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: 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: 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: A process for preparing sulfonated block copolymers that are solid in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B involving sulfonating the interior block B until substantially sulfonated. Each A block having one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) para-substituted styrene monomers, (ii) ethylene, (iii) alpha olefins of 3 to 18 carbon atoms; (iv) hydrogenated 1,3-cyclodiene monomers, (v) hydrogenated monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, (vi) acrylic esters, (vii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof. Each B block having 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: 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 having one or more segments selected from (i) acrylic esters, (ii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) 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: 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 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles prepared from novel anionic block copolymers of mono alkenyl arenes and conjugated dienes, and to blends of such block copolymers with other polymers. The block copolymers have mono alkenyl arene end blocks and controlled distribution blocks of mono alkenyl arenes and conjugated dienes. The block copolymer may be blended with at least one other polymer selected from the group consisting of olefin polymers, styrene polymers, amorphous resins and engineering thermoplastic resins.

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: A sulfonated block copolymer which is solid and non-dispersible in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer containing essentially no sulfonic acid or sulfonate functional groups and each B block is a polymer block containing 10 to 100 mol percent sulfonic acid or sulfonate functional groups based on the number of monomer units of the B block, and wherein said A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. Also claimed are processes for making such block copolymers, and the various end uses and applications for such block copolymers.

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 having one or more segments selected from (i) acrylic esters, (ii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) 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: A process for preparing sulfonated block copolymers that are solid in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B involving sulfonating the interior block B until substantially sulfonated. Each A block having one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) para-substituted styrene monomers, (ii) ethylene, (iii) alpha olefins of 3 to 18 carbon atoms; (iv) hydrogenated 1,3-cyclodiene monomers, (v) hydrogenated monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, (vi) acrylic esters, (vii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof. Each B block having 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: A pre-cursor block copolymer for sulfonation which, prior to hydrogenation, has the general configuration A-B-A, A-B-A-B-A, (A-B-A)nX, (A-B)nX, A-D-B-D-A, A-B-D-B-A, (A-D-B)nX, (A-B-D)nX or mixtures thereof, wherein A, B and D blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. Each A and D block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation, and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation. 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 contains polymers having a glass transition temperature less than 20° C.

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.

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 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.

Abstract: Improved methods for preparing sulfonated block polymers with acyl sulfates in non-halogenated aliphatic solvents are provided. The methods include the sulfonation of a precursor block polymer with an acyl sulfate in a reaction mixture further comprising at least one non-halogenated aliphatic solvent to form a sulfonated block polymer, wherein the initial concentration of the precursor block polymer is in the range of from about 0.1 wt % to a concentration that is below the limiting concentration of the precursor block polymer based on the total weight of the reaction mixture. A sulfonation degree of greater than about 1.0 milliequivalent sulfonic acid per gram sulfonated block polymer can be achieved substantially free of polymer precipitation and free of disabling gelation.

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 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: 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.