Functionalized elastomeric polymer compositions, their preparation methods and crosslinked rubber compositions thereof

A polymer composition comprising modified polymers according to Formula 1 and Formula 2:

• A1-P1-A2 Formula 1
• A3-P2 Formula 2
• wherein P1 and P2 are each independently a polymer chain obtained by anionic polymerization of one or more polymerizable monomers selected from conjugated dienes and aromatic vinyl compounds,
• wherein each polymer chain P1 and P2 contains at least 40% by weight of repeating units obtained by polymerization of said conjugated dienes, and
• wherein at least the anionic polymerization for polymer chain P1 is carried out in the presence of a compound of Formula 9a:
• wherein each R31 is independently selected from hydrogen, (C1-C10) alkyl, (C6-C12) aryl and (C7-C18) aralkyl;
• each R32, R33 and R34 is independently selected from hydrogen, (C1-C18) alkyl and (C1-C18) alkoxy;
• each R41 is independently selected from (C1-C100) alkyl and (C2-C100) alkenyl, wherein each R41is optionally substituted with one to three (C6-C12) aryl groups and is optionally bonded to the skeleton of Formula 9a via an oligomer chain composed of up to 25 monomer units selected from conjugated dienes and aromatic vinyl compounds;
• each M2 is independently selected from lithium, sodium and potassium;
• and k, l and q are integers independently selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3;
• A1, A2 and A3 are independently selected from Formula 3 to Formula 8:
• wherein
• each R1 is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl;
• each R2 is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl and (C7-C18) aralkyl;
• a and b are integers independently selected from 0, 1 and 2, with a+b=2;
• R3 is independently selected from divalent (C1-C16) alkyl, divalent (C6-C18) aryl, divalent (C7-C18) aralkyl and —R4—O—R5—, wherein R4 and R5 are independently selected from divalent (C1-C6) alkyl;
• and
• Z is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl, (C7-C18) aralkyl, (C═S)—S—R6, wherein R6 is selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl and (C7-C18) aralkyl, and —M1(R7)c(R8)d, wherein
• M1 is silicon or tin,
• each R7 is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl and (C7-C18) aralkyl;
• each R8 is independently selected from —S—R3—Si(OR1)r(R2)s, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined for Formula 3, r is an integer independently selected from 1, 2 and 3 and s is an independently integer selected from 0, 1 and 2, with r+s=3;
• c is an integer independently selected from 2 and 3;
• d is an integer independently selected from 0 and 1;
• and c+d=3;
• wherein R9, R10, R11 and R12 are independently selected from hydrogen, (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C16) aryl and (C7-C16) aralkyl;
• wherein each R13, R14, R18 and R19 is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl;
• R15 and R20 are independently selected from divalent (C1-C16) alkyl, divalent (C6-C18) aryl, divalent (C7-C18) aralkyl and —R24—O—R25—, wherein R 24 and R25 are independently selected from divalent (C1-C16) alkyl;
• R16 and R17 are independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl and —SiR26R27R28, wherein R26, R27 and R28 are independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl and (C7-C18) aralkyl;
• each R21 and R22 is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl and (C7-C18) aralkyl;
• each R23 is independently selected from hydrogen and (C1-C6) alkyl;
• f, g, h and i are integers independently selected from 0, 1 and 2;
• f+g=2;
• and h+i=2;
• wherein each R29 and R39 is independently selected from (C1-C16) alkyl, (C6-C18) aryl, (C7-C18) aralkyl and vinyl;
• and j is an integer selected from 1 to 200;
• and
• wherein the amount of the polymer of Formula 1 is 15 to 85% by mole based on the total amount of polymer of Formula 1 and polymer of Formula 2.