×

Sulfonated block copolymers having ethylene and diene interior blocks, and various uses for such block copolymers

  • US 8,329,827 B2
  • Filed: 04/20/2010
  • Issued: 12/11/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A sulfonated block copolymer which is solid in water comprising at least two polymer end blocks A, at least one polymer interior block B wherein:

  • a. each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, said A and B blocks containing no significant levels of olefinic unsaturation;

    b. each A block independently having a number average molecular weight between 1,000 and 60,000 and each B block independently having a number average molecular weight between 10,000 and 300,000;

    c. each A block comprising one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) ethylene, (ii) monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 20 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, and (iii) mixtures thereof, wherein any segments containing polymerized conjugated dienes are subsequently hydrogenated and have a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure subsequent hydrogenation and wherein any A block comprising polymerized ethylene or hydrogenated polymers of a conjugated, acyclic diene have a melting point greater than 50°

    C.;

    d. each B block comprising segments of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers selected from polymerized (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof;

    e. said B blocks are sulfonated to the extent of 10 to 100 mol percent, based on the units of vinyl aromatic monomer in said B blocks; and

    f. the mol percent of vinyl aromatic monomers which are unsubstituted styrene monomers, ortho-substituted styrene monomers, meta-substituted styrene monomers, alpha-methylstyrene, 1,1-diphenylethylene and 1,2-diphenylethylene in each B block being between 10 mol percent and 100 mol percent; and

    g. said sulfonated block copolymer is non-dispersible and solid in water, and has a tensile strength greater than 100 psi in the presence of water according to ASTM D412 after immersion in water for 24 hours.

View all claims
  • 10 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×