The present invention relates, in particular, to a coating composition, cross-linkable under the action of UV-visible radiation, which has the advantage of being thermoformable and having excellent scratch and abrasion resistant properties. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a thermoformable coating, resistant to scratches and abrasion, comprising the cross-linking of a composition according to the invention under the action of UV-visible radiation. The present invention also relates to a method for protecting a substrate against scratches and abrasion, preferably said substrate being thermoformable or thermodrapable. The present invention also relates to a coated article, resistant to scratches and abrasion, preferably a thermoformable or thermodrapable coated article that can be obtained by a method according to the invention, as well as the use of a composition according to the invention to protect a possibly thermoformable or thermodrapable substrate against scratches and abrasion. The present invention also relates to the use of a composition according to the invention for preparing thermoformable coatings, resistant to scratches and abrasion. The present invention further relates to a thermoformable coating, resistant to scratches and abrasion, characterised in that it results from cross-linking under the action of UV-visible radiation at least one composition according to the invention.

An adhesive composition made from an elastomer and a tackifying resin. The tackifying resin includes a farnesene polymer or copolymer having the following properties: i) less than 10 weight percent of volatile organic compounds; ii) Mn between 300 Da and 1000 Da; iii) Mw between 400 Da and 3000 Da; iv) Mw/Mn between 1.00 and 3.00; v) Tg between 50 C. and 20 C.; and vi) viscosity between 400,000 cP and 1,000,000 cP at 25 C. A method of making the farnesene-based polymer or copolymer includes combining a farnesene monomer and a solvent and optionally adding one or more co-monomers selected from dienes, branched mono-olefins, and vinyl aromatics, to provide a monomer feed, and polymerizing the monomer feed by combining it with a Friedel-Crafts initiator in a vessel. The farnesene-based polymer or copolymer tackifier may be combined with one or more elastomers and one or more other tackifiers to form an adhesive composition.

A curable liquid rubber composition including at least one liquid polyene component and at least one heat activated crosslinking agent. The liquid polyene component may be a single polyene or a blend of polyenes. In one embodiment, the liquid polyene component may contain on a molar basis, at least one monomer that results in at least 45 molar percent of C2-C13 pendant groups. In another embodiment, the liquid polyene component may contain on a molar basis at least one monomer that results in at least 20 molar percent of C2-C5 pendant groups, and at least one monomer that results in at least 7 molar percent of C6-C13 pendant groups. After curing, the liquid rubber composition may have a loss factor greater than 0.51, a maximum loss factor temperature greater than 10 C., and a swelling ratio in toluene from 40% to 170% by weight.

A curable liquid rubber composition including at least one liquid polyene component and at least one heat activated crosslinking agent. The liquid polyene component may be a single polyene or a blend of polyenes. In one embodiment, the liquid polyene component may contain on a molar basis, at least one monomer that results in at least 45 molar percent of C2-C13 pendant groups. In another embodiment, the liquid polyene component may contain on a molar basis at least one monomer that results in at least 20 molar percent of C2-C5 pendant groups, and at least one monomer that results in at least 7 molar percent of C6-C13 pendant groups. After curing, the liquid rubber composition may have a loss factor greater than 0.51, a maximum loss factor temperature greater than 10 C., and a swelling ratio in toluene from 40% to 170% by weight.

Aspects of the present invention relate to polymers, and particularly to farnesene polymers functionalized with one or more oxirane groups and, optionally, one or more hydroxyl groups. According to one aspect of the invention, provided is an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The epoxidized farnesene polymer has at least one of a side chain or a main backbone functionalized with at least one oxirane group and, optionally, at least one terminal end functionalized with a hydroxyl group. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for preparing an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The method includes epoxidizing a farnesene polymer, which may optionally contain one or more terminal hydroxyl groups, to functionalize at least one of a side chain or a main backbone of the farnesene polymer with an oxirane group.

Aspects of the present invention relate to polymers, and particularly to farnesene polymers functionalized with one or more oxirane groups and, optionally, one or more hydroxyl groups. According to one aspect of the invention, provided is an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The epoxidized farnesene polymer has at least one of a side chain or a main backbone functionalized with at least one oxirane group and, optionally, at least one terminal end functionalized with a hydroxyl group. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for preparing an epoxidized and optionally hydroxyl-functionalized polyfarnesene. The method includes epoxidizing a farnesene polymer, which may optionally contain one or more terminal hydroxyl groups, to functionalize at least one of a side chain or a main backbone of the farnesene polymer with an oxirane group.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polymerized CNSL composition, the method comprising subjecting a raw or technical CNSL to a heat treatment under reflux to obtain the polymerized CNSL composition, wherein the heat treatment is performed until the polymerized CNSL composition has a molecular weight M.sub.w of about 2800 to about 3700, such as from about 2900 to about 3600, or from about 3000 to about 3500 g/mol. The invention further relates to a polymerized CNSL composition, use of a polymerized CNSL composition according to the invention in a bitumen composition, a modified bitumen composition according to the invention and an asphalt composition comprising a modified bitumen composition according to the present invention.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polymerized CNSL composition, the method comprising subjecting a raw or technical CNSL to a heat treatment under reflux to obtain the polymerized CNSL composition, wherein the heat treatment is performed until the polymerized CNSL composition has a molecular weight M.sub.w of about 2800 to about 3700, such as from about 2900 to about 3600, or from about 3000 to about 3500 g/mol. The invention further relates to a polymerized CNSL composition, use of a polymerized CNSL composition according to the invention in a bitumen composition, a modified bitumen composition according to the invention and an asphalt composition comprising a modified bitumen composition according to the present invention.

A macromonomer precursor is provided that includes a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and a single functional terminal end. The functional terminal end may include a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an isocyanato group, or a carboxylic acid group. The terminal end of the macromonomer precursor may then be reacted with a (meth)acrylate to form a macromonomer having a (meth)acrylate functionalized terminal end that may be (co)polymerized with radically polymerizable monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers. Alternatively, a copolymer may be obtained by first deriving a poly(meth)acrylate from (meth)acrylate monomers having reactive groups that would allow the macromonomer precursors to be grafted onto the poly(meth)acrylate in a second step. The resulting copolymer may be incorporated as an additive in various formulations, such as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid, a cosmetic composition, and an adhesive composition.

A macromonomer precursor is provided that includes a polymeric chain derived from farnesene and a single functional terminal end. The functional terminal end may include a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an isocyanato group, or a carboxylic acid group. The terminal end of the macromonomer precursor may then be reacted with a (meth)acrylate to form a macromonomer having a (meth)acrylate functionalized terminal end that may be (co)polymerized with radically polymerizable monomers, such as alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers. Alternatively, a copolymer may be obtained by first deriving a poly(meth)acrylate from (meth)acrylate monomers having reactive groups that would allow the macromonomer precursors to be grafted onto the poly(meth)acrylate in a second step. The resulting copolymer may be incorporated as an additive in various formulations, such as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid, a cosmetic composition, and an adhesive composition.