US 6,552,125 B2Granted

Functionalized thermoplastic elastomer

AssigneeShell Oil Company

InventorsBridget Ann Spence, Ronald James Hoxmeier, Robert Charles Job

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Abstract

A thermoplastic elastomer produced without a hydrogenation step is functionalized utilizing a free radical initiator and a functionalizing monomer having at least one point of unsaturation. The base polymers can be produced by copolymerizing an α-olefin capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer which provides a “hook” for grafting to with a living polystyrene chain. Another method is to copolymerize an α-olefin monomer system capable of producing an amorphous backbone with a comonomer containing a functional group from which an anionically polymerizable monomer is grown from the backbone. A third method involves copolymerizing an α-olefin monomer system capable of giving an amorphous backbone with an olefin-terminated polystyrene comonomer. In a less preferred embodiment, a conventional EPDM polymer can be metallated and a monoalkenyl aromatic compound anionically polymerizable monomer grown from the backbone.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A process for producing a functionalized saturated thermoplastic elastomer which comprises:

(a) copolymerizing:
(i) a monomer system selected from at least one C4-C30 α-olefin and ethylene plus 20 to 40 mole percent of a higher α-olefin with
(ii) a comonomer from which an anionically polymerized polymer is grown to produce a graft block copolymer, said comonomer being selected from
and
CH2═CH—(CH2)n—SiRmHx
wherein R is selected from alkyl and aryl, x is 0-1, m is 2-3 and x+m=3,
(b) metallating said functional group on said comonomer by reaction with an organo-alkali metal compound in the presence of a metallation activator;
(c) reacting the thus metallated copolymer with at least one monoalkenyl aromatic compound to form a thermoplastic elastomer having a saturated olefinic backbone with pendant anionically polymerized monoalkenyl aromatic compound side chains;
and
(d) contacting said thermoplastic elastomer with a free radical initiator and a functionalizing monomer having at least one point of unsaturation.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/872,625Filed 1 Jun 2001 · division
Priority: 18 May 1998
Published: US 2002/0010280 A124 Jan 2002
Granted: 22 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

C08F 255/02
Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to polymers of hydrocarbons as defined in group C08F10/00: on to polymers of olefins…
C08F 255/00
Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to polymers of hydrocarbons as
C08F 255/08
Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to polymers of hydrocarbons as defined in group C08F10/00: on to polymers of olefins…
C08F 283/12
Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to polymers provided for in subclass C08G: on to polysiloxanes

Family

Application09/080,822Parent of this division · filed 18 May 1998
Application09/502,646Parent of this division · filed 11 Feb 2000
US 2002/0010280 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Jan 2002
US 6,319,990 B1Parent of this division
US 6,100,337 AParent of this division
US 6,552,125 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.