Inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer compositions

A process for preparing a acid end-capped, linear inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer (acid end-capped IDP) composition comprising the steps of:

• (A) forming in a reactor a linear inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer (IDP) comprised of (i) from about 5 to about 85 weight percent of a soft segment of a linear polyalkylene glycol and (ii) from about 15 to about 95 weight percent of a hard segment, wherein the hard segment is derived from a linear polymer having a glass transition temperature or crystalline melting temperature greater than ambient temperature and being reactive with a hydroxyl functionality and wherein the weight percents of the soft segment and the hard segment are based on the total weight of components (i) and (ii);
• (B) then, adding in the reactor from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of an acid end-capping reagent having an acid functionality of at least two to the reaction product of step (A) to form an acid end-capped IDP composition, the weight percent of the acid end-capping reagent is based on the total weight of the reaction product of step (A) and the acid end-capping reagent;
• and
• (C) removing from the reactor an acid end-capped IDP composition.

A process for preparing an acid end-capped linear inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer (acid end-capped IDP) composition comprising the step of combining in a secondary melt phase operation from about 95 to about 99.99 weight percent of an IDP and from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of an acid end-capping reagent having an acid functionality of at least two to form an acid end-capped IDP composition;

• wherein the secondary melt phase operation is conducted at a temperature above the melting point of the IDP;
• wherein the IDP is comprised of from about 5 to about 85 weight percent of a soft segment of a polyalkylene glycol and from about 15 to about 95 weight percent of a hard segment derived from a polymer having a glass transition temperature or crystalline melting temperature greater than ambient temperature and being reactive with a hydroxyl functionality;
• and
• wherein the weight percents for the IDP and acid end-capping reagent are based on the total weight of the acid end-capped IDP composition and the weight percents for the soft segment and the hard segment are based on the total weight of the IDP.

A process for preparing an alloy of an acid end-capped linear inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer (acid end-capped IDP) composition and a thermoplastic base material comprising the step of blending in a melt processing operation a linear inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer (IDP), an acid end-capping reagent having an acid functionality of at least two and a thermoplastic base material;

• wherein the IDP is comprised of (i) from about 5 to about 85 weight percent of a soft segment of a linear polyalkylene glycol and (ii) from about 15 to about 95 weight percent of a hard segment, wherein the hard segment is derived from a linear polymer having a glass transition temperature or crystalline melting temperature greater than ambient temperature and being reactive with a hydroxyl functionality and wherein the weight percents of the soft segment and the hard segment are based on the total weight of components (i) and (ii);
• wherein the amount of acid end-capping reagent is added at from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent based on the weight of the IDP and acid end-capping reagent;
• and
• wherein the amount of thermoplastic base material is added at from about 50 to about 90 weight percent based on the weight of the acid end-capped IDP and thermoplastic material.

A process for preparing an alloy of an acid end-capped linear inherently electrostatic dissipating block copolymer (acid end-capped IDP) composition and a thermoplastic base material comprising the step of combining in a secondary melt phase operation from about 97.5 to about 99.999 weight percent of an IDP/thermoplastic alloy and from about 0.001 to about 2.5 weight percent of an acid end-capping reagent having an acid functionality of at least two to form an alloy of an acid end-capped IDP composition and a thermoplastic base material;

• wherein the secondary melt phase operation is conducted at a temperature above the melting point of the IDP;
• wherein the IDP/thermoplastic alloy is comprised of from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of an IDP and from about 90 to about 50 weight percent of a thermoplastic material;
• wherein the IDP is comprised of from about 5 to about 85 weight percent of a soft segment of a linear polyalkylene glycol and from about 15 to about 95 weight percent of a hard segment derived from a linear polymer having a glass transition temperature or crystalline melting temperature greater than ambient temperature and being reactive with a hydroxyl functionality;
• and
• wherein the weight percents for the IDP/thermoplastic alloy and the acid end-capping reagent are based on the total weight of the alloy of the acid end-capped IDP composition and the thermoplastic base material, the weight percents for the IDP and thermoplastic material are based on the total weight of the IDP/thermoplastic alloy and the weight percents for the soft segment and the hard segment are based on the total weight of the IDP.