Diene polymers and copolymers jumped by partial coupling and terminated with a substituted imine.

摘要

Diene polymer or copolymer compositions having reduced hysteresis are provided. The compositions comprise a mixture of diene polymers or copolymers containing carbon-tin bonds in the main polymer or copolymer chains and diene polymers or copolymer chains containing terminals derived from substituted imines having the formula: <CHEM> wherein R1 and R2 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; wherein R3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dlalkylaminoaryl, aralkyl and aprotic O, N, and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; with the proviso that at least one of the R1, R2 and R3 groups must be a dialkylaminoaryl group and that not all of the R1, R2 and R3 groups can be aryl groups. The diene polymer or copolymer compositions are prepared bye first coupling a portion of the living diene polymer or copolymer chains obtained by anionic polymerization using a tin polyhalide coupling agent and then terminating the remaining living diene polymer or copolymer chains using the substituted imines. The resultant diene polymer or copolymer composition has reduced hysteresis properties and improved processability and can be utilized to form elastomer compositions and tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.