The Dow Chemical Company

Grace Y Lo

Lu H Tung

Douglas E Beyer

Joseph W Rakshys, Jr

Arnold L Gatzke

Brian W Walther

Eric W Otterbacher

Massimo D Bezoari

Jerald A Griggs

Billy E Burgert

Wendell W Meyer

A liquid hydrocarbon soluble difunctional organolithium initiator (DFI) is reacted with an anionically polymerizable monomer, such as isoprene or 1,3-butadiene, in the presence of a diamine or a triamine to form a polymer having low polydispersity and high tensile strength. The DFI is prepared by reacting a dialkenylarylene compound with an alkyllithium in a nonpolar solvent and in the presence of sufficient quantities of a trisubstituted amine to prevent precipitation of the DFI in the solvent.

Preparation of a low polydisperse polymer

The invention is a process for the preparation of a block copolymer which corresponds to the formula ABA wherein A comprises units derived from one or more monoalkenyl arenes; and B comprises units derived from one or more conjugated dienes and the residuum of a difunctional initiator; wherein the process comprises:

Preparation of conjugated diene-monoalkenyl arene block copolymers

A stabilized composition of matter comprises: (a) at least one block polymer comprising at least one non-elastomeric block and at least one polybutadiene block and (b) a stabilizing composition in an amount effective to improve heat or oxidative stability of the block polymer, said composition comprising (i) at least one hydroxyphenylalkylenyl isocyanurate and (ii) at least one polyphenylene diphosphonite. An alkylidene bisphenol is optionally added to achieve improved color stability.

Polymer stabilizing compositions

Narrow molecular weight telechelic and/or block copolymers are prepared by anionic polymerization using an initiator composition comprising a multifunctional lithium initiator in combination with an organic diamine or triamine and optionally a metal alkoxide.

Amine containing initiator system for anionic polymerization

Blends of polymers of diene and styrene-.alpha.-methylstyrene type monomers are prepared by solution polymerization employing intermittent addition of monomers and initiators to provide a desired composition.

Process for preparation of copolymers of isopropenyl aromatic monomer

.alpha.-Methylstyrene-styrene copolymer is blended with an .alpha.-methylstyrene-styrene diene block copolymer or copolymers to provide impact resistant molding material.

Impact resistant .alpha.-methylstyrene-styrene copolymer blends

Block copolymers are prepared having end blocks with random copolymer of styrene and/or alkyl substituted derivatives and alpha-methylstyrene ranges from 1:0.5 to 1:2.5, a central block of a polydiene polymer joins the terminal blocks. The block copolymers contain from 10 to 90 weight percent of polydiene, the remaining portion being of random (alkyl) styrene-alpha-methylstyrene copolymer. The polymers range from medium impact polystyrene type polymer of low polydiene content to thermoplastic elastomers of high polydiene content.

Block copolymers of diene having their terminal end blocks of a random

Highly desirable multifunctional lithium containing initiators are prepared by reacting a compound such as an organo lithium with an organic compound containing at least two 1,1-diphenylethylene groups. Such initiators can be prepared in the absence of polar solvents and are very desirable for the polymerization of dienes such as butadiene to a desirable 1,4 configuration. Several di-lithium compounds have been employed to initiate polymerization of various unsaturated organic monomers.

Multifunctional lithium containing initiator

Very desirable polyfunctional lithium containing polymerization initiators are prepared by reacting an adduct of an organo lithium compound and styrene with an organic compound containing at least two 1,1-diphenylethylene groups in the proportion of about two moles of the adduct to one mole of the organic compound. A difunctional lithium initiator is prepared thereby. The difunctional initiator may be reacted with styrene and subsequently an additional quantity of the diphenylethylene compound which in turn is reacted with the styrene-organo lithium adduct to form a trifunctional initiator. The process can be repeated to obtain an initiator having any desired degree of lithium functionality. Such initiators can be prepared in the absence of polar solvents and are very desirable for the polymerization of dienes such as butadiene to a desirable 1,4 configuration and preparation of block copolymers.

Polyfunctional lithium containing initiator

Highly desirable organic liquid soluble multifunctional lithium containing initiators are prepared by reacting an organo lithium compound with an organic compound containing at least one group of the configuration 1,3-bis(1-phenylethenyl)benzene. Such initiators can be prepared in the absence of polar solvents and are very desirable for the polymerization of dienes such as butadiene to a desirable 1,4 configuration.

Soluble multifunctional lithium containing initiator

1,3-Bis[1-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl]benzene

Highly desirable organic liquid soluble multifunctional lithium containing initiators are prepared by reacting on organo lithium compound with an organic compound containing at least one group of the configuration 1,3-bis(1-phenylethenyl)benzene. Such initiators can be prepared in the absence of polar solvents and are very desirable for the polymerization of dienes such as butadiene to a desirable 1,4 configuration.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Grace Y Lo