US 10,370,460 B1 · Process for producing functionalized polymers

Abstract

A method for producing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a bulk polymerization system including a reactive polymer by introducing a lanthanide-based catalyst and a conjugated diene monomer; (ii) adding a heterocyclic nitrile compound the polymerization system including the reactive polymer to prepare polymerization system including a functionalized polymer; and (iii) adding a protic compound to the polymerization system including a functionalized polymer where the ratio of water or protic hydrogen atoms in the protic compound to the lanthanide atoms in the lanthanide-based catalyst is at least 1500 to 1.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A continuous method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) in a first zone, continuously polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture to produce a reactive polymer,
(ii) continuously transferring the reactive polymer to a second zone and adding a heterocyclic nitrile compound to prepare a functionalized polymer;
(iii) continuously transferring the functionalized polymer to a third zone and adding a quenching agent, where the ratio of water or protic hydrogen atoms in the quenching agent to the lanthanide atoms in the lanthanide-based catalyst is from about 1500 to 1 to about 3000:1;
and
(iv) continuously transferring the functionalized polymer to a devolatizer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for producing functionalized polymers

Life of this patent

Process for producing functionalized polymers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22