The present invention relates to a process for preparing a waterborne dispersion comprising amphiphilic block copolymer comprising at least blocks [A] and [B], and polymer P comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) different from monomer(s) (i) (monomer(s) (iii)), whereby the amount of block copolymer is higher than 0.5 and lower than 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of monomers used to prepare the block copolymer and polymer P, wherein the process comprises at least the following steps: (I) subjecting at least ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (i) bearing acid-functional groups to a free-radical polymerization process in an aqueous medium in the presence of a free radical initiator and a cobalt chelate complex to obtain block [A], (II) subjecting at least ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (ii) different from monomer(s) (i) to an emulsion polymerization process in aqueous medium in the presence of block [A] and a free radical initiator, whereby the amount of ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (ii) in block [B] is at least 70 wt. %, relative to the total weight amount of monomers used to prepare block [B] and whereby the ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (ii) is (are) selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid esters, dialkyl esters of itaconic acid, methacrylonitrile, α-methyl styrene and any mixture thereof, (III) subjecting at least ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (iii) different from monomer(s) (i) to an emulsion polymerization process in aqueous medium at a pH in the range of from 5 to 10 in the presence of the amphiphilic block copolymer to obtain the block copolymer-polymer P, and the process further comprises deactivating the cobalt chelate complex, which remains from step (I), prior to and/or during step (II).

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a waterborne dispersion comprising amphiphilic block copolymer comprising at least blocks [A] and [B], and polymer P comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) different from monomer(s) (i) (monomer(s) (iii)), whereby the amount of block copolymer is higher than 0.5 and lower than 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of monomers used to prepare the block copolymer and polymer P, wherein the process comprises at least the following steps: (I) subjecting at least ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (i) bearing acid-functional groups to a free-radical polymerization process in an aqueous medium in the presence of a free radical initiator and a cobalt chelate complex to obtain block [A], (II) subjecting at least ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (ii) different from monomer(s) (i) to an emulsion polymerization process in aqueous medium in the presence of block [A] and a free radical initiator, whereby the amount of ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (ii) in block [B] is at least 70 wt. %, relative to the total weight amount of monomers used to prepare block [B] and whereby the ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (ii) is (are) selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid esters, dialkyl esters of itaconic acid, methacrylonitrile, α-methyl styrene and any mixture thereof, (III) subjecting at least ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) (iii) different from monomer(s) (i) to an emulsion polymerization process in aqueous medium at a pH in the range of from 5 to 10 in the presence of the amphiphilic block copolymer to obtain the block copolymer-polymer P, and the process further comprises deactivating the cobalt chelate complex, which remains from step (I), prior to and/or during step (II).

A laminate production method is provided which can sufficiently prevent the occurrence of blocking without causing deterioration in the outstanding characteristics of acrylic block copolymers such as adhesive performance, and can also ensure excellent processability during extrusion. The laminate production method includes a step (1) of bringing raw pellets of an acrylic block copolymer (A) into contact with an aqueous dispersion (C) containing acrylic resin particles (B) and no surfactants, the acrylic block copolymer (A) including at least one polymer block (a1) including acrylic acid alkyl ester units and at least one polymer block (a2) including methacrylic acid alkyl ester units, a step (2) of removing water attached to the pellets and thereby obtaining pellets (D), and a step (3) of preparing an adhesive composition using an adhesive feedstock including the pellets (D) from the step (2), and extruding the adhesive composition to form an adhesive layer and thereby producing a laminate including the adhesive layer and a substrate layer.

A laminate production method is provided which can sufficiently prevent the occurrence of blocking without causing deterioration in the outstanding characteristics of acrylic block copolymers such as adhesive performance, and can also ensure excellent processability during extrusion. The laminate production method includes a step (1) of bringing raw pellets of an acrylic block copolymer (A) into contact with an aqueous dispersion (C) containing acrylic resin particles (B) and no surfactants, the acrylic block copolymer (A) including at least one polymer block (a1) including acrylic acid alkyl ester units and at least one polymer block (a2) including methacrylic acid alkyl ester units, a step (2) of removing water attached to the pellets and thereby obtaining pellets (D), and a step (3) of preparing an adhesive composition using an adhesive feedstock including the pellets (D) from the step (2), and extruding the adhesive composition to form an adhesive layer and thereby producing a laminate including the adhesive layer and a substrate layer.

A laminate production method is provided which can sufficiently prevent the occurrence of blocking without causing deterioration in the outstanding characteristics of acrylic block copolymers such as adhesive performance, and can also ensure excellent processability during extrusion. The laminate production method includes a step (1) of bringing raw pellets of an acrylic block copolymer (A) into contact with an aqueous dispersion (C) containing acrylic resin particles (B) and no surfactants, the acrylic block copolymer (A) including at least one polymer block (a1) including acrylic acid alkyl ester units and at least one polymer block (a2) including methacrylic acid alkyl ester units, a step (2) of removing water attached to the pellets and thereby obtaining pellets (D), and a step (3) of preparing an adhesive composition using an adhesive feedstock including the pellets (D) from the step (2), and extruding the adhesive composition to form an adhesive layer and thereby producing a laminate including the adhesive layer and a substrate layer.

A semicrystalline multiblock copolymer includes alternating blocks of semicrystalline isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and semicrystalline polyethylene (PE), having a block arrangement according to formula (I):
(iPP.sub.w).sub.p(PE.sub.x)(iPP.sub.y).sub.m(PE.sub.z).sub.n   (I),
wherein p is 0 or 1; m is 0 or 1; n is 0 or 1; the sum of p, m, and n is 1, 2, or 3; and the sum of w, x, y, and z is greater than or equal to 40 kg/mol, with the provisos that: when m and n are 0, the sum of w and x is greater than or equal to 140 kg/mol; and when p and n are 0, the sum of y and x is greater than or equal to 140 kg/mol. Related compositions and methods are also provided.

A semicrystalline multiblock copolymer includes alternating blocks of semicrystalline isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and semicrystalline polyethylene (PE), having a block arrangement according to formula (I):
(iPP.sub.w).sub.p(PE.sub.x)(iPP.sub.y).sub.m(PE.sub.z).sub.n   (I),
wherein p is 0 or 1; m is 0 or 1; n is 0 or 1; the sum of p, m, and n is 1, 2, or 3; and the sum of w, x, y, and z is greater than or equal to 40 kg/mol, with the provisos that: when m and n are 0, the sum of w and x is greater than or equal to 140 kg/mol; and when p and n are 0, the sum of y and x is greater than or equal to 140 kg/mol. Related compositions and methods are also provided.

A semicrystalline multiblock copolymer includes alternating blocks of semicrystalline isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and semicrystalline polyethylene (PE), having a block arrangement according to formula (I):
(iPP.sub.w).sub.p(PE.sub.x)(iPP.sub.y).sub.m(PE.sub.z).sub.n   (I),
wherein p is 0 or 1; m is 0 or 1; n is 0 or 1; the sum of p, m, and n is 1, 2, or 3; and the sum of w, x, y, and z is greater than or equal to 40 kg/mol, with the provisos that: when m and n are 0, the sum of w and x is greater than or equal to 140 kg/mol; and when p and n are 0, the sum of y and x is greater than or equal to 140 kg/mol. Related compositions and methods are also provided.

A functional layer with an adhesive layer of the present invention includes a functional layer and a curable adhesive layer AD2 arranged over at least apart of a surface of the functional layer, in which the curable adhesive layer AD2 satisfies all the following requirements (1) and (2).

(1) In a case where 32 g of a steel ball is placed on an adhesive surface of the curable adhesive layer AD2 at 25° C. and kept as it is for 10 seconds, and then a glass plate is slowly tilted, the steel ball starts to roll at an angle of 5° or less.

(2) After being cured at 90° C. for 2 hours, the curable adhesive layer AD2 satisfies a ratio (b/a) of a plastic deformation amount b to an elastic deformation amount a of 0.01 to 100 at 25° C. under a load of 0.1 mN.

A functional layer with an adhesive layer of the present invention includes a functional layer and a curable adhesive layer AD2 arranged over at least apart of a surface of the functional layer, in which the curable adhesive layer AD2 satisfies all the following requirements (1) and (2).

(1) In a case where 32 g of a steel ball is placed on an adhesive surface of the curable adhesive layer AD2 at 25° C. and kept as it is for 10 seconds, and then a glass plate is slowly tilted, the steel ball starts to roll at an angle of 5° or less.

(2) After being cured at 90° C. for 2 hours, the curable adhesive layer AD2 satisfies a ratio (b/a) of a plastic deformation amount b to an elastic deformation amount a of 0.01 to 100 at 25° C. under a load of 0.1 mN.