Alkoxysilyl-containing adhesive sealants with intrinsically reduced viscosity

Abstract

The present invention provides specific alkoxylation products, a process for preparing them, compositions which comprise these alkoxylation products, and the use thereof.

Claims

1. An alkoxylation product with an intrinsically reduced viscosity, said alkoxylation product comprising a polymer of formula (I)
M.sub.iD.sub.jT.sub.kQ.sub.lUR.sub.uAP.sub.vformula (I) where the fragments M, D, T and Q are linked not to one another, but instead with one another, via the groups UR and/or AP, and the groups UR and AP are linked, not to one another, but instead with one another, correspondingly, via the fragments M, D, T or Q, where i=0 to 16, j=0 to 10, k=0 to 6, l=0 to 4, u=0 to 17, v=0 to 6, with the proviso that i+j+k+l>=1, M independently at each occurrence is an oxygen-radical-carrying hydrocarbon radical having a minimum numerical molar mass of 88 g/mol, or is a radical of formula (Ia), or of formula (Ib), or of formula (Ic) ##STR00010## where a=0 to 1000, b=1 to 1000, c=0 to 1000, d=0 to 1000, w=an integer from 0 to 1000, x=0 to 1000, y=an integer from 0 to 500, e=1 to 10, f=0 to 2, g=1 to 3, with the proviso that g+f=3 and g is at least 1, h=0 to 10 and with the proviso that the various monomer units of the fragments with the indices a, b, c, d, w, x and y are freely permutable among one another, and each of the groups with the indices w and y cannot follow itself or the other respective group, and where R.sup.1=independently at each occurrence a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched organic hydrocarbon radical R.sup.2=independently at each occurrence an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.3=independently at each occurrence an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.4=independently at each occurrence a hydrogen radical, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl or alkaryl group, or R.sup.4 and one of the radicals R.sup.5 taken together form a ring which comprises the atoms bonded to R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, R.sup.5=independently at each occurrence a hydrogen radical or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.6, R.sup.7=independently at each occurrence a hydrogen radical, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl, alkaryl group, and/or alkoxy group, R.sup.11=independently at each occurrence a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or an alkaryl group having 7 to 30, R.sup.12=independently at each occurrence a saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 30 C atoms, and/or an alkaryl group having 7 to 30, with the proviso that there must be at least one branched structural element present, R.sup.13, R.sup.14=independently at each occurrence hydrogen and/or an organic radical, or R.sup.13 and/or R.sup.14 is absent, and, if R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 are absent, there is a CC double bond instead of the radicals R.sup.13 and R.sup.14; the bridging fragment Z is present or absent: if the bridging fragment Z is absent, then R.sup.15, R.sup.16=independently at each occurrence hydrogen and/or an organic radical, and, if one of the radicals R.sup.13 or R.sup.14 is absent, the respective germinal radical is an alkylidene radical, if the bridging fragment Z is present, then R.sup.15 and R.sup.16=hydrocarbon radicals which are bridged cycloaliphatically or aromatically via the fragment Z, Z representing a divalent alkylene or alkenylene radical, ##STR00011## where R.sup.17=independently at each occurrence a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an aryl or alkaryl group, ##STR00012## where R.sup.18=a divalent linear or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl or aryl group, and, if j, k and I are each=0, then M must=formula (Ia); and where, for the fragments D, T and Q: D is a polyether radical PE with t being 2, T is a polyether radical PE with t being 3 and Q is a polyether radical PE with t being 4, where PE independently at each occurrence is a polyether radical with the formula
-(D.sup.A).sub.t-D.sup.X, where t=2 to 4, and D.sup.X is a t-valent functional, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched organic hydrocarbon radical, each of the radicals D.sup.A being bonded covalently to the radical D.sup.X, and where D.sup.A is a fragment of the formula (II) ##STR00013## with a to h, w, x and y and R.sup.2 to R.sup.16 independently of one another as defined in formula (Ia), with the proviso that the sum of all the indices a from formula (Ia) and formula (II) must be greater than or equal to 1, wherein the sum of all the indices x from formula (Ia) and formula (II) must be greater than or equal to 1, UR independently at each occurrence are identical or different divalent radicals of the form -U-D.sup.C-U-, or a monovalent radical of the form D.sup.D-U-, or a trivalent radical of the form D.sup.EU.sub.3, or a tetravalent radical of the form D.sup.FU.sub.4, where U is a C(O)NH group which is bonded via the nitrogen to D.sup.C, D.sup.E, D.sup.F or D.sup.D, and D.sup.C independently at each occurrence is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl radicals, and D.sup.D independently at each occurrence is a monovalent linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl radicals, and D.sup.E independently at each occurrence is a trivalent substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl radicals, and D.sup.F independently at each occurrence is a tetravalent substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl radicals, and AP independently at each occurrence are identical or different radicals of the general formula (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc) ##STR00014## or, if polyisocyanates with the structural units D.sup.E and/or D.sup.F are used, additionally structural elements analogous to formula (IIIa) and/or (IIIb), where the three urethane units bonded to D.sup.E and/or the four urethane units bonded to D.sup.F, independently of one another, have all or in part been further reacted to give allophanate structural units, as shown in the top part of the formulae (IIIa) and (IIIb).

2. The alkoxylation product according to claim 1, wherein x of formulae (Ia) and (II) is in total greater than or equal to 2, and b is in total greater than or equal to 0, and R.sup.12 is a branched alkyl chain having 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

3. The alkoxylation product according to claim 1, wherein in formula (I), k and l=0, j=0 to 2, i=2, u=j+1 and v=0, and x of formula (Ia) and (II) is in total greater than or equal to 2 and b is in total 2 to 300.

4. The alkoxylation product according to claim 1, where in formula (I) i=2 to 10, j=0 to 6, k=0 to 2, l=0 to 2, u=(19)+(2*k)+(3*1)+1, v=0, where M corresponds to formula (Ia) with a=0 to 6, b=12 to 500, c=0 to 4, d=0, w=0, x=0 to 10, y=0, e=1 to 10, f=0 to 2, g=1 to 3, with the proviso that g+f=3 h=1,2 or 3, and where for formula (II): a=1 to 10, b=10 to 700, c=0 to 2, d=0, w=0, x=1 to 10, y=0, e=1 to 10, f=0 to 2, g=1 to 3, with the proviso that g+f=3, h=1, 2 or 3, and where for formula (Ia) and formula (II): R.sup.2=independently at each occurrence a methyl or ethyl, propyl or isopropyl group, R.sup.3=independently at each occurrence a methyl or ethyl, propyl or isopropyl group, R.sup.4=independently at each occurrence hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R.sup.5=hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl group, R.sup.11=independently at each occurrence methyl, ethyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, C.sub.12/C.sub.14 alkyl, phenyl, cresyl or benzyl group; R.sup.12=independently at each occurrence an alkyl chain having at least one branched structural element and having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, and where for UR: UR are independently at each occurrence identical or different divalent radicals of the form -U-D.sup.C-U-, with D.sup.C independently at each occurrence a divalent substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl radicals.

5. The alkoxylation product according to claim 1, wherein at least one alkoxylation product of the formula (I) with in each case independently of one another i, j, k or 1 being 1 and v and u=0 is present.

6. The alkoxylation product according to claim 1 wherein the viscosity, determined at 25 C. and using a shear rate of 10 l/s, of the alkoxylation product of formula (I) lowers by at least 10% relative to the otherwise identical alkoxylation product with index x in the formulae (Ia) and (II)=0.

7. A process for preparing an alkoxylation product, said process comprising: reacting at least one glycidyl ether of general formula (IVb) ##STR00015## where R.sup.12 is independently at each occurrence a saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 30 C atoms, and/or an alkaryl group having 7 to 30, with the proviso that there must be at least one branched structural element present with at least one glycidyl ether of the general formula (V) ##STR00016## where f=0 to 2, g=1 to 3, with the proviso that g+f=3 and g is at least 1, h=0 to 10, R.sup.2=independently at each occurrence an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.3=independently at each occurrence an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein said reacting comprises process step A and process step B, where in process step A alkoxylation is carried out in at least two steps, where the 1.sup.st step comprises reacting a starter compound D.sup.X with propylene oxide, with which a molar mass of not more than from 500 to 3000 g/mol is built up, in the presence of a DMC catalyst, and the 2.sup.nd step comprises addition and reaction of further propylene oxide, and of one or more compounds of the formula (VIb) and one or more of the compounds of the formula (V).

9. The process according to claim 8, in which the 2.sup.nd step of process step A comprises addition and reaction of further propylene oxide, and of a compound of the formula (IVb), and a 3.sup.rd step comprises addition and reaction of one or more of the compounds of the formula (V).

10. The process according to claim 8, wherein in the process step (B) (a), polyethers of the formula PE are reacted with diisocyanates and, in a second reaction step (b), the product of the first reaction step (a) is reacted with a molecule of the formula H-M.

11. The process according to claim 7, wherein compounds of the formula (IVb) of glycidyl ethers with R.sup.12=alkyl chains having a total of 4 to 20 carbon atoms are employed.

12. The process according to claim 7, wherein compounds of the formula (V) of 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxy- or -triethoxysilane are employed.

13. The process according to claim 7, wherein alkoxylation products of formula (I) with the indices i=2 to 4 and j, k, l=0 are reacted with polyisocyanates, in which case under polyisocyanate there must be at least two isocyanate groups in the reaction partner.

14. A curable composition comprising at least one alkoxylation product according to claim 1 and at least one curing catalyst.

15. The curable composition according to claim 14, comprising at least one further alkoxylation product which has no alkoxysilyl-functional groups as per the unit with the index a in the formulae (Ia) and (II), it being possible for the further alkoxylation product to correspond.

Description

EXAMPLES

General Remarks

(1) The viscosity was determined as a function of shear rate at 25 C. using the MCR301 rheometer from Anton Paar in a plate/plate arrangement with a gap width of 1 mm. The diameter of the upper plate was 40 mm. The viscosity at a shear rate of 10 s.sup.1 was read off and is listed in Tables 1 and 2.

Example 1

Synthesis of a PPG-Based Alkoxylsilyl-Functional PolyetherUsed for Non-Inventive Formulations (Comparative Example)

(2) A 5-liter autoclave was charged with 353 g of PPG 2000, and 150 ppm (based on the total batch) of a zinc hexacyanocobaltate-double metal cyanide catalyst were added. To render the reactor inert, it was charged with nitrogen to 3 bar and then let down to atmospheric pressure. The procedure was repeated twice more. With stirring, the contents of the reactor were heated to 130 C. and evacuation took place to about 20 mbar, in order to remove volatile components. After 30 minutes, 80 g of propylene oxide were metered into the evacuated reactor in order to activate the catalyst. The internal pressure rose initially to about 0.8 bar. After about 6 minutes, the reaction set in, as evident from a drop in the reactor pressure. At this point, 1218 g of propylene oxide were metered in continuously over the course of about 50 minutes. This was followed by a one-hour afterreaction, during which the temperature was lowered to 95 C. At this temperature, a mixture of 196 g of Dynasylan GLYEO (from Evonik) and 1233 g of propylene oxide was metered in continuously at a rate such that the temperature remained constant. After a further one-hour afterreaction, deodorization was carried out by application of a pressure (P<100 mbar) to remove residues of unreacted alkylene oxide. After that, 500 ppm of Irganox 1135 (from BASF) were stirred in for 15 minutes. This gave a colourless, high-viscosity product: the respective molar ratios of the reactants used, based on one mol of starter, can be seen from Table 1.

Examples 2 and 3

Synthesis of PPG-Based Alkoxylsilyl-Functional PolyethersUsed for Non-Inventive Formulations (Comparative Example)

(3) The synthesis was carried out in the same way as Example 1 with adapted initial quantities, to give the molar ratios listed in Table 1 of the reactants used, based on 1 mol of starter. The starter for Example 3 was melted at 80 C. prior to the experiment.

Examples 4-8

Synthesis of Alkoxysilyl-Functional Polyethers with Intrinsically Reduced Viscosity (Inventive)

(4) The syntheses were carried out in the same way as for Examples 1-3, with the target product being constructed by addition of three blocks onto the respective starting molecule. After the addition of the first block, which was constructed from PO as alkylene oxide, and after a 30-minute afterreaction, a second block followed, in which as well as PO 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether (EHGE/raw material: IPDX RD 17) was metered in. The metered addition was followed by a one-hour afterreaction.

(5) In the concluding third block, a mixture of Dynasylan GLYEO and PO was added, followed by a one-hour afterreaction time. The two first blocks were added on at 130 C., the third block at 95 C. Concludingly, the reaction mixture was degassed at 95 C. for 15 minutes and 500 ppm of antioxidant (Irganox 1135) were stirred in. The molar ratios of the reactants used, based on 1 mol of starter, can be seen from Table 1.

Example 9

Synthesis of Alkoxysilyl-Functional Polyethers with Intrinsically Reduced Viscosity (Inventive)

(6) The syntheses were carried out in the same way as for Examples 4-8, with the target product being constructed by addition of two blocks onto the respective starting molecule. After the addition of the first block, which was constructed from PO as alkylene oxide, and after a 30-minute afterreaction, no second block followed; instead, directly, the third block according to Table 1 followed, by the metered addition not only of PO but also of 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether (EHGE/raw material: IPDX RD 17), and also of Dynasylan GLYEO. Metered addition was followed by a one-hour afterreaction.

(7) The first block was added on at 130 C., the second block at 95 C. Concludingly, the reaction mixture was degassed at 95 C. for 15 minutes and 500 ppm of antioxidant (Irganox 1135) was stirred in. The molar ratios of the reactants used, based on 1 mol of starter, can be seen from Table 1.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Block 1. 2. 3. Viscosity Ex. n.sub.PO n.sub.PO n.sub.EHGE** n.sub.GLYEO n.sub.PO n.sub.EHGE** (25 C.) No. Starter [mol.] [mol.] [mol.] [mol.] [mol.] [mol.] [Pa .Math. s] 1 PPG 2000* 119 0 0 4 120.5 0 11.0 4 PPG 2000* 18 97 4 4 120.5 0 6.2 5 PPG 2000* 18 93 8 4 120.5 0 3.3 2 PPG 2000* 87 0 0 4 103 0 12.1 6 PPG 2000* 18 65 4 4 103 0 6.0 7 PPG 2000* 34 61 8 4 103 0 3.5 3 PolyTHF 2000.sup.+ 51.7 0 0 3 71.8 0 22.9 8 PolyTHF 2000.sup.+ 13.2 34.5 4 3 71.8 0 6.0 9 PolyTHF 2000.sup.+ 51.7 0 0 3 67.8 4 6.4 *Polypropylene glycol polyether with an average molecular weight of 2000 g/mol **2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether = EHGE = IPOX RD 17 (Ipox Chemicals) .sup.+Poly THF 2000 (available from BASF) is polytetrahydrofuran with an average molecular weight of 2000 g/mol.
Endcapping (Process According to DE 102012203737):

(9) The alkoxylation products prepared in Examples 1-9 were subsequently reacted using IPDI, by process A or B.

Examples According to Process A

Example 10

(10) 185.4 g of silyl polyether from Example 1 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 60 C. Then 5.8 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.2 g of TIB Kat 722 was added. The mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and heated to 80 C., and 11.6 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 3 hours.

Example 11

(11) 509.4 g of silyl polyether from Example 4 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 60 C. Then 15.51 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.6 g of TIB Kat 722 was added. The mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and heated to 80 C., and 31.1 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 3 hours.

Example 12

(12) 505.1 g of silyl polyether from Example 5 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 60 C. Then 14.95 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.6 g of TIB Kat 722 was added. The mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and heated to 80 C., and 30.0 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 3 hours.

Example 13

(13) 706.8 g of silyl polyether from Example 2 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 60 C. Then 26.8 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.8 g of TIB Kat 722 was added. The mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and heated to 80 C., and 53.5 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 3 hours.

Example 14

(14) 703.7 g of silyl polyether from Example 6 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 60 C. Then 25.64 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.8 g of TIB Kat 722 was added. The mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and heated to 80 C., and 51.4 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 3 hours.

Example 15

(15) 725.3 g of silyl polyether from Example 7 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 60 C. Then 25.5 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.8 g of TIB Kat 722 was added. The mixture was stirred for 45 minutes and heated to 80 C., and 51.0 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 3 hours.

Examples According to Process B

Example 16

(16) 703.1 g of silyl polyether from Example 2 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 70 C. Then 26.5 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.05 g of TIB Kat 216 (dioctyltin dilaurate) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and 53.2 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 5 hours.

Example 17

(17) 701.2 g of silyl polyether from Example 6 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 70 C. Then 25.5 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.05 g of TIB Kat 216 (dioctyltin dilaurate) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and 51.2 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 5 hours.

Example 18

(18) 722.5 g of silyl polyether from Example 7 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 70 C. Then 25.4 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.05 g of TIB Kat 216 (dioctyltin dilaurate) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and 50.88 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 5 hours.

Example 19

(19) 2681.5 g of silyl polyether from Example 3 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 70 C. Then 143.1 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.19 g of TIB Kat 216 (dioctyltin dilaurate) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and 286.8 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 5 hours.

Example 20

(20) 1181.4 g of silyl polyether from Example 8 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 70 C. Then 59.9 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.08 g of TIB Kat 216 (dioctyltin dilaurate) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and 120.1 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 5 hours.

Example 21

(21) 1069.7 g of silyl polyether from Example 9 were introduced as an initial charge and heated to 70 C. Then 54.3 g of IPDI were added, the mixture was stirred for five minutes, and 0.07 g of TIB Kat 216 (dioctyltin dilaurate) was added. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and 108.8 g of a polyether of the general formula C.sub.4H.sub.9O[CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O].sub.5.6H were added. This was followed by stirring for a further 5 hours.

(22) Examples 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 21 are inventive; Examples 10, 13, 16 and 19 serve as comparative examples.

(23) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Reaction of alkoxylation Viscosity (25 C.) Example product from example Process [Pa .Math. s] 10 1 A 68.4 11 4 A 46.0 12 5 A 35.5 13 2 A 72.0 14 6 A 32.6 15 7 A 22.2 16 2 B 34.5 17 6 B 23.6 18 7 B 15.0 19 3 B 59.0 20 8 B 32.2 21 9 B 36.8
Preparation of the Room-Temperature-Applyable Adhesive/Sealant Formulations:

(24) 25.9% by weight of the alkoxylation product according to the respective examples was mixed very thoroughly with 18.1% by weight of diisoundecyl phthalate, 51.1% by weight of precipitated chalk (Socal U1S2, Solvay), 0.5% by weight of titanium dioxide (Kronos 2360, Kronos), 1.4% by weight of adhesion promoter (Dynasylan AMMO, Evonik), 1.1% by weight of drying agent (Dynasylan VTMO, Evonik), 1.5% by weight of an antioxidant/stabilizer mixture (Irganox 1135:Tinuvin 1130:Tinuvin 292 ratio=1:2:2) and 0.4% by weight of the curing catalyst (TIB KAT 223, TIB) in a mixer (Speedmixer FVS 600, Hausschild). The completed formulation was transferred to PE cartridges and stored for a minimum of 24 hours at room temperature prior to application. Since the formulations of the alkoxylation products in the examples specified above were identical in all cases, the discussion of the results has been carried out on the basis of the identification of the alkoxylation product utilized as a basis for the formulation.

(25) Determination of Breaking Force and Elongation at Break in Accordance with DIN 53504:

(26) The formulation was applied by knifecoating in a layer thickness of 2 mm to a PE surface. The films were stored for 7 days at 23 C. and 50% relative humidity. Using a shape cutter and a toggle press, S2 dumbbell specimens were then punched from the films.

(27) The dumbbell specimens produced in this way were clamped for testing into a universal testing machine (from Shimadzu), and a determination was made of the breaking force and elongation break on stretching of the specimens at constant speed (200 mm/min).

(28) Determination of the Tensile Shear Strength of Lapped Bonds in Accordance with DIN EN 1465

(29) The formulation prepared was used to produce lapped bonds. This was done using two stainless steel substrates (V2A, 1.4301). The region of the lapped bond was 500 mm.sup.2. The bonds were cured at 23 C. and 50% relative humidity. After 21 days, the bonds were clamped into a universal testing machine (from Shimadzu) and, with a constant speed (10 mm/min), a force was exerted on the bond until the bond ruptured. The breaking force was ascertained.

(30) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic mechanical values for the cured formulation on the S2 dumbbell specimen and on a lapped bond of two V2A steel plates: S2 dumbbell specimen Bond Polymer Elongation at Breaking Breaking according to break stress stress example [%] [N/mm.sup.2] [N/mm.sup.2] 10 171 1.7 1.5 11 199 1.7 1.5 12 163 1.5 1.4 13 212 1.7 1.3 14 170 1.7 1.6 15 170 1.7 1.3 16 189 1.6 1.3 17 163 1.8 1.5 18 147 1.6 1.3 19 184 1.3 1.2 20 181 1.6 1.3 21 143 1.8 1.8

(31) From the viscosities shown in Tables 1 and 2 it is clearly apparent that the viscosity of the alkoxylation products of the invention is reduced significantly by the replacement of 4 or 8 mol of PO by the corresponding number of moles of IPDX RD 17.

(32) According to Table 1, for alkoxylation products of terminal OH groups, a reduction in viscosity of at least 40% is posted for the replacement of 4 mol of PO by 4 mol of IPDX RD 17, and a reduction in viscosity of at least 60% for the replacement of 8 mol of PO by 8 mol of IPDX RD 17; the same trend can also be read off in Table 2, for alkoxylation products without terminal OH groups, with a reduction of viscosity of at least 25% being posted for replacement of 4 mol of PO by 4 mol of IPDX RD 17, and a reduction of viscosity of at least 40% being posted for replacement of 8 mol of PO by 8 mol of IPDX RD 17. Similarly convincing results were achieved for the replacement of 2 mol of PO by 2 mol of IPDX RD 17, with a reduction in viscosity of at least 10%, and for replacement of 1 mol of PO by 1 mol of IPDX RD 17, with a reduction in viscosity of at least 5%. Furthermore, comparable results were obtainable with branched structural elements other than radical R.sup.12 in the formulae (la) and (II). The results show, furthermore, that the level of the decrease in viscosity can be controlled in large parts via the molar fraction of branched structural elements.

(33) The characteristic mechanical values for the alkoxylation products of the invention with intrinsically reduced viscosity are summarized in Table 3 and show no significant deviations from the characteristic mechanical values of the alkoxylation products from the comparative examples, with increased viscosity.

(34) It is therefore found, surprisingly, that the change in the chemical nature of the alkoxylation products of the invention has no marked influences on the key performance properties of the formulations based on the alkoxylation products of the invention, and that it is possible, nevertheless, to obtain products which are comparable in performance terms but have significantly reduced viscosity.