching agent to the polymer cement.
3 . The process of claim 2 , further comprising:
removing volatile compounds from the polymer cement.
4 . The process of claim 2 , further comprising:
drying the polymer cement and recovering the stable functionalized polymer.
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkoxysilane comprises a triethoxysilane.
6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkoxysilane comprises triethyloxy(octyl) silane.
7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkoxysilane comprises 3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl thiooctanoate.
8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the stable functionalized polymer has a 21-day aged Mooney viscosity, measured according to ISO 188:2023, of less than 100.
9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the stable functionalized polymer has a 21-day aged Mooney viscosity of less than 80.
10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the stable functionalized polymer has a 21-day aged Mooney viscosity of less than 60.
11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aminosilane functionalized polymer is produced by
reacting a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I
wherein X is Cl, Br, or I; m is an integer from 0 to 2, n is an integer from 1 to 3, with the proviso that n+m=3; R 1 , R 2 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R 1 , R 2 are independently —SiR 3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, or R 1 and R 2 taken together with their common nitrogen atom and optionally a sulfur or oxygen heteroatom to form a five to eight membered ring; R 3 is hydrogen, or C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R 3 is —SiR 3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, or R 3 is —R 6 -R 7 , where R 6 is C1 to C3 alkanediyl and R 7 is selected from the following structures —S—Z, —N(R 8 )(R 9 ), —O(Y), or Si(OR 10 ) 3 , where R 8 and R 9 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of methoxymethyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tert-butyl, allyl, 1-ethoxyethyl, benzyl, triphenylmethyl, triethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, trimethylsilyl, tert-butyl dimethyl silyl, tert-butyl diphenyl silyl, and isopropyldimethylsilyl, and R 10 are independently C1 to C4 alkyl; or when m=1, the polymerization terminator may have the formula II
wherein R 4 , R 5 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R 4 , R 5 are independently —SiR 3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, X and R 3 are as defined previously, and k is an integer from 0 to 10.
12 . The process of claim 11 , wherein the polymerization terminator is selected from the group consisting of:
13 . The process of claim 11 , wherein the living anionic elastomer is derived from at least one diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer.
14 . The process of claim 11 , wherein the living anionic elastomer is derived from at least one of isoprene and butadiene, and optionally from styrene.
15 . The process of claim 11 , wherein the living anionic elastomer is derived from butadiene and styrene.
16 . A rubber composition comprising the functionalized polymer produced by the process of claim 1 .
17 . The rubber composition of claim 16 , further comprising silica.
18 . A pneumatic tire comprising the rubber composition of claim 16 .
19 . A process for producing a functionalized polymer comprising:
reacting a condensation suppressant comprising an alkoxysilane with an aminosilane functionalized polymer to form a stable functionalized polymer in the polymer cement.
20 . The process of claim 19 , wherein the alkoxysilane is selected from the group consisting of triethyloxy(octyl) silane and 3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl thiooctanoate.