Terpene/isoolefin copolymers having substantially heterogeneous compositional distribution and displaying thermoplastic elastomeric properties

Abstract

Copolymers having a substantially heterogeneous composition distribution and strong UV absorption are the direct reaction product of an isoolefin and at least one terpene having the molecular formulae of (C5H8)n where n is equal to or greater than two, and optionally additional monomers. More specifically, the invention relates to copolymers of isobutylene and alloocimene that exhibit thermoplastic elastomeric properties and exhibit strong filler interaction. The present invention also relates to methods for producing copolymers of at least one isoolefin and at least one terepene by a two-phase living polymerization that produces a substantially linear triblock and multiblock copolymer having substantially heterogeneous distribution of the isoolefin and terpene units.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.