A binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery contains water-soluble macromolecules, water, and a particulate polymer formed of a polymer that includes a block region formed of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit. Surface acid content A of the particulate polymer is 0.05 mmol/g or more, acid content B in an aqueous phase of the binder composition per 1 g of the particulate polymer is not less than 0.03 mmol/g and not more than 0.80 mmol/g, and a ratio (A/B) of the surface acid content A of the particulate polymer and the acid content B in the aqueous phase of the binder composition is not less than 0.5 and not more than 5.0.

A process for producing a styrene-butadiene diblock copolymer-containing blend that is not an agglomeration, that involves mixing a styrene-butadiene multiblock thermoplastic elastomer solution with a styrene-butadiene diblock copolymer solution. Blends comprising a styrene-butadiene diblock copolymer and a styrene-butadiene multiblock thermoplastic elastomer, which blends are not an agglomeration.

A brominated copolymer of at least one conjugated diene and at least one styrenic monomer is prepared such that at least 45 percent, but no more than 70 percent, of the non-aromatic double bonds In the copolymer are brominated. The produced brominated copolymer is useful as a flame retardant and exhibits surprisingly small domain sizes after dissolution in styrenic monomer which is subsequently polymerized.

A brominated copolymer of at least one conjugated diene and at least one styrenic monomer is prepared such that at least 45 percent, but no more than 70 percent, of the non-aromatic double bonds In the copolymer are brominated. The produced brominated copolymer is useful as a flame retardant and exhibits surprisingly small domain sizes after dissolution in styrenic monomer which is subsequently polymerized.

A bend sensor comprising a sensor section in which a polymer electrolyte film is sandwiched between a pair of electrode films, wherein each of the electrode films contains: a block copolymer (Z) having a polymer block (S) composed of a structural unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound, and containing an ion-conducting group, and an amorphous polymer block (T) composed of a structural unit derived from an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon; and a conducting particle; which block copolymer (Z) forms a lamellar structure, which bend sensor therefore allows generation of enhanced voltage between the electrode films when deformation of the sensor occurs as it follows movement of an object, is provided.

A rubber composition for tires of the present technology contains a diene rubber, silica, and a predetermined alkyltrialkoxysilane; the diene rubber containing a butadiene rubber and a particular conjugated diene rubber, a content of the butadiene rubber in the diene rubber being 20 mass % or greater and a content of the particular conjugated diene rubber in the diene rubber being from 30 to 80 mass %; an average glass transition temperature of the diene rubber being from −65 to −45° C.; the particular conjugated diene rubber being a conjugated diene rubber produced by a particular production method and having predetermined ranges of aromatic vinyl unit content, vinyl bond content, and weight average molecular weight.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogenated copolymer composition and the like having an excellent balance among initial tack strength, suppression of increase in tackiness, and suppression of uneven thicknesses of a tacky layer. The object can be achieved with the following hydrogenated copolymer composition.

A hydrogenated copolymer composition comprising: a component (a) comprising a polymer block comprising a vinyl aromatic monomer unit as a main component and a polymer block comprising a conjugated diene monomer unit as a main component; and a component (b) comprising a polymer block comprising a vinyl aromatic monomer unit as a main component and a polymer block comprising a conjugated diene monomer unit as a main component.

A hydrogenated block copolymer is disclosed comprising a polymer block A and a polymer block B. Prior to hydrogenation, the polymer block A has a first vinyl aromatic compound, and the polymer block B contains monomers a) a styrene compound having a radical reactive group and b) at least one conjugated diene, and optionally (c) a second vinyl aromatic compound that is same or different from the first vinyl aromatic compound. The repeat units of monomer a) forms 10-80 wt. % of the total block copolymer, and 10-70 wt. % of the total weight of block B. After hydrogenation, the polymerized units derived from the monomer b) has a RU of 0-1.5 meq per gram of the hydrogenated block copolymer. The hydrogenated block copolymer exhibits reactivity and higher flow properties before curing, after curing, shows excellent mechanical properties, improved flame resistance, and good solvent resistance.

Pressure sensitive adhesives made from a polymodal asymmetric elastomeric block copolymer, a tackifying resin and liquid polyisoprene are provided. Articles containing these pressure sensitive adhesives including protective sheeting, labels, laminated adhesives, tapes and adhesive films are described. The pressure sensitive adhesive based on polymodal asymmetric block copolymer described herein exhibits good adhesion on various substrates such as stainless steel (SS), polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) and enhanced high temperature shear without the effect of electron beam or UV curing.

Conjugated diene monovinylarene block copolymers containing an internal conjugated diene block and having superior kink resistance properties are disclosed. These copolymers can be used to produce tubing and other end-use articles, and can be a replacement for flexible PVC.