Cariflex Pte. Ltd.

Adrie Van Der Huizen

Wouter De Jong

Henk Van De Weg

Maarten Cornelis Tromp

Laurens Engelen

Dipped formed latex articles with improved properties are formed from branched block copolymers, derived from alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon—1,3-diene monomer system, and branched polyisoprene homopolymers, derived from isoprene. The polymers 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 (RO)Si—Y—Si(OR), wherein Rand Rare independently C-Calkyl groups; and Y is a C-Calkylene 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 and latex articles such as dipped goods, e.g., condoms, gloves, etc., with improved properties.

Latex and latex articles formed from branched polymers

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 (RO)Si—Y—Si(OR), wherein Rand Rare independently C-Calkyl groups; and Y is a C-Calkylene 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.

Process for forming rubber latex from branched polymers

Branched block copolymers, derived from alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon-1,3-diene monomer system, and branched polyisoprene homopolymers, derived from isoprene, 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 (RO)Si—Y—Si(OR), wherein Rand Rare independently C-Calkyl groups; and Y is a C-Calkylene group. The polymers thus obtained can be used in many applications, including rubber cements having high solids content and low zero shear viscosities, and for producing aqueous latices therefrom.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Adrie Van Der Huizen