Disclosed is a block copolymer including one or more blocks of an acrylate polymer and one or more blocks of a chloroprene polymer, wherein the number average molecular weight of the block copolymer is 110,000 or more, the number average molecular weight of the block of a chloroprene polymer is 80,000 or more in total, and the block copolymer has a functional group with a structure represented by the following chemical formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in the chemical formula (1), R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, chlorine, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted, or unsubstituted heterocyclyl group.

Disclosed is a block copolymer including one or more blocks of an acrylate polymer and one or more blocks of a chloroprene polymer, wherein the number average molecular weight of the block copolymer is 110,000 or more, the number average molecular weight of the block of a chloroprene polymer is 80,000 or more in total, and the block copolymer has a functional group with a structure represented by the following chemical formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in the chemical formula (1), R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, chlorine, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted, or unsubstituted heterocyclyl group.

Provided is a chloroprene-based polymer having an industrially applicable sufficient molecular weight and capable of obtaining a vulcanized rubber excellent in durability and fatigue endurance and an adhesive excellent in layer separation resistance. A chloroprene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight Mn of 150000 to 300000 and comprising a functional group of a structure represented by the general formula (1) or (2) below:

##STR00001##

(wherein in the general formula (1), R1 shows hydrogen, chlorine, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl group.)

Provided is a chloroprene-based polymer having an industrially applicable sufficient molecular weight and capable of obtaining a vulcanized rubber excellent in durability and fatigue endurance and an adhesive excellent in layer separation resistance. A chloroprene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight Mn of 150000 to 300000 and comprising a functional group of a structure represented by the general formula (1) or (2) below:

##STR00001##

(wherein in the general formula (1), R1 shows hydrogen, chlorine, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl group.)

A method for producing a chloroprene-based polymer latex which can efficiently remove a residual volatile organic substance from the chloroprene-based polymer latex while suppressing the deposition of agglomerates is provided. In the method for producing a chloroprene-based polymer latex of the present invention, when the residual volatile organic substance comprised in the latex is volatilized and removed, a mixed fluid of one or more gases selected from the group consisting of inert gases and air, and water is contacted with the latex at a gas pressure higher than the saturated water vapor pressure, and a temperature of the mixed fluid is a temperature lower than a boiling point of water at the gas pressure.

A method for producing a chloroprene-based polymer latex which can efficiently remove a residual volatile organic substance from the chloroprene-based polymer latex while suppressing the deposition of agglomerates is provided. In the method for producing a chloroprene-based polymer latex of the present invention, when the residual volatile organic substance comprised in the latex is volatilized and removed, a mixed fluid of one or more gases selected from the group consisting of inert gases and air, and water is contacted with the latex at a gas pressure higher than the saturated water vapor pressure, and a temperature of the mixed fluid is a temperature lower than a boiling point of water at the gas pressure.

A chloroprene-based polymer, wherein: a 1H-NMR spectrum of the chloroprene-based polymer measured in a deuterochloroform solvent has a peak at 5.80 to 6.00 ppm; when an area of the peak at 5.80 to 6.00 ppm is A and an area of a peak at 4.05 to 6.00 ppm is B, A/B is 1.20/100 or less; the 1H-NMR spectrum of the chloroprene-based polymer measured in a deuterochloroform solvent has a peak at 5.40 to 5.60 ppm; when an area of the peak at 5.40 to 5.60 ppm is D and the area of the peak at 4.05 to 6.00 ppm is B, D/B is 97.20/100 or less, is provided.

A chloroprene-based polymer, wherein: a 1H-NMR spectrum of the chloroprene-based polymer measured in a deuterochloroform solvent has a peak at 5.80 to 6.00 ppm; when an area of the peak at 5.80 to 6.00 ppm is A and an area of a peak at 4.05 to 6.00 ppm is B, A/B is 1.20/100 or less; the 1H-NMR spectrum of the chloroprene-based polymer measured in a deuterochloroform solvent has a peak at 5.40 to 5.60 ppm; when an area of the peak at 5.40 to 5.60 ppm is D and the area of the peak at 4.05 to 6.00 ppm is B, D/B is 97.20/100 or less, is provided.

The present invention aims to provide methods for surface-modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, which can cost-effectively impart a variety of functions, such as sliding properties or biocompatibility, according to the application. The present invention relates to a method for surface-modifying an object of a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points A on the surface of the object; and step 2 of radically polymerizing a non-functional monomer, starting from the polymerization initiation points A, to grow non-functional polymer chains, and further radically polymerizing a fluorine-containing functional monomer to grow fluorine-containing functional polymer chains.

The present invention aims to provide methods for surface-modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, which can cost-effectively impart a variety of functions, such as sliding properties or biocompatibility, according to the application. The present invention relates to a method for surface-modifying an object of a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points A on the surface of the object; and step 2 of radically polymerizing a non-functional monomer, starting from the polymerization initiation points A, to grow non-functional polymer chains, and further radically polymerizing a fluorine-containing functional monomer to grow fluorine-containing functional polymer chains.