HIGH STRENGTH HYDROGENATED POLYMERS, AND RUBBER COMPOSITIONS INCORPORATING SAME

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to functionalized copolymers produced by copolymerization of at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one vinyl monomer, the functionalized copolymer comprising at least one functional group having silica reactive moieties, wherein the functionalized copolymer has a degree of hydrogenation of 75% to 98 mol% as measured using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR).