Controlled Architecture Polymers

• US 20140329958A1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Bottorf, William L., Heimbach, Kyle R., Lester, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,738,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/548
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/1804 C4-(meth)acrylate, e.g. butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate or tert-butyl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/1808 C8-(meth)acrylate, e.g. isooctyl (meth)acrylate or 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 293/005 using free radical "living" or "controlled" polymerisation, e.g. using a complexing agent
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 133/068 containing glycidyl groups
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 133/08 Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 153/00 Adhesives based on block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Adhesives based on derivatives of such polymers

Abstract

Acrylic copolymers that include the controlled placement of particular functional groups within the polymer structure are provided. The copolymers contain at least two reactive segments and are manufactured via a controlled radical polymerization process. The copolymers are useful in the manufacture of adhesives and elastomers.

Claims

1. An acrylic polymer comprising:

a first reactive segment that includes at least one monomer having a self reactive functional group; and

a second reactive segment that includes at least one monomer having a reactive functional group.

2. The acrylic polymer of claim 1 wherein the reactive functional group of the second reactive segment is a self reactive functional group.

3. The acrylic polymer of claim 2 wherein the self reactive functional group of the second reactive segment is the same as the self reactive functional group of the first reactive segment.

4. The acrylic polymer of claim 2 wherein the self reactive functional group of the second reactive segment is different than the self reactive functional group of the first reactive segment.

5. The acrylic polymer of claim 1 wherein the self reactive functional group is selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, epoxies, alkoxymethylol, and cyclic ethers.

6. The acrylic polymer of claim 5 wherein the self reactive functional group is an epoxy.

7. The acrylic polymer of claim 1 wherein the reactive functional group is selected from the group consisting of acids, hydroxyls, amines, and thiols.

8. The acrylic polymer of claim 7 wherein the reactive functional group is an acid.

9. The acrylic polymer of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 4.0.

10. The acrylic polymer of claim 9 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 3.5.

11. The acrylic polymer of claim 9 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 3.0.

12. The acrylic polymer of claim 9 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 2.5.

13. The acrylic polymer of claim 9 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 2.0.

14. The acrylic polymer of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight (Mn) within the range of from about 40,000 to about 150,000.

15. The acrylic polymer of claim 14 wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight (Mn) within the range of from about 50,000 to about 110,000.

16. A crosslinkable composition comprising:

an acrylic polymer including a first reactive segment that includes at least one monomer having a self reactive functional group, and a second reactive segment that includes at least one monomer having a reactive functional group.

17. The adhesive composition of claim 16 further comprising:

at least one agent selected from the group consisting of pigments, fillers, plasticizers, diluents, antioxidants, tackifiers, polymeric additives, and combinations thereof.

18. The adhesive composition of claim 16 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 4.0.

19. The adhesive composition of claim 18 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 3.5.

20. The adhesive composition of claim 18 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 3.0.

21. The adhesive composition of claim 18 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 2.5.

22. The adhesive composition of claim 18 wherein the polymer has a polydispersity of less than 2.0.

23. The adhesive composition of claim 16 wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight (Mn) within the range of from about 40,000 to about 150,000.

24. The adhesive composition of claim 23 wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight (Mn) within the range of from about 50,000 to about 110,000.

25. A method of preparing a crosslinkable composition comprising:

polymerizing at least one monomer having a self reactive functional group to thereby form a first reactive segment;

polymerizing at least one monomer having a reactive functional group to thereby form a second reactive segment;

wherein at least one of the first reactive segment and the second reactive segment includes an acrylate group;

forming an acrylic polymer from the first reactive segment and the second reactive segment.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of the first reactive segment and the second reactive segment is polymerized in the presence of a RAFT agent.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of the first reactive segment and the second reactive segment is polymerized in the presence of an SFRP agent.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of crosslinking the functional groups of the reactive segments.