| abstract |
The subject invention relates to a technique for synthesizing rubbery non-tapered, random, copolymers of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire sidewall rubber compounds for truck tires. By utilizing these isoprene-butadiene rubbers in tire sidewalls, tires having improved cut growth resistance can be built without sacrificing rolling resistance. Such rubbers can also be employed in tire tread compounds to improve tread wear characteristics and decrease rolling resistance without sacrificing traction characteristics. This invention more specifically discloses a process for the synthesis of isoprene-butadiene rubbers which comprises copolymerizing isoprene monomer and 1,3-butadiene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system that is comprised of (I) a compound which contains at least one labile halogen atom and (II) a Group III-B metal containing catalyst component which is made by the sequential steps of (1) mixing (a) an organoaluminum hydride, (b) a member selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols, cycloaliphatic alcohols, aliphatic thiols, cycloaliphatic thiols, trialkyl silanols, and triaryl silanols, and (c) optionally, 1,3-butadiene in an organic solvent to produce a modified organoaluminum catalyst component, and (2) adding an organometallic compound which contains a metal from Group III-B of the Periodic System to the modified organoaluminum catalyst component to produce a Group III-B metal containing catalyst component. |