Patent ID: 6437014
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: C08L,D04B

Abstract:
A method of making an elastic article having improved heat resistance comprising the steps of(a) providing at least one elastic polymer or elastic polymer composition which contains at least one amine or nitrogen-containing stabilizer therein, (b) fabricating, forming or shaping the polymer or polymer composition into an article, and (c) during or after the fabrication, forming or shaping, subjecting the article to ionizing radiation while the article is in or under an inert or oxygen-reduced atmosphere wherein the elastic polymer is or the elastic polymer composition comprises at least one hydrogenated block polymer; wherein the hydrogenated block polymer is a substantially hydrogenated block polymer characterized as having: i) a weight ratio of conjugated diene monomer unit to vinyl aromatic monomer unit before hydrogenation of greater than or equal to 60:40; ii) a weight average molecular weight (Mw) before hydrogenation of from 30,000 to 150,000, wherein each vinyl aromatic monomer unit (a) has a weight average molecular weight, Mwa, of from about 5,000 to about 45,000 and each conjugated diene monomer unit (b) bas a weight average molecular weight, Mwb, of from about 12,000 to about 110,000; and iii) a hydrogenation level such that each vinyl aromatic monomer unit block is hydrogenated to a level of greater than 90 percent and each conjugated diene monomer unit block is hydrogenated to a level of greater than 95 percent, as determined, using UV-VIS spectrophotometry and proton NMR analysis.