The subject invention relates to an anionic polymerization technique for synthesizing rubbery polymers of conjugated diolefin monomers, such as a rubbery copolymer of .alpha.-methylstyrene and 1,3-butadiene. These rubbery copolymers exhibit an excellent combination of properties for utilization in tire tread rubber compounds. They have high trans-isomer contents which leads to good treadwear characteristics and a broad molecular weight distribution which enhances processability. This invention more specifically discloses a process for the synthesis of rubbery polymers which have a broad molecular weight distribution and which are particularly useful in tire tread rubber compounds, said process comprising the polymerization of at least one conjugated diolefin monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system which is comprised of (a) a dialkyl magnesium compound and (b) an alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal alkoxides, alkali metal phenoxides, alkali metal sulfoxides, alkali metal sulfonates, alkali metal carboxylates, alkyl substituted alkali metal phenoxides, alkali metal alkylamines, and alkali metal dialkylamines; wherein the molar ratio of the alkali metal containing compound to the dialkyl magnesium compound is within the range of about 6:1 to about 1:5. In cases where rubbery copolymers containing .alpha.-methylstyrene are being synthesized, the alkali metal in the alkali metal containing compound will normally be potassium, rubidium, or cesium, with cesium being most preferred.
本发明涉及一种阴离子聚合技术,用于合成共轭双烯单体的橡胶聚合物,例如α-
甲基苯乙烯和
1,3-丁二烯的橡胶共聚物。这些橡胶共聚物表现出优异的性能组合,可用于轮胎胎面橡胶复合材料。它们具有高的反式异构体含量,导致良好的耐磨性能和广泛的分子量分布,增强了加工性能。本发明具体揭示了一种合成具有广泛分子量分布且特别适用于轮胎胎面橡胶复合材料的橡胶聚合物的工艺,该工艺包括在有机溶剂中聚合至少一种共轭双烯单体,在(a)二烷基
镁化合物和(b)含有碱
金属的化合物的催化剂体系存在下进行,所述碱
金属含有的化合物选自碱
金属烷氧化物,碱
金属苯氧化物,碱
金属亚砜,碱
金属
磺酸盐,碱
金属
羧酸盐,烷基取代的碱
金属苯氧化物,碱
金属烷基胺和碱
金属二烷基胺,其中碱
金属含量化合物与二烷基
镁化合物的摩尔比在约6:1至约1:5的范围内。在合成含α-
甲基苯乙烯的橡胶共聚物的情况下,碱
金属通常为
钾、
铷或
铯,其中
铯最为优选。