Process for preparing random copolymers

A process for preparing a random copolymer, the process comprising the steps of:

• (i) preparing a monomer composition comprising:
• (a) 5 to 55 mol-% of one or more conjugated dienes having 6 carbon atoms or less per molecule;
• (b) 5 to 45 mol-% of one or more C1-C6 alkyl(meth)acrylates;
• (c) 10 to 70 mol-% of one or more C7-C24 alkyl(meth)acrylates;
• (d) 0 to 10 mol-% of one or more esters of (meth)acrylic acid and a hydroxylated hydrogenated polybutadiene;
• and
• (e) 0 to 10 mol-% of one or more 1-alkenes comprising 6 to 16 carbon atoms;
• based on the total amount of monomers in the monomer composition;
• (ii) providing a reaction mixture including the monomer composition prepared in step (i) and initiating radical polymerization in the reaction mixture to obtain a random copolymer;
• wherein radical polymerization is performed as solution polymerization and the amount of monomer composition relative to the total weight of the reaction mixture in step (ii) is at least 20% by weight;
• and
• wherein the weight-average molecular weight of the random copolymer is in the range of 7,000 to 30,000 g/mol.