Novel Functionalized Tire Elastomers via New Functional Monomers

Abstract

Hydrocarbon elastomers bearing polar functional groups at their chain ends or at both chain ends can greatly reduce the hysteresis of a tire compound and thus improve rolling resistance and fuel economy. These functional elastomers can be easily prepared via living anionic polymerization techniques. However, to prepare an elastomer with more than two functional groups in the same polymer chain, especially along the polymer backbone, a more elaborate and costly process is normally required. To facilitate the in-chain functionalization of tire elastomers, we have developed a series of new styrenic and Eφ-methyl styrenic monomers containing various amine functional groups starting from relatively inexpensive divinylbenzene or diisopropenylbenzene. These functional monomers allow one to prepare novel functionalized tire elastomers containing any number of amine functional groups at any location within the polymer chain via anionic co-polymerization with any conjugated diene or styrene monomer. More importantly, polymerization can be carried out over a wide temperature range, even at the elevated temperatures normally used for commercial production of tire elastomers. The preparation of these new functional monomers and their co-polymerization with diene monomers will be presented. The physical properties of these novel functionalized polymers will be compared to their conventionally prepared counterparts in carbon black and silica filled compounds.