Modified Polymer Compositions

A process for the continuous preparation of an elastomeric polymer, said process comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing and polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer and, optionally, one or more aromatic vinyl monomer at a temperature of 110° C. or less in an organic solvent in the presence of an active initiator and a compound according to Formula I:
• wherein O in Formula I is oxygen, R1 and R2 in Formula I are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group;
• R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group;
• n is an integer value selected from 1, 2, 3 or 4;
• and wherein the active initiator is an anionic initiator and the molar ratio of the compound according to Formula I to active initiator is from 0.15 to 10;
• to provide a living anionic polymer;
• and
• (ii) adding a first quantity of a compound according to Formula 2 to the living anionic polymer in an amount such that the molar ratio of the compound according to Formula 2 to active initiator is of from 0.21 or more:
• (RO)3Si-A-S—SiR′R″R′″ (Formula 2)
• wherein S in Formula 2 is sulphur, Si is silicon, O is oxygen;
• groups R are each independently selected from alkyl, aralkyl or aryl;
• groups R′, R″ and R′″ are independently from each other selected from alkyl, aralkyl or aryl;
• A is a divalent hydrocarbyl group.