A block copolymer comprising: at least one monoalkenyl arene monomer polymer block (A) and copolymer block (B) containing myrcene, said copolymer block B also including: a) at least one conjugated diene monomer having a lower molecular weight than myrcene, or b) at least one monoalkenyl arene monomer, or c) a mixture of a) and b).
The polymer block A may be a copolymer block. When the polymer block A is a copolymer block, both block A and the copolymer myrcene block copolymer B can have a random, tapered or a controlled distribution configuration of comonomers. The block copolymer can be selectively or exhaustively hydrogenated. The block copolymer may be used in making adhesives and vibration damping compositions.

A block copolymer comprising: at least one monoalkenyl arene monomer polymer block (A) and copolymer block (B) containing myrcene, said copolymer block B also including: a) at least one conjugated diene monomer having a lower molecular weight than myrcene, or b) at least one monoalkenyl arene monomer, or c) a mixture of a) and b).
The polymer block A may be a copolymer block. When the polymer block A is a copolymer block, both block A and the copolymer myrcene block copolymer B can have a random, tapered or a controlled distribution configuration of comonomers. The block copolymer can be selectively or exhaustively hydrogenated. The block copolymer may be used in making adhesives and vibration damping compositions.

There is described a low number average molecular weight (M.sub.N<10 kD) and high glass transition temperature (>75 C.) copolymer (optionally a solid grade oligomer (SGO)) that comprises (a) at least 20 wt-% of itaconate functional monomer(s), (b) not more than 40% of a hydrophilic monomer, preferably an acid functional monomer(s) in an amount sufficient to achieve an acid value from 65 to 325 mg KOH per g of solid polymer; (c) optionally not more than 70% of other monomers not being either (a) or (b), having a max content of vinyl aromatic monomer(s) of 40 wt-% and/or max content of methacrylate(s) of 40 wt-%; where the weight percentages of monomers (a), (b) and (c) are calculated as a proportion of the total amount of monomers in the copolymer being 100%.

There is described a low number average molecular weight (M.sub.N<10 kD) and high glass transition temperature (>75 C.) copolymer (optionally a solid grade oligomer (SGO)) that comprises (a) at least 20 wt-% of itaconate functional monomer(s), (b) not more than 40% of a hydrophilic monomer, preferably an acid functional monomer(s) in an amount sufficient to achieve an acid value from 65 to 325 mg KOH per g of solid polymer; (c) optionally not more than 70% of other monomers not being either (a) or (b), having a max content of vinyl aromatic monomer(s) of 40 wt-% and/or max content of methacrylate(s) of 40 wt-%; where the weight percentages of monomers (a), (b) and (c) are calculated as a proportion of the total amount of monomers in the copolymer being 100%.

There are described a dispersion of polymeric beads where the beads comprise a copolymer composition comprising (preferably consisting essentially of): copolymers (and processes for making them) comprising (a) at least 8.5 wt-% preferably >=20 wt-% of a higher itaconate diester (preferably dibutyl itaconateDBI); (b) less than 23 wt-% acid monomer but also sufficient to have an acid value less than 150 mg KOH/g of polymer, (c) optionally with less than 50 wt-% of other itaconate monomers, and (d) optionally less than 77 wt-% of other monomers not (a) to (c). The DBI may be biorenewable. A further embodiment is an aqueous suspension polymerization process for preparing vinyl polymer beads from olefinically unsaturated monomers and a free-radical initiator, where at least 10 wt-% of the monomer is DBI.

There are described a dispersion of polymeric beads where the beads comprise a copolymer composition comprising (preferably consisting essentially of): copolymers (and processes for making them) comprising (a) at least 8.5 wt-% preferably >=20 wt-% of a higher itaconate diester (preferably dibutyl itaconateDBI); (b) less than 23 wt-% acid monomer but also sufficient to have an acid value less than 150 mg KOH/g of polymer, (c) optionally with less than 50 wt-% of other itaconate monomers, and (d) optionally less than 77 wt-% of other monomers not (a) to (c). The DBI may be biorenewable. A further embodiment is an aqueous suspension polymerization process for preparing vinyl polymer beads from olefinically unsaturated monomers and a free-radical initiator, where at least 10 wt-% of the monomer is DBI.

A medical adhesive that bonds well to human tissue while curing in a fast, controllable mariner. In a preferred form, the medical adhesive includes an oligomer, a hydrogel and/or water soluble polymer and a photoinitiator. Preferred oligomers include epoxides, urethanes, polyethers, polyester or a combination thereof. Hydrogels and water soluble polymers aid adhesion to moist surfaces, such as skin tissue, because they are hydrophilic and biodegradable, Preferred hydrogels include polymer hydrogels (PHGs). Suitable water soluble polymers include polyethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly-2-oxazoline. The photoinitiator is used to obtain fast, controllable curing of the adhesive compound. Curing takes place on demand when ultraviolet (UV) light is applied to the medical adhesive. To increase adhesion as well as to control flexibility and toughness, the medical adhesive may also include one or more monomers. Suitable monomers include acrylates and vinyls.

A medical adhesive that bonds well to human tissue while curing in a fast, controllable mariner. In a preferred form, the medical adhesive includes an oligomer, a hydrogel and/or water soluble polymer and a photoinitiator. Preferred oligomers include epoxides, urethanes, polyethers, polyester or a combination thereof. Hydrogels and water soluble polymers aid adhesion to moist surfaces, such as skin tissue, because they are hydrophilic and biodegradable, Preferred hydrogels include polymer hydrogels (PHGs). Suitable water soluble polymers include polyethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly-2-oxazoline. The photoinitiator is used to obtain fast, controllable curing of the adhesive compound. Curing takes place on demand when ultraviolet (UV) light is applied to the medical adhesive. To increase adhesion as well as to control flexibility and toughness, the medical adhesive may also include one or more monomers. Suitable monomers include acrylates and vinyls.

There is described an aqueous urethane acrylate copolymer dispersion comprising a) from 10 to 95 wt-% of a polyurethane copolymer, and b) from 5 to 90 wt-% of a polyvinyl copolymer, where vinyl copolymer (b) comprises from 30 parts to 100 parts by weight of biorenewable monomer(s)such as itaconic acid, itaconate diesters and/or diamides for example dimethyl itaconate (DMI) or dibutyl itaconate (DBI) and where optionally the composition has a residual monomer level of less than 5000 ppm.

There is described an aqueous urethane acrylate copolymer dispersion comprising a) from 10 to 95 wt-% of a polyurethane copolymer, and b) from 5 to 90 wt-% of a polyvinyl copolymer, where vinyl copolymer (b) comprises from 30 parts to 100 parts by weight of biorenewable monomer(s)such as itaconic acid, itaconate diesters and/or diamides for example dimethyl itaconate (DMI) or dibutyl itaconate (DBI) and where optionally the composition has a residual monomer level of less than 5000 ppm.