Composition for monovinylrenic-based shrink label films

A container, comprising:

• a container structure having an exterior surface;
• and
• a shrink label in contact with at least a portion of the exterior surface, wherein the shrink label comprises:
• (i) a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer;
• (ii) at least 5 wt % of an acrylate terpolymer;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises sequentially polymerized blocks of the monovinylarene and conjugated diene at a ratio of about 55 to 95 weight percent monovinylarene and 45 to 5 weight percent conjugated diene;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer is formed by a sequential charge polymerization process including only separate monomer charges, wherein (a) at least two separate charges consist of said conjugated diene;
• (b) at least two separate charges consist of said monovinylarene;
• (c) at least two charges of a monoalkali metal initiator are employed;
• (d) at least one separate charge of each of said monovinylarene and of said conjugated diene follows the last charge of said monoalkali metal initiator;
• (e) at least one separate charge of conjugated diene precedes the last charge of monoalkali metal initiator;
• (f) each separate monomer charge homopolymerizes to substantial completion prior to addition of any subsequent charge;
• (g) the total of the number of separate charges of each of said conjugated diene, of said monovinylarene, and of said monoalkali metal initiator, is not in excess of 3;
• and (h) the copolymer is thereafter coupled with a polyfunctional coupling agent;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises at least 0.3 wt % of a hindered phenolic stabilizer;
• and
• wherein the acrylate terpolymer comprises styrene, at least 10 wt % butyl acrylate, and at least 5 wt % methyl methacrylate.

A method of applying a label to a container, comprising:

• shrinking a film onto at least a portion of an exterior surface of a container structure, wherein the film comprises:
• (i) a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer;
• (ii) at least 5 wt % of an acry late terpolymer;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises sequentially polymerized blocks of the monovinylarene and conjugated diene at a ratio of about 55 to 95 weight percent monovinylarene and 45 to 5 weight percent conjugated diene;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer is formed by a sequential charge polymerization process including only separate monomer charges, wherein (a) at least two separate charges consist of said conjugated diene;
• (b) at least two separate charges consist of said monovinylarene;
• (c) at least two charges of a monoalkali metal initiator are employed;
• (d) at least one separate charge of each of said monovinylarene and of said conjugated diene follows the last charge of said monoalkali metal initiator;
• (e) at least one separate charge of conjugated diene precedes the last charge of monoalkali metal initiator;
• (f) each separate monomer charge homopolymerizes to substantial completion prior to addition of any subsequent charge;
• (g) the total of the number of separate charges of each of said conjugated diene, of said monovinylarene, and of said monoalkali metal initiator, is not in excess of 3;
• and (h) the copolymer is thereafter coupled with a polyfunctional coupling agent;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises at least 0.3 wt % of a hindered phenolic stabilizer;
• and
• wherein the acrylate terpolymer comprises styrene, at least 10 wt % butyl acrylate, and at least 5 wt % methyl methacrylate.

A composition, comprising:

• (i) from about 40 wt % to about 60 wt % of a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer;
• (ii) from about 60 wt % to about 40 wt % of an acrylate terpolymer;
• wherein the acrylate terpolymer comprises styrene, at least 10 wt % of an alkyl acrylate, and at least 5 wt % alkyl methacrylate;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises at least 0.3 wt % of a hindered phenolic stabilizer;
• and
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer is formed through a charge order of S-i-B-i-S-B-i-S-B-CA, which includes only separate monomer charges, where
• i=hydrocarbyl monoalkali metal initiator,
• S=monovinylarene monomer,
• B=conjugated diene, and
• CA=coupling agent.

A composition, comprising:

• (i) from about 40 wt % to about 60 wt % of a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer;
• (ii) from about 60 wt % to about 40 wt % of an acrylate terpolymer;
• wherein the acrylate terpolymer comprises styrene, at least 10 wt % of an alkyl acrylate, and at least 5 wt % alkyl methacrylate;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises at least 0.3 wt % of a hindered phenolic stabilizer;
• and
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer is formed through a charge order of S-i-B-i-S-B-i-S-B-CA, which includes only separate monomer charges, where
• i=hydrocarbyl monoalkali metal initiator,
• S=monovinylarene monomer,
• B=conjugated diene, and
• CA=coupling agent.

A composition, comprising:

• (i) from about 40 wt % to about 60 wt % of a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer;
• (ii) from about 60 wt % to about 40 wt % of an acrylate terpolymer;
• wherein the acrylate terpolymer comprises styrene, at least 10 wt % of an alkyl acrylate, and at least 5 wt % alkyl methacrylate;
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer comprises at least 0.3 wt % of a hindered phenolic stabilizer;
• and
• wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer is formed through a charge order of S-i-B-i-S-B-i-S-B-CA, which includes only separate monomer charges, where
• i=hydrocarbyl monoalkali metal initiator,
• S=monovinylarene monomer,
• B=conjugated diene, and
• CA=coupling agent.