Abstract: Thermoplastic polyurethanes are formed from a hydrogenated polydiene diol having from 1.6 to 2 terminal hydroxyl groups per molecule and a number average molecular weight between 500 and 20,000, an isocyanate having two isocyanate groups per molecule, and optionally a chain extender having two hydroxyl groups per molecule. The thermoplastic polyurethanes have excellent resistance to moisture as evidenced by retention of more than 70%, preferably at least 85%, of original tensile strength after aging in water for 7 days at a temperature of at least 70.degree. C. Preparation by a prepolymer method with subsequent addition of the chain extender is preferred.

Abstract: Radial or star asymmetric block copolymer of the following formulae and improved adhesive and sealant compositions containing them(I) (A--HD).sub.x --Y--(UD).sub.z or (II) (UD--A--HD).sub.x --Y or (lII) ((UD).sub.y --A--HD).sub.x --Y --(UD).sub.xwherein A is a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block having a molecular weight of from 4000 to 20,000, HD is a hydrogenated conjugated diene block having a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 100,000, Y is a multifunctional coupling agent, UD is a partially hydrogenated conjugated diene block having a molecular weight of from 1000 to 80,000, x is an integer from 2 to 30, y is 0 or 1, z is an integer from 1 to 20, and x+z ranges from 3 to 30.

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: Radial or star asymmetric block copolymer of the following formulae and an improved tape assembly using the copolymers and improved adhesive and sealant compositions containing them(I) (A--HD).sub.x --Y--(UD).sub.z or (II) (UD--A--HD).sub.x --Y or (lII) ((UD).sub.y --A--HD).sub.x --Y-(UD).sub.z wherein A is a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block having a molecular weight of from 4000 to 20,000, HD is a hydrogenated conjugated diene block having a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 100,000, Y is a multifunctional coupling agent, UD is a partially hydrogenated conjugated diene block having a molecular weight of from 1000 to 80,000, x is an integer from 2 to 30, y is 0 or 1, z is an integer from 1 to 20, and x+z ranges from 3 to 30.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing six-armed and eight-armed asymmetric radial block copolymers. The process comprises anionically polymerizing a diene and/or a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon to create living polydiene and/or vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon arms, sequentially anionically polymerizing a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a diene to create living block copolymer arms and coupling the two sets of arms together in one step with a coupling agent that will couple six or eight arms, wherein the molar ratio of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon-diene arms to the polydiene arms is sufficient to produce a statistical blend with less than 5 weight percent homopolydiene.

Abstract: Radial or star asymmetric block copolymer of the following formulae and improved adhesive and sealant compositions containing them(I) (A--HD).sub.x --Y--(UD).sub.z or (II) (UD--A--HD).sub.x --Y or (III) ((UD).sub.y --A--HD).sub.x --Y--(UD).sub.zwherein A is a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block having a molecular weight of from 4000 to 20,000, HD is a hydrogenated conjugated diene block having a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 100,000, Y is a multifunctional coupling agent, UD is an unhydrogenated conjugated diene block having a molecular weight of from 1000 to 80,000, x is an integer from 2 to 20, y is 0 or 1, z is an integer from 1 to 10, and x+z ranges from 3 to 30.

Abstract: A method for preparing asymmetric radial polymers wherein the different polymeric arms are contacted sequentially with a coupling agent. The method narrows the relative arm distribution of the several asymmetric radial polymers produced and significantly increases the amount of total product having the desired ratio of polymeric arms. Any coupling agent known in the prior art to be useful in the production of asymmetric radial polymers may be used in the method of this invention but coupling agents having from three to about twelve functional groups are most effective.

Abstract: A process for preparing a coupled asymmetric block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene which comprises:(a) adding sufficient anionic polymerization initiator to the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer to start polymerization of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon,(b) polymerizing the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon for a time sufficient to form a first set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks having a desired molecular weight,(c) adding sufficient anionic polymerization initiator to start polymerization of a second set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks,(d) completing the polymerization of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon for a time such that the first set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks continues to grow to the desired molecular weight and the second set of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks grows to a desired smaller molecular weight,(e) adding a conjugated diene and polymerizing it on the ends of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon blocks for a time sufficient to form vinyl aromatic hydroc

Abstract: An adhesive which contains a tackifying resin and a branched three-armed block copolymer composition comprised of polymeric blocks wherein the molecular weight is from about 180,000 to about 250,000, the polystyrene content is from about 17 to about 23% by weight of the block copolymer composition and the percentage of S-I arms which are load bearing is greater than about 85%.

Abstract: A low viscosity low temperature hot melt adhesive which contains a predominantly branched styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer composition comprised of linear polymeric blocks wherein the polystyrene block molecular weight is greater than about 12,000, the polystyrene content is about 35% or less by weight of the block copolymer composition and the molecular weight of the block copolymer composition and the coupling efficiency are chosen so that the melt viscosity of the adhesive made with the composition is less than about 3100 cps.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer having good tensile strength at elevated temperatures is obtained by modifying a block copolymer composed of a conjugated diene compound and an alkenyl arene compound. The block copolymer is first selectively hydrogenated and thereafter modified by grafting silicon or boron containing functional groups primarily in the alkenyl arene block via metalation. Each silicon containing functional group preferably contains at least two functional groups which allow crosslinking by condensation reactions.

Abstract: A sealant composition comprising:(a) 100 parts by weight of a silane functionalized polymer component which is prepared by reacting enough silane of the general formula R R'.sub.n SiY.sub.

Abstract: A sealant composition comprises a functionalized polymer component which is prepared by grafting enough carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid, or derivative thereof onto a polymer component to thereby functionalize the polymer component and provide a resultant sealant composition with adhesive which is resistant to deterioration in the presence of water, said polymer component comprising a multiblock copolymer having at least two end blocks A and at least one midblock B, wherein the A blocks comprise monoalkenyl arene blocks and the B blocks comprise substantially completely hydrogenated conjugated diene polymer blocks.

Abstract: Oiled SIS polymers and processes for their production are disclosed. These processes result in advantages including reduced mixing time and less shear degradation. An adhesive composition comprising the oiled polymer of the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a method for making high service temperature rubber compound, hot melt adhesive or sealant compositions by combining a polyphenylene ether resin with an elastomeric block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene, which comprises (a) making a masterbatch of 2 to 50 phr of a polyphenylene ether having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 deciliters per gram or more and 100 phr of said block copolymer by extruding them together with 2 to 30 phr of an endblock compatible resin, and (b) optionally mixing the masterbatch with more of the block copolymer.

Abstract: A linear styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer composition comprised of linear polymeric blocks wherein the block copolymer composition has a coupling efficiency of 25 to 82 percent, a polystyrene content of from 19 to 27 percent by weight, a polystyrene block molecular weight (peak polystyrene equivalent molecular weight as determined by gel permeation chromatography) of 12,000 to 18,000, and an overall molecular weight (peak polystyrene equivalent molecular weight as determined by gel permeation chromatography) of from 170,000 to 280,000. The invention also contemplates adhesive formulations comprising these block copolymer compositions and a tackifying resin.

Abstract: A method for preparing asymmetric radial polymers wherein the different polymeric arms are contacted sequentially with a coupling agent. The method narrows the relative arm distribution of the several asymmetric radial polymers produced and significantly increases the amount of total product having the desired ratio of polymeric arms. Any coupling agent known in the prior art to be useful in the production of asymmetric radial polymers may be used in the method of this invention but coupling agents having from three to about twelve functional groups are most effective.