Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition having a durometer hardness (ASTM D2240) of Shore A 30 to 90 comprising: a) 100 parts by weight of a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer comprising at least two blocks (A) of a polymer containing 50% wt or more monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon units, and at least one selectively hydrogenated block (B) of a polymer containing 50% wt or more conjugated diene units, wherein the monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content is in the range of from 10 to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of block copolymer, wherein the vinyl content in the initially prepared poly(conjugated diene) block (B) is in the range of from 30 to 80%, and wherein the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer has a degree of hydrogenation of at least 30% with respect to the residual olefinic unsaturation in the block (B), which block copolymer optionally may be mixed with a diblock copolymer having one poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) block and one poly(conjugated diene) block

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising (a) anionic block copolymers of mono alkenyl arenes and isoprene, and (b) thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. Also included are processes for the manufacturing such novel compositions and various end-uses and applications for such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymer having a high vinyl content in the butadiene block. The polymer also has a polystyrene content from 15% to 20% by weight; a coupling efficiency from 50 to 80%; a styrene block molecular weight from 9,000 to 10,000 g/mol; a vinyl content from 20 to 45%; and a melt flow rate of equal to or greater than 10.

Abstract: This invention is a process for producing stable polymer emulsions and latexes with an average particle size of less than one micron. The polymers are hydrogenated block copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons which may or may not contain polar functionality. The process comprises making a polymer cement of the polymer and a blend of a non-aromatic solvent for the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block which is immiscible with water and a non-aromatic cosolvent, emulsifying the polymer cement by adding it to an aqueous phase containing at least one surfactant and removing the solvent, cosolvent and excess water.

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 process of making a solvent-free water-based emulsion of an anionically polymerized polymer which comprises: heating the polymer until its viscosity is no more than 3,000 centipoise, (b) mixing water with a surfactant, (c) adding the mixture of (b) to the polymer of (a) while agitating the polymer at high speed, thereby forming an emulsion, (d) cooling the emulsion to below 100.degree. C., and (e) optionally subjecting the emulsion to turbulent flow and/or cavitation. Also included are emulsions of such polymers.

Abstract: A low viscosity adhesive composition which comprises:(a) an asymmetric radial block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one conjugated diene having from 3 to 6 polymer arms, which:(i) contains from 33 to 85% by weight of polyvinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block/polydiene block copolymer arms and the balance polydiene homopolymer arms,(ii) has vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks with block molecular weights of from 8000 to 30,000,(iii) has conjugated diene blocks in the copolymer arms with a molecular weight of at least 6000, and(iv) has a polyvinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content of from 10 to 40% by weight; and(b) from 20 to 400 parts per hundred parts of polymer of a tackifying resin.The invention also encompasses the polymers used in the adhesive.

Abstract: A low viscosity adhesive composition which comprises:(a) an asymmetric radial block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one conjugated diene having from 3 to 6 polymer arms, which:(i) contains from 33 to 85% by weight of polyvinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block/polydiene block copolymer arms and the balance polydiene homopolymer arms,(ii) has vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks with block molecular weights of from 8000 to 30,000,(iii) has conjugated diene blocks in the copolymer arms with a molecular weight of at least 6000, and(iv) has a polyvinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content of from 10 to 40% by weight; and(b) from 20 to 400 parts per hundred parts of polymer of a tackifying resin.The invention also encompasses the polymers used in the adhesive.

Abstract: A low viscosity adhesive composition which comprises:(a) an asymmetric radial block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one conjugated diene having from 3 to 6 polymer arms, which:(i) contains from 33 to 85% by weight of polyvinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block/polydiene block copolymer arms and the balance polydiene homopolymer arms,(ii) has vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks with block molecular weights of from 8000 to 30,000,(iii) has conjugated diene blocks in the copolymer arms with a molecular weight of at least 6000, and(iv) has a polyvinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content of from 10 to 40% by weight; and(b) from 20 to 400 parts per hundred parts of polymer of a tackifying resin.The invention also encompasses the polymers used in the adhesive.

Abstract: A core functionalized star block copolymer formed of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and/or a conjugated diene and a polyalkenyl aromatic coupling agent wherein the core functionalization is provided by reaction of the star polymer core with an asymmetric bi- or polyfunctional capping agent.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable recording composition for water-washable printing plates, which comprises:(a) a water dispersible elastomeric blend of at least 20 percent by weight of an A-B-M-B-A block copolymer and an A-B-M block copolymer, wherein A is a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block, B is a conjugated diene block and M is an acrylic monomer block containing acid groups, and(b) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising a) a tackifying resin, b) a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer or a styrene-isoprene block copolymer with styrene blocks as the end blocks and having at least one internal block of an acrylic monomer, and c) a block copolymer of at least one vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon, at least one conjugated diolefin and at least one acrylic monomer, such as an alkyl methacrylate, which is on the end of the copolymer and is attached to a conjugated diolefin block.

Abstract: A process of making a solvent-free water-based emulsion of an anionically polymerized polymer which comprises: heating the polymer until its viscosity is no more than 3,000 centipoise, (b) mixing water with a surfactant, (c) adding the mixture of (b) to the polymer of (a) while agitating the polymer at high speed, thereby forming an emulsion, (d) cooling the emulsion to below 100.degree. C., and (e) optionally subjecting the emulsion to turbulent flow and/or cavitation. Also included are emulsions of such polymers.

Abstract: This invention is a process for producing stable polymer emulsions and latexes with an average particle size of less than one micron. The polymers are block copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons which may or may not contain polar functionality. The process comprises making a polymer cement of the polymer and a blend of a solvent for the polymer and a cosolvent(s), emulsifying the polymer cement by adding it to an aqueous phase containing at least one surfactant and removing the solvent, cosolvent and excess water.

Abstract: A stable polymer dispersion having an average particle size of no more than 1 micron comprising water, a surfactant and a polymer comprising at least one conjugated diolefin block and/or vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block and at least one acrylic monomer block with the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl and alkyl radicals which are linear or branched and contain from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is a cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl radical which is branched at the first carbon atom, contains from 1 to 14 carbon atoms and may contain a tertiary amine or an ether linkage.

Abstract: Diene polymers comprising at least one diene polymer block and at least one other polymer block which are coupled together with a coupling agent of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are alkyl or alkoxy containing up to 20 carbon atoms or more and at least of them are alkoxy. Adhesive formulations containing such polymers are also within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: A predominantly linear sequentially polymerized styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer composition having a styrene content of from about 17% to about 25% and a diblock content of less than 4% of linear polymeric blocks for use in adhesives.

Abstract: A predominantly linear 100% triblock sequentially polymerized hydrogenated styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer composition comprised of linear polymeric blocks for use in adhesives, modified thermoplastic compositions and mechanical goods.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive composition comprising a tackifying resin and a polymer which comprises at least one conjugated diolefin and at least one acrylic monomer such as an alkyl methacrylate.

Abstract: A method of reducing the color of a hot melt adhesive formulation comprising a coupled polymer of a conjugated diene which comprises adding to the formulation an amount of 4,4'-bis(alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzyl)diphenylamine sufficient to reduce color formation. This method is especially effective for epoxy resin coupled polymers and sequentially polymerized polymers.