POLYMERIZATION PROCESS FOR MAKING A RUBBER BLEND

摘要

POLYMERIZATION PROCESS FOR MAKING A RUBBER BLEND Metals from Groups I and II and organometallic compounds thereof can be used to catalyze the polymerization of diene monomers into polymers. The polymers formed in such polymerizations are terminated with the metal used to catalyze the polymerization and are sometimes referred to as living polymers. Very useful blends of such polymers can be made by utilizing the process of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention discloses a process for preparing a poly diene rubber blend comprising: (1) polymerizing at least one diene monmer utilizing at least one catalyst selected from the froup consisting of Group I metals, Group II metal, organometallic compounds containing a Group I metal, and organometallic compounds containing a Group II metal, to a conversion which is within the range of 30% to 70% to produce low molecular weight polydiene chains; (2) joining from 20% to 70% of said low molecular weight polydiene chains with a suitable branching agent; and (3) allowing the polymerization to continue so as to produce said polydiene rubber blends.