Multiphase block and graft copolymers comprising a hydrophilic continuous phase and hydrophobic domains

• US 4,057,598 A
• Filed: 02/27/1975
• Issued: 11/08/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Lundberg, Robert D., Thame, Neville G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michl, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US05/553,613
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 260/857 PG, 260/857 PE, 260/860, 260/874, 260/882, 260/875, 260/886, 260/885, 260/857 G
• US Class Current: 524/529
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2210/00 Compositions for preparing hydrogels
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2250/00 Compositions for preparing crystalline polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2310/00 Agricultural use or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 81/00 Macromolecular compounds obtained by interreacting polymers in the absence of monomers, e.g. block polymers involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bond reactions C08F299/00 ; polyester-amides C08G69/44; polyester-imides C08G73/16; polyamides-imides C08G73/14; block- or graft polymers containing polysiloxane sequences C08G77/42
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 81/024 Block or graft polymers containing sequences of polymers of C08C or C08F and of polymers of C08G

Abstract

This invention relates to thermoplastic, multiphase copolymers selected from the group consisting of copolymers represented by graft copolymers having the general formula ##STR1## AND BLOCK COPOLYMERS HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA XB--[AB]_n --yA wherein n is an integer ≧1, m is >1, x and y are 0 or 1, and y is 1 when n is 1, A is a thermoplastic, hydrophobic polymer block having a softening point (i.e., a glass transition or crystalline melting point) of at least 35° C and a molecular weight of at least 2,000, and B is a thermoplastic, hydrophilic polymer block having a softening point of at least about 35° C and a molecular weight of at least about 6,000, which comprises from about 30-97 wt % of said copolymer. The novel polymers of this invention are useful for making water containing gels. Preferably, the thermoplastic multiphase copolymer is a styrene-ethylene oxide copolymer. The novel polymers are made by a process which allows one to prepare a copolymer which is substantially free of homopolymeric impurities. The compositions of the instant invention are melt processable by conventional thermoplastic techniques.

Claims

1. A composition of matter which comprises a thermoplastic having an average molecular weight of at least 10,000 selected from the group consisting of copolymers represented by graft copolymers having the general formula ##STR8## and block copolymers having the general formula xB--[AB]_n --ya wherein n is an integer ≧

1, m is >

1, x and y are 0 or 1, and y is 1 when n is 1, A is a thermoplastic hydrophobic polymer block having a softening point of at least about 35°

C. and a molecular weight of at least about 2,00, A being selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, poly(t-butyl styrene), polyvinyl toluene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyamides and copolymers thereof, and B is a thermoplastic hydrophilic polymer block which comprises from about 30-97 weight % of said copolymer, B being selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), polyacrylamide, poly- α

-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate and copolymers thereof wherein the hydrophilic portion is greater than 50%, and said composition further characterized as being a water swollen gel.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said copolymer has a molecular weight of from about 25,000 to 500,000.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein A block and said B block having a softening point of about 35°

to 260°

C.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said A block is a polyamide and said B block is polyethylene oxide.

5. The composition of claim 3 wherein said A block is a polystyrene and said B block is a polyethlene oxide.

6. The composition of claim 3 wherein water comprises from about 30 to about 98 weight % of said water swollen gel.