Cariflex Pte. Ltd.

Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC

Henk Van De Weg

Wouter De Jong

Maarten Cornelis Tromp

Adrie Van Der Huizen

Mark Hageman

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.

Branched polymers made using multifunctional coupling agents

The invention relates to a method for partially and selectively hydrogenating a polymer made of at least a conjugated diene monomer having a vinyl content of from 20 to 65%, comprising a hydrogenation step on a solution of the polymer, characterized in that the hydrogenation step is performed in the presence of an iron-containing catalyst whereby a hydrogenated polymer is obtained wherein the vinyl content is reduced to 5% or less, whereas the content of 1,4-double bonds is maintained at a level of at least 30%.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Henk Van De Weg