# US 7,745,535 B2 · Amphiphilic block copolymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,535 B2 - Document ID: US7745535B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/491,342 - Filed: 2006-07-21 - Published: 2008-03-06 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-21 - Assignees: Arkema Inc. - Inventors: Scott Schmidt; Peter Callais; Noah Macy; Michael Mendolia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745535B2 ## CPC - C08F 293/005: {using free radical "living" or "controlled" polymerisation, e.g. using a complexing agent} - C08F 2438/02: Stable Free Radical Polymerisation [SFRP]; Nitroxide Mediated Polymerisation [NMP] for, e.g. using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl [TEMPO] - C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS ## Abstract The invention relates to an amphiphilic multiblock copolymer capable of forming non-covalent crosslinks. The non-water soluble copolymer, having a hydrophilic middle block and hydrophobic end blocks, has a high water transmission or permeation. The copolymer can be used in applications requiring absorption and/or transmission of fluids, the preferred fluids being water or hydrophilic liquids such as glycerin, glycols, and alcohols. One specific use of the amphiphilic multiblock copolymer is as a hydrogel material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An amphiphilic multiblock copolymer consisting of: a) a hydrophilic middle block; and b) hydrophobic end blocks wherein said multiblock copolymer is water insoluble, water indispersible, and not soluble or dispersible in C1-3 alcohols, and wherein at least one block is a profiled block, wherein said hydrophilic block comprises one or more monomeric units selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and the salts, esters, anhydrides and amides of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; dicarboxylic acid anhydrides; carboxyethyl acrylate; and acrylamides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1 made by a controlled radical polymerization process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 2 wherein said controlled radical polymerization process is a nitroxide-mediated polymerization process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1, wherein said copolymer can absorb from 1 to 10,000 weight percent of water or C1-3 alcohols, based on the polymer weight. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1 wherein said hydrophobic blocks each have a molecular weight of from 0.5 kg/mol to 80 kg/mol, and said hydrophilic block has a molecular weight of from 2 kg/mol to 160 kg/mol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 5 wherein said hydrophobic blocks each have a molecular weight of from 3 kg/mol to 60 kg/mol, and said hydrophilic block has a molecular weight of from 15 kg/mol to 100 kg/mol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1, wherein said copolymer is an ABA triblock copolymer wherein A represents a hydrophobic block polymer and B represents a hydrophilic block polymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic middle block is a random copolymer formed from two or more different monomer units. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic endblocks comprise a random copolymer formed from two or more different monomer units. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1 wherein said multiblock copolymer is in the form of a non-covalently crosslinked hydrogel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic middle block is a random copolymer of a C1-8 acrylate with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic muliblock copolymer of claim 1, wherein said copolymer is a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the hydrophobic end blocks have a Tg of from 0° C. to 300° C., and the hydrophilic middle block has a Tg of from −200° C. to 130° C., and wherein the hydrophobic end blocks have a Tg higher than that of the hydrophilic middle block. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 12, wherein the hydrophobic end blocks have a Tg of from 30° C. to 150° C., and the hydrophilic middle block has a Tg of from −80° C. to 50° C. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A polymer blend comprising the amphiphilic multiblock copolymer of claim 1 with one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic homopolymer, a hydrophobic copolymer, a hydrophilic homopolymer, and/or a hydrophilic copolymer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The polymer blend of claim 14, wherein one or more of the hydrophilic homopolymer, hydrophilic copolymer, hydrophobic homopolymer, or hydrophobic copolymer is formed of the same monomer units as one or more of the amphiphilic copolymer block segments. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The amphiphilic triblock copolymer of claim 1 comprising an article, a coating, or a film. ### Claim 17 A method for tailoring the mechanical and/or physical properties of an insoluble triblock copolymer comprising, forming a triblock copolymer by means of a controlled radical polymerization process, and adjusting the compositions of each block to obtain the specified mechanical and/or physical properties, wherein said insoluble triblock copolymer is water insoluble, water indispersible, and not soluble or dispersible in C1-3 alcohols. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said mechanical and/or physical properties being tailored are water permeability and/or water absorption.