| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method of reducing hydrolysis and coupling of substituents of siloxane end capped polymers containing hydrolyzable substituents during contact with water. The Mooney viscosity of siloxane terminated polymers is stabilized during such contact by treating the polymer with a stabilizing amount of stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of: an acid, an acyl halide, methane sulfonic acid, toluene sulfonic acid, sulfuryl chloride, thionylchloride, phosgene, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide, prior to contacting the siloxane terminated polymer with water. |