The present invention relates to a block copolymer, and to a block copolymer including an aromatic vinyl-based polymer block, a conjugated diene-based polymer block and a coupling agent linking group, wherein the conjugated diene-based polymer block includes a hydroxyl group, and the hydroxyl group content is 0.5 mol % to 12.0 mol % based on the double bond content of a conjugated diene-based monomer unit, a method for preparing the same, and an asphalt composition including the same.

A molded bale of a rubber composition, containing: a rubber-like polymer (A) having an iodine value of 10 to 250, 3% by mass or more of an ethylene structure, and less than 10% by mass of a vinyl aromatic monomer block; and titanium (C), in which a content of the titanium (C) is 3 ppm or more and 120 ppm or less, and a content of aluminum (B) is less than 2 ppm.

Disclosed herein is a coupled polymer product comprising polymer with up to four polymer chains bonded to a functionalizing compound of formula II, wherein the polymer chains are comprised of conjugated diene-containing monomers optionally in combination with vinyl aromatic monomers and further include vinyl group-functionalized silane compound of formula I bonded within the polymer chain. Also disclosed are processes for producing the coupled polymer product as well as a rubber composition containing the coupled polymer product and tire components comprising the rubber composition.

A block copolymer comprising a polymer block (A) mainly comprising a vinyl aromatic monomer unit, and a polymer block (B) mainly comprising a conjugated diene monomer unit, the block copolymer being represented by the following general formula (1) or (2):

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wherein each curved portion represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or optionally has a substituent, X represents a group 1 element, and “polymer” represents a polymer moiety.

Dual composition block copolymers made from conjugated diene and monovinyl aromatic monomers in batch organolithium initiated polymerization show advantageous performance in the production of crosslinked microcellular rubber compounds and pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives. The dual composition block copolymers are partially coupled with a coupling agent linking inner monovinyl aromatic blocks. Their un-coupled low molecular weight fraction has greater monovinyl aromatic repeating unit content than their coupled high molecular weight fraction. Crosslinked microcellular rubber articles made from the dual composition block copolymers exhibit lower density, smaller and more homogeneous cell size, higher softness and higher resiliency than prior art block copolymers. Rubber compounding of formulations comprising the dual composition block copolymers proceed at slightly lower torque and slightly lower temperature than with prior art block copolymers. Pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives formulated with the dual composition block copolymers are very well suited for labels, exhibiting higher tack and higher softening temperature than those made from prior art block copolymers.

A counter tapered thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising: (a) a counter tapered diblock A-[A/B] copolymer with a peak molecular weight from 20,000 to 250,000, which includes a monovinyl aromatic homopolymer block A with a peak molecular weight of at least 8,000 and a counter tapered copolymer block [A/B] with a vinyl content of at least 15 weight percent based on the amount of conjugated diene units in the diblock copolymer; and (b) a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of linear triblock copolymers having a peak molecular weight that is at least about 1.5 times the peak molecular weight of the counter tapered diblock A-[A/B] copolymer described in (a), multiarm coupled block copolymers having a peak molecular weight that is at least about 2.5 times the peak molecular weight of the counter tapered diblock A-[A/B] copolymer described in (a), and mixtures thereof; and (c) wherein the ratio of (a) to (b) in the counter tapered thermoplastic elastomer composition is from about 1:5 to about 5:1. The counter tapered thermoplastic elastomer compositions provide in the applications: i) easy processing such as short dispersion time, low mixing temperature, low viscosity, excellent storage stability; and ii) better reinforcement such as high elastic response, wide range of performance grade, high adherence, higher filler loading capacity, and better compromise between high and low temperature properties; which make them suitable for a broad range of applications such as road paving, roofing, shingles, waterproofing membranes, adhesive tapes and labels, contact and sprayable adhesives, and sealants.

Provided is a binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery with which it is possible to form a functional layer that can provide a battery component such as an electrode or a separator with a balance of excellent handleability and process adhesiveness. The binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery contains: polymer particles containing a block polymer including a block region composed of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit; a water-soluble polymer including a hydrophilic group; and water. The block polymer has a diblock content of not less than 0 mass % and not more than 60 mass %. The water-soluble polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 15,000 and not more than 500,000.

A binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery contains a particulate polymer including a block copolymer A represented by the following general formula (A): Ar1.sup.a-D.sup.a-Ar2.sup.a. (In general formula (A), Ar1.sup.a indicates a block region that has a weight-average molecular weight of 5,500 to 20,000 and is formed of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, Ar2.sup.a indicates a block region that has a weight-average molecular weight of 40,000 to 400,000 and is formed of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, and D.sup.a indicates a block region that is formed of an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit.)

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.

A hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) is disclosed comprising, prior to hydrogenation, a polymer block A of at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, a polymer block B of at least one conjugated diene, and a copolymer block C of at least one vinyl aromatic monomer and 1,3-butadiene monomer. The HSBC has a total vinyl aromatic content of 15 to 60 wt. % and an aromatic blockiness index of 20 to 80%. The viscoelastic properties of HSBC show a value of a tan δ peak height of 0.7 to 2, a tan δ peak temperature of −40 to 25° C., and a temperature width value (in ° C.) at half the tan δ peak height of 17 to 40. The HSBC provides improved mechanical properties and can be used in preparation of adhesives and protective films applications.