Adhesive compositions containing low molecular weight polymeric additives

An adhesive composition comprising:

• (a) adhesive polymers or copolymers prepared from monomers selected from the group consisting of styrene, butadiene, acrylonitrile, ethylene, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, esters of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid and combinations thereof;
• and
• (b) from 1 to 55%, on a dry weight basis, of a polymeric additive comprising a low molecular weight polymer having a number average molecular weight of 20,000 or less and which comprises:
• (i) polymerized units of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer;
• and
• (ii) 5 weight percent or less of a polymerized acid-containing monomer,
• wherein said low molecular weight polymer is polymerized in the presence of a metal chelate chain transfer agent;
• wherein said low molecular weight polymer is a macromonomer capable of being polymerized in a free radical polymerization process;
• wherein said low molecular weight polymer contains, as polymerized units, no mercapto-olefin compounds;
• and
• wherein said low molecular weight polymer is water-insoluble, having a water solubility equal to or less than 150 millimoles/liter at 25° C. to 50° C.