Abstract: Selectively hydrogenated block copolymers having semi-crystalline blocks hard blocks and copolymer soft blocks having a combination of excellent physical properties and solvent resistance have been discovered. The block copolymer comprises at least one A block of hydrogenated, polymerized 1,3-butadiene and at least one B block which is a random copolymer or a controlled distribution copolymer of conjugated diene and mono vinyl aromatic monomers in which the conjugated diene monomer units are selectively hydrogenated. Polar functionalized block embodiments of the block copolymers are also disclosed. Compositions comprising the block copolymer and articles made from the block copolymer have also been discovered. A method is disclosed which provides highly isotropic, high strength melt cast films of block copolymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to unique applications for the novel high melt flow, low viscosity, selectively hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene (hSBS) or selectively hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene-butadiene/styrene-styrene (hSBSS) block copolymers, wherein the melt flow rate of said block copolymer is at least 100 g/10 min. at 230° C. under 2.16 kg mass according to ASTM D1238. These block copolymers are novel and have the highest melt flow rate of any styrenic block copolymer also possessing high strength and elasticity. It has applications that prior to the present invention were not normally possible due to the normal low melt flow rate of styrenic block copolymers. The present invention also encompasses various fields of use such as a fiberglass hSBS or hSBSS reinforced mat, low viscosity hSBS or hSBSS coatings for industrial uses, hot melt adhesives prepared from hSBS or hSBSS blended with polyalpha-olefins, and elastic film, fiber, and nonwoven constructions using hSBS or hSBSS.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for preparing a cured transparent rubber composition containing a synthetic isoprene polymer(s), a transparent polymer(s), a curing agent and additives. The process includes mixing the components at a temperature ranging from 50 to 130° C., curing the compound with peroxide and allowing the compound to mature. The maturated compound is fed to an injection molding machine. The cured transparent rubber composition prepared using the methods described herein has a haze of less than 30% and a total light transmission of more than 80%. The disclosure further provides an article including the cured transparent rubber composition, in particular for medical applications and artificial nipples.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solid curable transparent rubber composition containing one or more synthetic isoprene polymer, one or more transparent polymer, one or more curing agent, additives that do not influence transparency and one or more polyalkenamers. The solid curable transparent rubber composition, once cured, has a haze of less than 30% and a total light transmission of more than 80%. The disclosure further provides a cured transparent rubber composition made thereof, and a manufacturing process for the cured composition. The present disclosure also provides an article including the rubber composition, in particular shoes with transparent soles.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a laser sintering powder composition comprising: greater than 30 to 90 wt. % of a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene/styrene-styrene (S(EB/S)S) block copolymer or a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer, or a mixture thereof; 10 to less than 70 wt. % of a C3 to C8 polyolefin, or a mixture of two or more polyolefins, 0 to 20 wt. % mineral oil, 0.2 to 1 wt. % of one or more antioxidants, 0 to 5 wt. % colorant, 0 to 20 wt. % surface modifying agent, wherein the total of the above ingredients is 100 wt. %, and optionally 0 to 5 parts by weight of a powder flow agent, based on 100 weight parts of the laser sintering powder composition. The composition has a melt flow rate of at least 20 grams/10 min. at 190° C./2.16 kg mass. The invention also comprises laser sintered articles and methods for making the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive and thermoset that comprises from about 5 to about 50 wt. % of a block copolymer, from about 0 to about 75 wt. % of a tackifying resin, from about 0 to about 45 wt. % of an oil, and from about 0 to about 3 wt. % of an antioxidant.

Abstract: The present invention is an asphalt rejuvenator made from a specific styrenic block copolymer, bio-based oil or a bio-based oil blend, and an antioxidant system. The bio-based oil or a bio-based oil blend has a flash point of >230 ° C., and the asphalt rejuvenator has a maximum viscosity of <2000 cP at 180° C. when measured at 6.8/seconds shear rate. An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a pavement composition of RAP and/or RAS, asphalt rejuvenator, and virgin asphalt with and without a crosslinker. Lastly, the invention includes a method of making an asphalt rejuvenator composition referred to above, and blending it with RAP and fresh asphalt. An emulsion is also described and claimed comprising asphalt rejuvenator, water and an emulsifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a curable sealant composition broadly comprising a resealable, swellable, reactive sealant and free radical initiator; said resealable, swellable reactive sealant comprises monofunctional monomer(s), multifunctional monomer(s), reactive polymer such as unsaturated styrenic block copolymer, swellable additive, and optional components. The monofunctional monomer is a vinyl ester derivative of versatic acid with C9-C12 carbon atoms, or monoacrylate, monomethacrylate, monoacrylamide, or monomethacrylamide. The multifunctional monomer are di-, tri-, tetra-, and/or penta-functional monomers with vinyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, or methacrylamide functionality, such as tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate or a mixture thereof. The reactive unsaturated polymer is a styrenic block copolymer such as SBS, SIS, S-I/B-S, I-SEBS-I, and mixtures of two or more of these.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising: one or more block copolymers and one or more tackifying resins, wherein said one or more block copolymers comprise (i) one or more blocks of polymerized alkenyl arene monomer (A block), (ii) one or more blocks of polymerized conjugated diene monomer (B block), and optionally at least one low molecular weight (compared to B block) block of polymerized conjugated diene (C block), where the A, B, and C blocks can vary independent of each other with regard to composition and molecular weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to unique applications for the novel high melt flow, low viscosity, selectively hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene (hSBS) or selectively hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene-butadiene/styrene-styrene (hSBSS) block copolymers, wherein the melt flow rate of said block copolymer is at least 100 g/10 min at 230° C. under 2.16 kg mass according to ASTM D1238. These block copolymers are novel and have the highest melt flow rate of any styrenic block copolymer also possessing high strength and elasticity. It has applications that prior to the present invention were not normally possible due to the normal low melt flow rate of styrenic block copolymers. The present invention also encompasses various fields of use such as a fiberglass hSBS or hSBSS reinforced mat, low viscosity hSBS or hSBSS coatings for industrial uses, hot melt adhesives prepared from hSBS or hSBSS blended with polyalpha-olefins, and elastic film, fiber, and nonwoven constructions using hSBS or hSBSS.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a branched conjugated diene polymer with a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of at least 1.1, by anionic polymerization, comprising the following reaction steps: a) polymerizing a mixture of monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene and optionally one or more monoalkenyl arene compounds in the presence of an anionic initiator to form a living polymer; b) terminating the polymerization; and c) optionally functionalizing and/or hydrogenating the polymer so produced, wherein the mixture of monomers comprises an alpha,omega-bis(vinylphenyl)alkane as comonomer. The invention further relates to the polymer so obtained, a latex prepared therefrom, the latex, and articles made from the latex.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a coupled polymer by anionic polymerization wherein the coupled polymer is a conjugated diene polymer comprising the following reaction steps: a) polymerizing a monomer or a mixture of monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene optionally one or more monoalkenyl arene compounds in the presence of an anionic initiator to form a living polymer arm or mixture of arms with an average apparent molecular weight greater than 2000; b) reacting the living polymer arm or arms with a polyalkenyl coupling agent; c) terminating the polymerization if any living polymers remain after step b); and d) optionally functionalizing and/or hydrogenating the coupled polymer so produced, wherein the polyalkenyl coupling agent is an alpha,omega-bis(vinylphenyl)alkane. Also provided is the polymer so prepared and its use in concentrates, aqueous emulsions and products made from aqueous emulsions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a functionalized block copolymer comprising (a) at least one end block D comprising on average at least one amino- or phosphino-functionalized polymer unit of formula (I) and one or more additional blocks selected from the group consisting of (b) one or more A blocks substantially free of amino- or phosphino-functional groups and having a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 60,000, and has a high service temperature, and (c) one or more B blocks, wherein each block B is essentially non-functionalized, has a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000, and has a glass transition temperature of at most about 20° C.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a block copolymer composition comprising a tetra-branched block copolymer (IV) having a true number average molecular weight of 40,000 to 120,000 represented by the general formula (A-B)4X; a tri-branched block copolymer (III) having a true number average molecular weight of from 30,000 to 90,000 represented by the general formula (A-B)3X; di-branched block copolymer (II) having a true number average molecular weight of from 20,000 to 60,000 represented by the general formula (A-B)2X; and a linear diblock copolymer (I) having a true number average molecular weight of from 10,000 to 30,000 represented by the general formula A-B; where A represents a polymer block of a mono alkenyl arene; B represents a polymer block of a conjugated diene, wherein the B has a true number average molecular weight ranging from 7,000 to 20,000 g/mol; and X represents the residue of an alkoxy silane coupling agent.

Abstract: A composition comprising (i) a controlled distribution styrenic block copolymer and (ii) a thermoplastic copolyester wherein the composition has a Shore A hardness of from about 50 to about 90 and a melt flow rate of from about 15 g/10 min. to about 50 g/10 min. as determined in accordance with ASTM D 1238.

Abstract: A coupling agent having at least two alkenylbenzene groups each covalently bonded with a nitrogen of an amine compound. The coupling agent can have the structure I: wherein Z is an amine; R1-R10 are each, independent of one another, H, an organic functional group or a terminal alkene, wherein at least one terminal alkene is on each benzene ring; m is an integer from 1 to 8.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous emulsion and a process for preparing an aqueous emulsion of a midblock sulfonated styrenic block copolymer comprising at least two non-sulfonated polymer end-blocks A and at least one 5 sulfonated block B comprising the steps of providing a cement of a midblock sulfonated styrenic block copolymer in a non-polar solvent wherein the non-polar solvent is a hydrocarbon compound comprising from 5 to 12 carbon atoms with a boiling point of less than 100 degree Celsius or mixture of such compounds, mixing the cement with a co-solvent to form a mixture, emulsifying the mixture optionally in the 10 presence of an emulsifier with water to produce an emulsion, and removing the hydrocarbon solvent and optionally the co-solvent from the emulsion to produce the aqueous emulsion. The resulting emulsion of the midblock sulfonated styrenic block copolymer has relatively small particle diameters.

Abstract: The present invention concerns aqueous emulsions and a process for preparing aqueous emulsions of a midblock sulfonated styrenic block copolymer comprising at least two non-sulfonated polymer end-blocks A and at least one sulfonated block B, comprising the steps of providing a cement of a midblock sulfonated styrenic block copolymer in the apolar solvent, mixing the cement with a co-solvent to form a mixture, emulsifying the mixture in the absence of a surfactant with water to produce an emulsion, and removing the hydrocarbon solvent and any optional co-solvent from the emulsion to produce the aqueous emulsion. The resulting emulsion of the midblock sulfonated styrenic block copolymer has relatively small particle diameters.

Abstract: Provided herein is a composition containing a hydrogenated blend of a semi-crystalline, selectively hydrogenated block copolymer, a selectively diblock copolymers lacking semi-crystalline blocks, and a low polarity fluid for cable filling applications. The block copolymer comprises blocks of semi-crystalline hydrogenated polybutadiene, blocks of poly(mono alkenyl arenes), and blocks of hydrogenated, non-crystalline conjugated dienes. The diblock copolymer comprises blocks of poly(mono alkenyl arenes) and blocks of non-crystalline poly(conjugated diene(s)). The compositions can be converted to non-flowable gels and find application as fillers for cables such as fiber optic cables.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed, comprising a block copolymer, at least one homopolymer or copolymer of butene, and at least one olefin homopolymer or copolymer, wherein said block copolymer has hydrogenated low-vinyl polybutadiene end blocks with a specific gravity>0.85 g/cc, and a controlled distribution midblock of polyalkenyl arene/hydrogenated diene. Although the block copolymer has a preferred linear structure as a triblock copolymer, it may also be branched or radial coupled copolymer that has at least 2 arms or more. The composition is useful for rotational molding, slush molding, injection molding, extrusion or compression molding, or thermoforming or calendering for making articles that are resistant to chemicals such as diesel fuel, for the automotive market, for example. The MFR of the block copolymer is 1 to about 50 g/10 min. at 230° C., with a wt. of 2.16 kg.