MODIFIED DIENE ELASTOMERS

摘要

The invention is related to a process for grafting silane or silicone functionality onto a diene elastomer, comprising reacting the diene elastomer with an unsaturated monomer (A) containing an olefinic-C=C-bond or acetylenic -C=C- bond and a reactive functional group X with an organosilicon compound (B) having a functional group Y which is reactive with the functional group X of the unsaturated monomer (A). According to the invention, the unsaturated monomer (A) has the formula R"-CH=CH-Z (I) or R"-C=C-Z (II) in which Z represents an electron-withdrawing moiety containing the reactive functional group X and R" represents hydrogen or a group having an electron withdrawing effect or any other activation effect with respect to the -CH=CH-or -C=C- bond. According to a second aspect of the invention, the unsaturated monomer (A') contains at least two groups of the formula R"- CH=CH-Z'-(III) or R"-C=C-Z'-(IV) in which Z' represents a divalent linkage having an electron withdrawing effect with respect to the -CH=CH-or -C=C-bond, and R" represents hydrogen or a group having an electron withdrawing effect or any other activation effect with respect to the -CH=CH-or -C=C-bond, and the functional group Y of the organosilicon compound (B) is capable of reacting with the olefinic or acetylenic bond present in the group R"-CH=CH-Z'- (III) or R"-C=C-Z'- (IV). Such elastomer composition can be used to produce tires with good rolling resistance.