Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for making sulfonated block copolymers and to methods for making membranes from such block copolymers. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved method for making sulfonated block copolymers having at least two polymer end blocks that are resistant to sulfonation and at least one polymer interior block that is susceptible to sulfonation where the sulfonation agent is C2 to C8 acyl sulfate. In the improved process the residual carboxylic acid formed from the C2 to C8 acyl sulfate is converted to C1 to C4 alkyl esters by contacting the residual carboxylic acid with at least a 0.9:1 molar ratio of a C1 to C4 alcohol to residual carboxylic acid, resulting in an improved sulfonated block copolymer solution. The present invention further relates to the use of such sulfonated block copolymer solutions to prepare various membranes and other articles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric composition that includes a coupled block copolymer having a plurality of arms comprising at least two blocks of a monovinylaromatic hydrocarbon that are located on at least two of the plurality of arms, and at least one block of a conjugated diene located on at least one of the plurality of arms, and optionally one or more block copolymers comprising at least one block of monovinylaromatic hydrocarbon and at least one block of a conjugated diene, the block copolymer may be selected from linear copolymers, linear triblock copolymers, multiarm coupled block copolymers, and mixtures thereof. The molecular weight of the polymeric composition is in the range from about 100 kg/mol to about 400 kg/mol.

Abstract: Described herein are modified sulfonated block copolymers which comprise 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 comprises sulfonation susceptible monomer units and, based on the number of the sulfonation susceptible monomer units, from about 10 to about 100 mol % of a functional group of formula (I) —SO2—NR1R2??(I) or of a salt thereof, methods of making them as well as methods of using them, e.g., as membrane materials for electrically or osmotically driven applications.

Abstract: A sulfonated block copolymer which is solid and non-dispersible in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, wherein the A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. Each A block includes one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) ethylene, (ii) monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, and (iii) mixtures thereof; and each B block comprising segments of one or more polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers selected from (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An Amine neutralized sulfonated block copolymer and a method for neutralizing a sulfonated block copolymer, the process including providing a solution comprising an organic solvent and the non-neutralized block copolymer in micellar form, and adding at least one amine to the solution.

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: Elastomeric films which are both soft and thermally, UV and oxidatively stable are provided. The films are composed of coupled, selectively hydrogenated block copolymers having a relatively high molecular weight and high vinyl content. In addition to the block copolymer other components may be present in formulated films such as other block copolymers, hydrocarbon resins, polyolefins, metallocene polyolefins, homopolystyrene or mineral oils. The softness of the films is determined by the stress at 100% tensile elongation where the films with suitable softness have a 100% stress of about 100 psi or less. While soft, the films also are strong with tensile strengths of 1000 psi or more and suitable hysteresis properties. The elastomeric films are useful as integral components of personal hygiene articles such as gloves, diapers, incontinence products, disposable swimwear and disposable undergarments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various end use applications prepared from certain block copolymers. The block copolymers include one or more A or A? blocks or B blocks plus one or more terminal M blocks. Each A and A? is a block or segment comprising predominantly a polymerized alkenyl aromatic compound, each B is a block or segment comprising predominantly a polymerized conjugated alkadiene, and each M is a six membered anhydride ring and/or acid group. The anhydride rings are prepared by thermally decomposing adjacent units of (1-methyl-1-alkyl)alkyl acrylic esters such as t-butylmethylacrylate. A wide variety of polymers are disclosed having the stable anhydride rings in the polymer backbone. The invention relates specifically to various end uses prepared from the reaction product of such block copolymers with various reactive resins, reactive monomers and metal derivatives.

Abstract: A thermofusible composition comprising from about 40 to about 70 weight percent of a selectively hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC), and from about 1 to about 30 weight percent of a butylene homopolymer, a butylenes copolymer, or a combination thereof, wherein the HSBC is: (i) prior to hydrogenation each A block is a mono alkenyl arene polymer block and each B block is a controlled distribution copolymer block of at least one conjugated diene and at least one mono alkenyl arene; (ii) the weight percent of mono alkenyl arene in each B block is from about 10 to about 40 weight percent; (iii) each B block has a styrene blockiness index of less than 10 percent; and (iv) the weight percent of vinyl in each B block is at least about 40 weight percent.

Abstract: A method for varying the transport properties of a film cast from a polymer having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, and wherein said A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. The method includes casting the polymer using a solvent mixture having two or more solvents selected from the group consisting of polar solvents and non-polar solvents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low viscosity block copolymer for non-wovens construction adhesives of the formula [A?(A/B)]nX, wherein A represents an aromatic vinyl compound and (A/B) represents a polymer block obtained by random copolymerization of a mixture of a aromatic vinyl compound and butadiene in a weight ratio in the range of from 2:98 to 30:70, wherein n is an integer in the range of from 1 to 5, and wherein X is the remainder of the coupling agent.

Abstract: A method for varying the transport properties of a film cast from a polymer having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, and wherein said A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. The method includes casting the polymer using a solvent mixture having two or more solvents selected from the group consisting of polar solvents and non-polar solvents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for making sulfonated block copolymers and to methods for making membranes from such block copolymers. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved method for making sulfonated block copolymers having at least two polymer end blocks that are resistant to sulfonation and at least one polymer interior block that is susceptible to sulfonation where the sulfonation agent is C2 to C8 acyl sulfate. In the improved process the residual carboxylic acid formed from the C2 to C8 acyl sulfate is converted to C1 to C4 alkyl esters by contacting the residual carboxylic acid with at least a 0.9:1 molar ratio of a C1 to C4 alcohol to residual carboxylic acid, resulting in an improved sulfonated block copolymer solution. The present invention further relates to the use of such sulfonated block copolymer solutions to prepare various membranes and other articles.

Abstract: Foamable compositions which are usable for the manufacture of foamed, flexible, heat resistant, thermoplastic elastomeric articles, and which comprises at least: (a) 100 pbw of one or more selectively hydrogenated block copolymers, (b) 5 to 50 pbw per 100 pbw of component (a) of one or more different selectively hydrogenated block copolymers, (c) 42 to 80 pbw per 100 pbw of component (a) of a linear crystalline polymer comprising propylene as the major component, (d) from 100 to 250 pbw per 100 pbw of component (a) of a softener compatible with blocks B and B?, and (e) from 0.01 to 3 wt. %, relative to the weight of the primary components (a) to (e) of a solid chemical nucleating agent of the endothermic group in combination with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are four gel compositions that have improved properties over the prior art. These gels include elastosols, solid rubbery gels, UV cured gels and chemically cured gels. The gels are formed from selectively hydrogenated styrene/diene block copolymers, unhydrogenated styrene/diene block copolymers, and selectively hydrogenated styrene/diene block copolymers that have been maleated.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition that includes a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer that has at least one block A and at least one block B, and about 10 to about 90 percent by weight of an styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer. Each A is an monoalkenyl arene and each B block is a controlled distribution copolymer of at least one mono alkenyl arene and at least one conjugated diene, having the general formula A-EB/A-A and (A-EB/A)nX. 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. Oil-free compositions that result in the combination of low gaseous permeability, low thermal conductivity, strong vibration and sound attenuation, and optionally high levels of light transmission with relatively low haze values while maintaining melt flow rates suitable for easy processability are preferred.

Abstract: The present invention is a, solid block copolymer comprising at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to lithiation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to lithiation, and wherein said A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. After lithiation, the lithiated polymer is reacted with at least one graftable functional molecule selected from the group consisting of an electrophilic graftable molecule containing a functional group and an electrophile. Preferred are carbon monoxide and ethylene oxide. Also claimed are processes for making such block copolymers, and the various end uses and applications for such block copolymers.

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: 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: A composition having a sulfonated block copolymer which is solid and non-dispersible in water having at least two polymer end blocks A, at least one polymer interior block B, and at least one polymer block D. Each A block is a segment of one or more polymerized para-substituted styrene monomers, each B block contains segments of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers selected from polymerized (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof, and each D block having a glass transition temperature of less than 20° C. and a number average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 50,000 Adhesives, coatings and membranes are formed from the composition. Various articles are formed with the composition including films, fibers, fabrics, laminates, and absorbent cores.