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.

A modified conjugated diene-based polymer, a method of making the same, and a rubber composition including the same are disclosed herein. The modified conjugated diene-based polymer has excellent processability and good tensile strength and viscoelasticity. In some embodiments, a modified conjugated diene-based polymer includes a first chain including a repeating unit derived from a conjugated diene-based monomer, a second chain including a repeating unit derived from a compound represented by Formula 1 or Formula 2, and a derived unit from an alkoxysilane-based modifier, wherein the first chain and the second chain are coupled by the derived unit from the modifier.

A composition is disclosed comprising a sulfonated styrenic block copolymer (SSBC) having an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of at least 0.5 meq/g; and at least one compound which reacts with the SSBC forming a cross-linked SSBC. The compound is selected from: (i) a cross-linking agent, (ii) a metal cation, and (iii) a non-sulfonated polymer. A film prepared from the composition containing the cross-linked SSBC has a toughness in wet state measured after 1 week of 1.2 to 8 MJ/m.sup.3; and a tensile stress in wet state measured after 1 week of 3.2 to 8 MPa, according to ASTM D412. The film can be used as a water 10 purification membrane or an antimicrobial protection layer.

A composition is disclosed comprising a sulfonated styrenic block copolymer (SSBC) having an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of at least 0.5 meq/g; and at least one compound which reacts with the SSBC forming a cross-linked SSBC. The compound is selected from: (i) a cross-linking agent, (ii) a metal cation, and (iii) a non-sulfonated polymer. A film prepared from the composition containing the cross-linked SSBC has a toughness in wet state measured after 1 week of 1.2 to 8 MJ/m.sup.3; and a tensile stress in wet state measured after 1 week of 3.2 to 8 MPa, according to ASTM D412. The film can be used as a water 10 purification membrane or an antimicrobial protection layer.

A block copolymer composition containing at least one type of block copolymer component obtained by using a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene, wherein the block copolymer composition satisfies the conditions (1) to (3) indicated below. (1) The weight-average molecular weight is at least 100000 and at most 300000, and the conjugated diene content is at least 18 mass % and at most 35 mass %. (2) The vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon block percentage is at least 80% and at most 100% relative to the total amount of the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon. (3) At least 30 mass % and at most 60 mass % of block copolymer components having a conjugated diene content of at least 30 mass % are included.

Disclosed herein are linear block copolymers of formula A-B-A′ or A-B*B-A′, wherein blocks A and A′ are polystyrene blocks, block B is a poly(conjugated diene) block and * is a coupling agent having a vinyl content of from 10-60 mol %. The block copolymers have a polystyrene content of from 20-35 wt. %, relative to the overall weight of the block copolymer, and a molecular weight of from 200,000-300,000 g/mol. The block copolymers can be used with a wide variety of asphalt grades, and are valuable for producing homogeneous polymer modified asphalt compositions having an effective combination of performance properties, such as acceptable viscosity, good elastic response to an applied stress, and a low non-recoverable creep compliance. The combination of vinyl content and polymerization technology allows a high solution concentration during polymerization without excessive processing viscosity.

The disclosure relates to rubber latex formed from any of: branched block copolymers derived from alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon—1,3-diene monomer system, and branched polyisoprene homopolymers derived from isoprene. The polymers in embodiments are obtained by polymerization in the presence of an anionic initiator; at a temperature from 0° C. to 100° C.; followed by coupling with a multifunctional coupling agent of formula (R.sup.1O).sub.3Si—Y—Si(OR.sup.2).sub.3, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl groups; and Y is a C.sub.2-C.sub.8 alkylene group. The polymers are obtained as rubber cements having high solids content and low zero shear viscosities. The rubber cements are valuable for making latices for further applications.

A hydrogenated block copolymer (P) obtained by hydrogenation of a coupled polymer represented by (A-B)n-X, wherein the content of the vinyl aromatic monomer unit in the hydrogenated block copolymer (P) is 10 mass % to 40 mass %, the peak top molecular weight of a diblock component corresponding to (A-B) in (A-B)n-X is 160,000 to 225,000, the proportion of a dibranched component corresponding to a case in which n is 2 in (A-B)n-X is 10 mass % to 30 mass % based on the total hydrogenated block copolymer (P), the proportion of a tribranched component corresponding to a case in which n is 3 in (A-B)n-X is 40 mass % to 70 mass % based on the total hydrogenated block copolymer (P), and the ratio of the tribranched component to the dibranched component M (mass of tribranched component/mass of dibranched component) is 2 or more.

Polymer composition comprising (a) 33 to 52 wt.-% star-shaped block copolymers (a) comprising terminal vinylaromatic polymer blocks S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, and random styrene/butadiene copolymer blocks (B/S); and (b) 48 to 67 wt.-% SMMA copolymers (b). Moldings and shaped articles produced thereof have a high clarity and toughness and can be used in the household, appliance and healthcare sector.

A molded bale of a rubber-like block copolymer, the rubber-like block copolymer containing 5% by mass or more and 95% by mass or less of a polymer block (a) having a content of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit of 22% by mass or less; and 5% by mass or more and 95% by mass or less of a polymer block (b) having a content of a vinyl aromatic monomer unit of 23% by mass or more and less than 50% by mass, in which the rubber-like block copolymer has an iodine value of 10 to 250, an ethylene structure content of 3% by mass or more, and a vinyl aromatic monomer block content of less than 10% by mass.