Polybutadiene and process for producing the same

Abstract

Modified polybutadiene having a high-cis and low-trans structure with a moderate 1,2-structure content and exhibiting improved characteristics such as cold flow properties, which is obtained by modifying starting polybutadiene having a Tcp/ML 1+4 ratio (Tcp: 5% toluene solution viscosity at 25° C.ML 1+4 : Mooney viscosity at 100° C.) of 2.5 or more in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Modified polybutadiene obtained by modifying starting polybutadiene in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, said starting polybutadiene having a Tcp/ML 1+4  ratio of 2.5 or more, wherein Tcp is a 5% toluene solution viscosity at 25° C., and ML 1+4  is a Mooney viscosity at 100° C.  
     
     
         2 . Modified polybutadiene according to  claim 1 , wherein said starting polybutadiene is one prepared by using a polymerization catalyst system comprising (A) a metallocene type complex of a transition metal and (B) at least one of (B1) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinating anion and a cation and (B2) an aluminoxane.  
     
     
         3 . Modified polybutadiene according to  claim 1 , wherein said starting polybutadiene is one prepared by using a catalyst system comprising (A) a metallocene type complex of a transition metal, (B1) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinating anion and a cation, (C) an organometallic compound of an element of the group 1 to 3 of the Periodic Table, and (D) water.  
     
     
         4 . Modified polybutadiene according to  claim 1 , wherein said transition metal catalyst comprises (1) a cobalt compound, (2) an organoaluminum compound, and (3) water.  
     
     
         5 . Modified polybutadiene according to  claim 1 , which has a Tcp/ML 1+4  ratio of 3 or less, wherein Tcp is a 5% toluene solution viscosity at 25° C., and ML 1+4  is a Mooney viscosity at 100° C.  
     
     
         6 . Modified polybutadiene according to  claim 1 , which has a cold flow rate less than 20 mg/min.  
     
     
         7 . A process for producing modified polybutadiene comprising preparing starting polybutadiene having a Tcp/ML 1+4  ratio of 2.5 or more, wherein Tcp is a 5% toluene solution viscosity at 25° C., and ML 1+4  is a Mooney viscosity at 100° C., by using a polymerization catalyst system comprising (A) a metallocene type complex of a transition metal and (B) at least one of (B1) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinating anion and a cation and (B2) an aluminoxane and modifying said starting polybutadiene by addition of a transition metal catalyst.  
     
     
         8 . The process for producing modified polybutadiene according to  claim 7 , wherein an additional amount of a butadiene monomer is added before or after the addition of said transition metal catalyst.  
     
     
         9 . The process for producing modified polybutadiene according to  claim 7 , wherein said transition metal catalyst comprises (1) a cobalt compound, (2) an organoaluminum compound, and (3) water.  
     
     
         10 . A process for producing modified polybutadiene comprising preparing starting polybutadiene having a Tcp/ML 1+4  ratio of 2.5 or more, wherein Tcp is a 5% toluene solution viscosity at 25° C., and ML 1+4  is a Mooney viscosity at 100° C., by using a polymerization catalyst system comprising (A) a metallocene type complex of a transition metal, (B1) an ionic compound composed of a non-coordinating anion and a cation, (C) an organometallic compound of an element of the group 1 to 3 of the Periodic Table, and (D) water and modifying said starting polybutadiene by addition of a transition metal catalyst.  
     
     
         11 . The process for producing modified polybutadiene according to  claim 10 , wherein an additional amount of a butadiene monomer is added before or after the addition of said transition metal catalyst.  
     
     
         12 . The process for producing modified polybutadiene according to  claim 10 , wherein said transition metal catalyst comprises (1) a cobalt compound, (2) an organoaluminum compound, and (3) water,