POLYBUTADIENE COMPOSITIONS, METHODS, AND ARTICLES

Abstract

Terminally-functional low molecular weight alkoxylated polybutadiene (meth)acrylates are used to improve the physical properties of elastomeric compositions cured in the presence of at least one free-radical generating compound selected from peroxides, percarbonates or azo compounds. The elastomers are natural or synthetic, or mixtures thereof. Reinforcing fillers may also be present. Preferred alkoxylated polybutadiene (meth)acrylates are of Formula I

Description

Claims

1. A composition comprising by weight 100 parts of one or more elastomers; about 1 to 40 parts of one or more terminally-functional alkoxylated polybutadiene (meth)acrylate coagents; and optionally up to 200 parts by weight filler.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the terminally functional alkoxylated polybutadiene (meth)acrylates are of Formula I

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the R′=H.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the one or more terminally-functional alkoxylated polybutadiene(meth)acrylates have a number average molecular weight Mn from 1000 to 12000.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the one or more terminally-functional alkoxylated polybutadiene(meth)acrylates contain at least 50% vinyl microstructure.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the one or more terminally-functional alkoxylated polybutadiene (meth)acrylates is present at 5 to 20 parts per 100 parts by weight of the said one or more elastomers.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the one or more elastomers are selected from the group of polydienes, copolymers of dienes and vinyl aromatic monomers, copolymers of dienes and acrylonitrile monomer, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, terpolymers of ethylene, propylene, and diene-containing monomers, hydrogenated forms of copolymers of dienes and acrylonitrile monomer, and hydrogenated forms of terpolymers of dienes, acrylonitrile monomers, and carboxylated monomers.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the said composition comprises as curing agent, at least one free-radical generating compound selected from peroxides, percarbonates or azo compounds.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the said free-radical producing peroxide generating compound is a peroxide selected from di-tertiary organic peroxides.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the said curing agent is a di-tertiary organic peroxide and is present in an amount of about 0.1 to 20 parts per 100 parts of the said one or more elastomers.

11. The composition of claim 1 further including from 1 to 200 parts of a filler material.

12. A method comprising adding from 1 to 40 parts of a coagent comprising at least one terminally-functional polybutadiene acrylate and/or methacrylate and a free radical generating curing agent to 100 parts of one or more elastomers and vulcanizing in the presence of a free radical generating compound.

13. A vulcanized rubber article prepared according to the method of claim 12.

14. The article of claim 13 in the form of a tire component, a rubber article for automotive and industrial applications, and an engineered rubber product selected from the group consisting of tire components, rubber articles for automotive and industrial applications, and engineered rubber products selected from belts, hoses, rubber gaskets, rings, engine mounts, vibration isolation mounts, and rubber rollers.