Abstract: The present invention relates to adhesive compositions that comprise: i. at least one block copolymer (i)(a) of the formula A-I-A (1) or (A-I)nX (2) and at least one block copolymer (i)(b) of the formula A-(I-B)-A (3) or [A-(I/B)]n-X (4), wherein each A independently is a polymer block of an aromatic vinyl compound, I is a poly(isoprene) polymer block, (I/B) is a mixed random polymer block of isoprene and butadiene in a weight ratio I:B of from about 20:80 to about 80:20, n is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and X is the residue of a coupling agent, and wherein the weight ratio between said block copolymers (i)(a) and (i)(b) is such that the overall butadiene content in component (i) is less than 20 wt %, ii. a tackifying resin, and iii. optionally one or more plasticizers. Tapes, labels or bandages that are obtained by applying the adhesive compositions of the present invention to a carrier are also provided.

Abstract: A block terpolymer for use in photocurable compositions, flexographic printing plates or hot melt adhesives having a molecular structure according to the general formula: A-I—B—I-A ??(1) or (A-I—B)n—X ??(2), wherein each A is independently a polymer block of predominantly an aromatic vinyl compound, each I is predominantly isoprene, each B is predominantly butadiene, n is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and X is the residue of a coupling agent, and wherein: (a) the weight ratio of I to B is in a range of 30:70 to 70:30; (b) the aromatic vinyl compound content of the block copolymer is from about 14 to about 45%; (c) the B block has a 1,2-vinyl bond content in the range of from about 20 to about 90 mol %; (d) the A block has an apparent molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 20,000, and the I and B blocks together have a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 to about 200,000; (e) uncoupled triblock, S—I—B in the range of from about 2% to about 60%.

Abstract: Hot-melt adhesive compositions used in non-woven assemblies, comprising: (a) 100 parts by weight of a block copolymer of the formula S-(I/B)-S, wherein S represents a predominantly poly(styrene) block and (I/B) represents a polymer block obtained by at random copolymerization of a mixture of predominantly isoprene and butadiene in a weight ratio in the range of from 70:30 to 30:70, wherein the total block copolymer has a melt flow index measured at 200° C./5 kg in the range of from 0.1 to 12 g/10 min. and has a poly(styrene) content of from 28 to 50 wt % and a coupling efficiency of from 50 to 100%, (b) from 250 to 300 parts by weight of a tackifying resin, (c) from 50 to 150 parts by weight of a plasticizer, and (d) from 0 to 3 parts by weight of auxiliaries, such as stabilizers and/or antioxidants, and disposable articles, comprising at least a non-woven element and assembled by the use of said hot-melt adhesive compositions.

Abstract: Less expensive adhesive compositions having good adhesive properties can be achieved by combining an S—I—S or (SI)nX block copolymers with an S-(I/B) diblock copolymer and a single tackifying resin. Furthermore, less expensive adhesive compositions can be achieved by combining S-I diblock copolymers with S—(I/B)—S or [S(I/B)]nX block copolymers and a single tackifying resin. These combinations result in lower costs of starting materials and manufacturing due to simpler processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photocurable compositions for use in flexographic printing plates comprising selectively hydrogenated block copolymers of conjugated dienes and monoalkenyl arenes and flexographic printing plates made from the same. The block copolymers, either linear or radial, have terminal blocks of unsaturated conjugated diene. The block copolymer is further comprised of monoalkenyl arene blocks and hydrogenated conjugated diene blocks. The compositions exhibit exceptional improvement in degree of cure over comparative selectively hydrogenated block copolymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adhesive compositions that comprise: i. at least one block copolymer (i)(a) of the formula A-I-A (1) or (A-I)nX (2) and at least one block copolymer (i)(b) of the formula A-(I/B)-A (3) or [A-(I/B)]n-X (4), wherein each A independently is a polymer block of an aromatic vinyl compound, I is a poly(isoprene) polymer block, (I/B) is a mixed random polymer block of isoprene and butadiene in a weight ratio I:B of from about 20:80 to about 80:20, n is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and X is the residue of a coupling agent, and wherein the weight ratio between said block copolymers (i)(a) and (i)(b) is such that the overall butadiene content in component (i) is less than 20 wt %, ii. a tackifying resin, and iii. one or more plasticizers. Tapes, labels or bandages that are obtained by applying the adhesive compositions of the present invention to a carrier are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adhesive compositions that comprise: i. at least one block copolymer (i)(a) of the formula A-I-A (1) or (A-I)nX (2) and at least one block copolymer (i)(b) of the formula A-(I-B)-A (3) or [A-(I/B)]n-X (4), wherein each A independently is a polymer block of an aromatic vinyl compound, I is a poly(isoprene) polymer block, (I/B) is a mixed random polymer block of isoprene and butadiene in a weight ratio I:B of from about 20:80 to about 80:20, n is an integer equal to or greater than 2 and X is the residue of a coupling agent, and wherein the weight ratio between said block copolymers (i)(a) and (i)(b) is such that the overall butadiene content in component (i) is less than 20 wt %, ii. a tackifying resin, and iii. optionally one or more plasticizers. Tapes, labels or bandages that are obtained by applying the adhesive compositions of the present invention to a carrier are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photocurable compositions for use in flexographic printing plates comprising selectively hydrogenated block copolymers of conjugated dienes and monoalkenyl arenes and flexographic printing plates made from the same. The block copolymers, either linear or radial, have terminal blocks of unsaturated conjugated diene. The block copolymer is further comprised of monoalkenyl arene blocks and hydrogenated conjugated diene blocks. The compositions exhibit exceptional improvement in degree of cure over comparative selectively hydrogenated block copolymers.

Abstract: Hot-melt adhesive compositions used in non-woven assemblies, comprising: (a) 100 parts by weight of a block copolymer of the formula S-(I/B)-S, wherein S represents a predominantly poly(styrene) block and (I/B) represents a polymer block obtained by at random copolymerization of a mixture of predominantly isoprene and butadiene in a weight ratio in the range of from 70:30 to 30:70, wherein the total block copolymer has a melt flow index measured at 200° C./5 kg in the range of from 0.1 to 12 g/10 min. and has a poly(styrene) content of from 28 to 50 wt % and a coupling efficiency of from 50 to 100%, (b) from 250 to 300 parts by weight of a tackifying resin, (c) from 50 to 150 parts by weight of a plasticizer, and (d) from 0 to 3 parts by weight of auxiliaries, such as stabilizers and/or antioxidants, and disposable articles, comprising at least a non-woven element and assembled by the use of said hot-melt adhesive compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adhesive composition comprising (i) one or more styrenic block copolymer compositions, (ii) a tackifier resin, and (iii) one or more plasticizers, wherein said styrenic block copolymer composition comprises: a. a tetra-branched block copolymer (IV) represented by the general formula (A-B)4X; b. a tri-branched block copolymer (III) represented by the general formula (A-B)3X; c. a di-branched block copolymer (II) represented by the general formula (A-B)2X; and d. a linear diblock copolymer (I) represented by the general formula A-B; where: i. A represents a polymer block of a mono alkenyl arene; ii. B represents a polymer block of a mixture of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene in a weight ratio of isoprene to butadiene from about 70:30 to about 40:60; iii. X represents the residue of a multi-functional coupling agent; iv. the weight percent of A blocks is from about 14% to about 22%; v.

Abstract: This invention relates to anionically polymerized block copolymers comprised of at least one block polyethylene and at least one block of a polymerized cyclic siloxane monomer, e.g., polydimethylsiloxane. Block copolymers with multiple "arms" may be formed by coupling these living diblocks with polyfunctional coupling agents. One copolymer for use in wax release coatings has an overall weight average molecular weight of 1500 to 100,000, a polyethylene block weight average molecular weight of less than 4100, and a polyethylene content of less than 55 percent by weight. Another copolymer for use in extruded release coating films prepared by blending the copolymer with a film grade polymer has an overall molecular weight of less than 20,000 and a polyethylene block molecular weight of less than 3700.

Abstract: A graft block copolymer is comprised of a completely saturated olefinic backbone with pendant anionic polymer side chains. The polymer is produced by copolymerizing an .alpha.-olefin with a monomer which contains a functional group which can be metallated so an anionic monomer can be polymerized therefrom, metallating the copolymer by reaction with metal alkyl or aryl compound and a metallation activator, and growing anionic polymer side chains from the copolymer backbone by reacting an anionically polymerized monomer with the metallated copolymer.

Abstract: Star polymers having first polymeric arms comprising a hydrogenated conjugated diene and smaller second polymeric arms of a methacrylate resist coupling of methacrylate blocks attached to different cores and have improved performance as viscosity index improvers. The polymerized methacrylate units are converted to amide or imide groups by reaction with a primary or secondary amine to give the viscosity index improver dispersant properties.

Abstract: The present invention is the synthesis of star polymers containing polyisobutylene (PIB) via the arm-first, core-last method. These polymers are superior in properties to known hydrogenated polyisoprene star-branched polymers due to their inherent lack of unsaturation.

Abstract: The present invention provides grafted polymers that have pendent functional groups on the core of the polymer wherein the core is a polymerized alkylmethacrylate having a number average molecular weight from 500 to 1,000,000. The arms of the grafted polymer comprise anionically polymerized segments that have number average molecular weights from 1,000 to 300,000.

Abstract: Polymers comprising anionically polymerized conjugated dienes or vinylarenes and adjacent units of (1-methyl-1-alkyl)alkyl esters such as t-butylmethacrylate or (1-aryl-1-alkyl)alkyl esters, as well as selectively hydrogenated derivatives thereof, are heated to at least 170.degree. C. in the presence of an amine to convert the polymerized ester to amide and imide groups.

Abstract: Hydrogenated butadiene polymers having terminal silyl groups are prepared from a (4-vinylphenylene)dimethyl(t-butyl)silyl ether which is added to the polymer chain as a silyl ether initiator or an endcapping agent, or both. The silyl groups are then converted to phenolic groups. The polymers are useful in making coatings, sealants, binders, and block copolymers with polyesters, polyamides, and polycarbonates.

Abstract: Block copolymers of particular structure comprising blocks of polymerized alkenyl aromatic compound and polymerized conjugated alkadiene, as well as selectively hydrogenated derivatives thereof, are functionalized by the presence of additional polar blocks of polymerized alkyl methacrylate.

Abstract: Polymers comprising blocks of a hydrogenated conjugated diene (B), a vinylarene (A), and an alkyl methacrylate (M), are readily prepared as a mixture of molecules having the structures B-A-M and B-A-M-A-B wherein both structures are effective as viscosity index improvers for oil compositions. Reaction of the polymers with a primary or secondary amine results in a dispersant viscosity index improver.

Abstract: Polymers comprising anionically polymerized monomers such as butadiene or styrene and adjacent units of (1-methyl-1-alkyl)alkyl esters such as t-butylmethacrylate, as well as selectively hydrogenated derivatives thereof, are heated to at least 180.degree. C. to convert the adjacent ester units to stable anhydride rings.