Methods for making a plasticized polymer, methods for making a composition using the plasticized polymer, and compositions comprising the plasticized polymer

A method for making an adhesive comprising the steps of:

• polymerizing a polymerizable monomer in a reaction medium comprising a plasticizer and in the presence of a catalyst system for a time and temperature sufficient to form a plasticizer system comprising the plasticized polymer, wherein the plasticizer system comprises at least 25 wt % of the plasticizer and the plasticizer system is suitable for use as a component in an adhesive;
• and
• mixing a tackifying resin with the plasticizer system to produce the adhesive, wherein:
• the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, liquid polybutene, hydrocarbon oil, synthetic oil, a dibenzoate, a phosphate, a phthalate ester, and an ester of a monoglycol or a polyglycol, and preferably comprises mineral oil, and the reaction medium contains less than 10 wt % solvent.

A composition comprising:

• (a) a polymer system comprising a first polymer;
• (b) a plasticizer system comprising a first plasticizer that was used in the polymerization step to make the first polymer, wherein the plasticizer system comprises at least 25 wt % of the first plasticizer, and the first plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, liquid polybutene, hydrocarbon oil, synthetic oil, a dibenzoate, a phosphate, a phthalate ester, and an ester of a monoglycol or a polyglycol, and preferably comprises mineral oil;
• and
• (c) a tackifier.