The invention provides a class of wedge-type block copolymers having a plurality of chemically different blocks, at least a portion of which incorporates a wedge group-containing block providing useful properties. For example, use of one or more wedge group-containing blocks in some block copolymers of the invention significantly inhibits chain entanglement and, thus, the present block copolymers materials provide a class of polymer materials capable of efficient molecular self-assembly to generate a range of structures, such as periodic nanostructures and microstructures. Materials of the present invention include copolymers having one or more wedge group-containing blocks, and optionally for some applications copolymers also incorporating one or more polymer side group-containing blocks. The present invention also provides useful methods of making and using wedge-type block copolymers.

Provided is a component for head mounted display comprising a thermoplastic resin composition having a glass-transition temperature (Tg) of 120 C. or higher, having an absolute value of in-plane phase difference of 30 nm or less in terms of 3 mm thickness.

Selectively amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymers, and their preparation, for use as anion exchange membrane materials. The selectively functionalized block copolymers have at least two end blocks A each of which are substantially free of amino- or phosphino-functional groups, and have at least one interior block D which comprises on average at least one amino- or phosphino-functionalized polymer unit of formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein Z is nitrogen or phosphorous; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl; R each independently, is hydrogen or is alkyl optionally substituted by a moiety -(A.sup.1-NR.sup.a).sub.xR.sup.b; or two R groups, together with the Z to which they are bonded, form an optionally substituted ring; x is 1, 2 or 3; A.sup.1 is straight chain alkylene optionally substituted by one or more methyl and/or ethyl groups; and R.sup.a and R.sup.b, each independently, is hydrogen or alkyl;
or a corresponding onium salt.

Selectively amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymers, and their preparation, for use as anion exchange membrane materials. The selectively functionalized block copolymers have at least two end blocks A each of which are substantially free of amino- or phosphino-functional groups, and have at least one interior block D which comprises on average at least one amino- or phosphino-functionalized polymer unit of formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein Z is nitrogen or phosphorous; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl; R each independently, is hydrogen or is alkyl optionally substituted by a moiety -(A.sup.1-NR.sup.a).sub.xR.sup.b; or two R groups, together with the Z to which they are bonded, form an optionally substituted ring; x is 1, 2 or 3; A.sup.1 is straight chain alkylene optionally substituted by one or more methyl and/or ethyl groups; and R.sup.a and R.sup.b, each independently, is hydrogen or alkyl;
or a corresponding onium salt.

Disclosed herein are copolymers comprising at least one block comprising C8-C12 olefin-derived units, at least one block comprising C4-C6 olefin-derived units, and at least one block comprising C5/C10 olefin-derived units, wherein each block has a number average molecular weight of at least 300 g/mole and two glass transition temperatures (Tg). The olefin block copolymers are formed by combining a first olefin with a catalyst at least a first stage to form a first olefin block, and combining a second olefin with the same or different catalyst in at least a separate stage to form a second block. The copolymers are useful as tackifiers in adhesive compositions and in films.

Disclosed herein are copolymers comprising at least one block comprising C8-C12 olefin-derived units, at least one block comprising C4-C6 olefin-derived units, and at least one block comprising C5/C10 olefin-derived units, wherein each block has a number average molecular weight of at least 300 g/mole and two glass transition temperatures (Tg). The olefin block copolymers are formed by combining a first olefin with a catalyst at least a first stage to form a first olefin block, and combining a second olefin with the same or different catalyst in at least a separate stage to form a second block. The copolymers are useful as tackifiers in adhesive compositions and in films.

A method for the preparation of block copolymers including at least one high vinyl segment, the method comprising (i) charging into a reactor a diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent, a catalytically effective amount of anionic initiator, and an oligomeric oxolanyl propane, whereby the reactor is optionally cooled; (ii) allowing the diene monomer to polymerize at a peak polymerization temperature of at least about 18 C. and less than about 60 C. to form a first block where the vinyl content is at least about 50 percent by weight; (iii) after step (ii), charging into the reactor a vinyl aromatic monomer, whereby the reactor is optionally heated to a temperature up to about 60 C.; (iv) allowing the vinyl aromatic monomer to polymerize to form a second block; and (v) optionally charging into the reactor a quenching agent.

A method for the preparation of block copolymers including at least one high vinyl segment, the method comprising (i) charging into a reactor a diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent, a catalytically effective amount of anionic initiator, and an oligomeric oxolanyl propane, whereby the reactor is optionally cooled; (ii) allowing the diene monomer to polymerize at a peak polymerization temperature of at least about 18 C. and less than about 60 C. to form a first block where the vinyl content is at least about 50 percent by weight; (iii) after step (ii), charging into the reactor a vinyl aromatic monomer, whereby the reactor is optionally heated to a temperature up to about 60 C.; (iv) allowing the vinyl aromatic monomer to polymerize to form a second block; and (v) optionally charging into the reactor a quenching agent.

The invention concerns an olefinically unsaturated radial styrenic block copolymer having the general formula
A-BY(B-A).sub.n
wherein each A is independently a polymer block composed of at least 90 mol. % of an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon, each B is independently a polymer block composed of at least 90 mol. % of one or more conjugated dienes, Y is the remnant of a coupling agent, and n is an integer from 2 to 5. The invention is also an improved vulcanizer-free latex comprising water and the olefinically unsaturated radial styrenic block copolymer. Moreover, the invention concerns a process for preparing articles by coagulation dipping from the improved latex and dipped goods made from such latex.

A pneumatic tire has a carcass layer extending from a tread portion to bead portions on both sides thereof, a belt layer on an outer side of a crown portion thereof, and an inner liner disposed on an inner side of the carcass layer. The inner liner is composed of a first layer disposed on an inner side of the tire, and a second layer disposed in contact with a rubber layer of said carcass layer. The first layer is an elastomer composition containing a thermoplastic elastomer, an ultraviolet absorber and an antioxidant, the thermoplastic elastomer containing at least one of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer and a SIBS modified copolymer obtained by modifying a styrene block portion of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer with one of acid chloride and acid anhydride having an unsaturated bond. The second layer contains an elastomer containing at least one of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer and a styrene-isobutylene block copolymer. The first layer and the second layer are elastomer compositions containing the ultraviolet absorber and the antioxidant by 0.5 parts by mass to 40 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of an elastomer component. In the inner liner, an average thickness Gs in a buttress region Rs extending from a tire largest width position to a corresponding position Lu at a belt layer end is thinner than an average thickness Gb in a bead region Rb extending from the tire largest width position to a bead toe.