Liquid polythioethers

A non-crystallizing, branched, water, solvent, and fuel resistant liquid polythioether, said liquid polythioether having the formula R--(A--O--B).sub.m wherein R is the fragment of the organic triol or tetrol R--(OH).sub.m having a molecular weight of less than 400;

• m is 3 or 4;
• B is a terminating radical which does not substantially reduce the water, solvent, and fuel resistance;
• and A is a polymeric backbone of repeating units of the formula ##STR14## wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl providing that a sufficient number of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and/or R.sub.4 are lower alkyl in said polymeric backbone to render said backbone non-crystallizing;
• X is a divalent organic radical selected from --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --S--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 --Ch.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --;
• n is 8 to 200;
• m is 3 or 4;
• and p is 0 to 1.

A non-crystallizing, water, solvent, and fuel resistant liquid polythioether having the formula ##STR15## wherein Z is hetero(lower) aliphatic;

• B is a terminating radical which does not substantially reduce the water, solvent, and fuel resistance;
• A is a polymeric backbone consisting of repeating units of the formula ##STR16## each of a, b, and p is 0 or 1;
• each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl providing that a sufficient number of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and/or R.sub.4 are lower alkyl in said polymeric backbone to render said backbone non-crystallizing;
• X is a divalent organic radical selected from --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --S--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --;
• and n is 8 to 200.