Patent ID: 7220798
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: C08F,C08L

Abstract:
1. A process for making a hydrogenated block copolymer, comprising the steps of: a. reacting a living lithium-terminated polymer having the formula P-Li where P is a copolymer chain of one or more conjugated dienes having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms and one or more mono alkenyl arenes having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms with an alkoxy silane coupling agent having the formula R b. hydrogenating the coupled polymer under hydrogenation conditions to substantially saturate at least the olefinically derived double bonds of said coupled polymer without substantial degradation of the coupled polymer; and c. recovering the resulting hydrogenated polymer; wherein the resulting hydrogenated block copolymer comprises a mixture of from 0 to 5 weight percent tetra-branched block copolymer, from 0 to 60 weight percent tri-branched block copolymer, from 40 to 95 weight percent di-branched block copolymer and from 2 to 10 weight percent linear diblock copolymer.