Abstract: Sulfonated block copolymers (SBCs) are coagulated from SBC solutions in one or more organic solvents, including reaction mixtures obtained in the sulfonation process, by a process in which the SBC solution is ejected into or onto water provided that no steam is added to the SBC solution prior to ejection and provided that the ejection velocity as well as the water temperature and convection are controlled and balanced. The coagulation process is easy to implement and avoids or at least diminishes problems due to foaming and the formation of micro dispersions of the SBC which cannot be separated successfully or easily by conventional filtration or centrifuging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to elastic film formulations that have surprisingly high tensile strengths in addition to good viscosity stability and are based on a blend of two styrene block copolymers, namely, styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene and styrene-butadiene-styrene. The blend of these two styrenic block copolymers in the range set forth and described herein yield high tensile strength that is at least 50% higher than that of the prior art based styrenic block copolymers and have good viscosity stability. Moreover, the present invention relates to a blend of two different styrene block copolymers that can be made by dry blending the block copolymer components. Then the blend can be extruded into uncross-linked film, fiber, or plurality of fibers.

Abstract: A functionalized block copolymer polymerized using vinylbenzylamino derivative monomers for use in such applications as anionic exchange membranes.

Abstract: Selectively amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymers, and their preparation, for use as anion exchange membrane materials. The selectively functionalized block copolymers have at least two end blocks A each of which are substantially free of amino- or phosphino-functional groups, and have at least one interior block D which comprises on average at least one amino- or phosphino-functionalized polymer unit of formula (I) wherein Z is nitrogen or phosphorous; R1 is hydrogen or alkyl; R2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl; R each independently, is hydrogen or is alkyl optionally substituted by a moiety -(A1-NRa)xRb; or two R groups, together with the Z to which they are bonded, form an optionally substituted ring; x is 1, 2 or 3; A1 is straight chain alkylene optionally substituted by one or more methyl and/or ethyl groups; and Ra and Rb, each independently, is hydrogen or alkyl; or a corresponding onium salt.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an uncrosslinked composition of a styrenic block copolymer and PMS-I/B-PMS (paramethylstyrene-isoprene/butadiene-paramethylestyrene) block copolymer, optionally with one or more antioxidants and a carbon radical scavenger. The mid-block IB is a random mixture of isoprene and butadiene. Further, a process is disclosed for making the uncrosslinked composition. The present invention also includes an uncrosslinked composition of homo polystyrene, and PMS-I/B-PMS block copolymer, optionally with one or more antioxidants and a carbon radical scavenger. The present invention also comprises a crosslinked polyolefin-free composition of PMS-I/B-PMS block copolymer, optionally with a styrenic block copolymer and one or more antioxidants, a carbon radical scavenger, and free radical initiator.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an uncrosslinked composition of a styrenic block copolymer and PMS-I/B-PMS (paramethylstyrene-isoprene/butadiene-paramethylestyrene) block copolymer, optionally with one or more antioxidants and a carbon radical scavenger. The mid-block IB is a random mixture of isoprene and butadiene. Further, a process is disclosed for making the uncrosslinked composition. The present invention also includes an uncrosslinked composition of homo polystyrene, and PMS-I/B-PMS block copolymer, optionally with one or more antioxidants and a carbon radical scavenger. The present invention also comprises a crosslinked polyolefin-free composition of PMS-I/B-PMS block copolymer, optionally with a styrenic block copolymer and one or more antioxidants, a carbon radical scavenger, and free radical initiator.

Abstract: Accelerator composition for a rubber latex derived from a conjugated diene and optionally a vinyl aromatic comonomer including: (i) a diisopropyl xanthogen polysulphide (DIXP), (ii) an alkyldithiocarbamate wherein the alkyl chain contains from 5 to 20 carbon atoms, and (iii) diphenylguanidine (DPG), a curable aqueous synthetic rubber latex composition including said accelerator composition, a process for the water-based solvent-free manufacture of synthetic shaped synthetic elastomeric articles, prepared by using the accelerator composition.

Abstract: An article made up of a substrate which has a polymer coating applied to at least one of its surfaces, wherein the polymer coating forms an interrupted pattern such that at least 10% to 80% of the substrate surface remains uncoated, and wherein the polymer coating comprises a moisture permeable polymer.

Abstract: Accordingly, the invention provides a process for the preparation of an artificial latex, comprising the steps: (a) emulsification of a cement comprising a rubber dissolved in a suitable organic solvent, together with an aqueous surfactant solution, thus forming an oil-in-water emulsion; (b) step-wise reduction of the solvent content of the oil-in-water emulsion in two or more stages resulting in an artificial latex. In addition, the invention provides a continuous stirred vessel for removing an organic solvent from an oil-in-water emulsion comprising rubber dissolved in an organic solvent.

Abstract: An energy recovery system having a core unit permitting heat and moisture exchange between air streams passing therethrough, the core unit having two or more multilayer composite structures, the multilayer composite structure being made up of: a porous rigid or semi-rigid frame having a plurality of holes passing from a first surface to a second surface and which can be corrugated, and a polymeric film comprising a sulfonated block copolymer bonded to at least one of the first and second surfaces of the frame covering said plurality holes.

Abstract: A curable polymeric composition is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a curable polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic block copolymer containing at least two polymer blocks A separated by at least one polymer block B. Each polymer block A is primarily a poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) block, and polymer block B includes hydrogenated conjugated didne. The solid curable polymeric composition further comprises a curable functional compound compatible with polymer block A. The solid curable polymeric composition optionally comprises an initiator, a plasticizer, an antioxidant; a tackifyer and an aromatic resin.

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 novel block copolymer composition including a hydrogenated block copolymer that has at least one block A and at least one block B, and wherein (a) prior to hydrogenation each A block is a mono alkenyl arene homopolymer block and each B block is a controlled distribution copolymer block of at least one conjugated diene and at least one mono alkenyl arene, (b) subsequent to hydrogenation about 0-10% of the arene double bonds have been reduced, and at least about 90% of the conjugated diene double bonds have been reduced, (c) each A block having a number average molecular weight between about 3,000 and about 60,000 and each B block having a number average molecular weight between about 30,000 and about 300,000, (d) each B block comprises terminal regions adjacent to the A blocks that are rich in conjugated diene units and one or more regions not adjacent to the A blocks that are rich in mono alkenyl arene units, (e) the total amount of mono alkenyl arene in the hydrogenated block copolymer is about 5 percent w

Abstract: The present invention provides a block copolymer composition and method of making the same having the structures (A2-B)n-X-(A1) or (A2-B2)n-X-(B1A1), where A1 and A2 are each a polymer block of a monoalkenyl arene and B, B1, and B2 are each a polymer block of one or more conjugated dienes or a hydrogenated diene polymer, n is an integer from 2 to 30 and X is the residue of a coupling agent.

Abstract: Blends comprising a sulfonated block copolymer and particulate carbon are useful materials for membranes, films and coatings in applications which require high dimensional stability, high water vapor transport, high conductivity, and low flammability. The sulfonated block copolymer comprises at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B wherein each A block contains essentially no sulfonic acid or sulfonate functional groups and each B block is a polymer block containing from about 10 to about 100 mol percent sulfonic acid or sulfonate functional groups based on the number of monomer units of the B block.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for neutralizing a sulfonated block copolymer with a metal compound, to metal-neutralized block copolymers, and to various articles comprising the metal-neutralized block copolymers, e.g., in form of a water vapor permeable membrane which comprises the metal-neutralized block copolymers. The present disclosure further relates to a means and a method for storing and stabilizing a polar component such as a metal compound in a non-polar liquid phase by immuring the polar component in micelles of the sulfonated block copolymer in the non-polar liquid phase.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a molding composition comprising at least about 70% wt. polypropylene or polypropylene random copolymer; up to about 30 wt. % of a block copolymer composition comprising at least one selectively hydrogenated block copolymer which substantially matches the index of refraction of the polypropylene or polypropylene random copolymer, and up to about 0.70% by wt. of a clarifying agent, wherein the weight % of the total blend is 100%. The present invention also may be a molded article produced from the molding composition. A molded article formed from such a composition at a thickness of 0.125 inches will have a haze of less than about 50% and an instrumented impact toughness of at least 100 inch-lbs at ?20° C. to ?30° C.

Abstract: A process for laminating a polar substrate with a film cast from a sulfonated block copolymer having at least one end block A and at least one interior block B wherein each A block contains essentially no sulfonic acid or sulfonate ester functional groups and each B block is a polymer block containing from about 10 to about 100 mol percent sulfonic acid or sulfonate ester functional groups based on the number of monomer units. The film is exposed to water and dried onto a polar or active metal substrate. The laminates do not delaminate in the presence of water and may be used for a variety of applications including energy exchange applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for melt processing a sulfonated block copolymer in which the sulfonic acid or sulfonate functional groups are partially or completely neutralized by an amine, and to articles obtained by the method. Moreover, the shaped articles which are obtained by molding a composition comprising the neutralized sulfonated block copolymer may can be converted into shaped articles which comprise the sulfonated block copolymer(s) employed in the preparation of the amine neutralized block copolymer(s). The present disclosure further provides a sulfonated block copolymer comprising which is modified by an amine of formula (Ia) wherein Het together with the nitrogen to which it is bonded represents an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered hetero cycle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polyoxyalkyleneamine (“POA”) modified sulfonated block copolymers, their preparation and their use as emulsifiers as well as materials for flexible and pressure-adhesive membranes, films and coatings.