Patent ID: 7115684
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: C08F,C08L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A mass polymerized rubber-modified polymeric composition comprising: a continuous matrix phase comprising a polymer of a monovinylidene aromatic monomer, and optionally, an ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer, and discrete rubber particles dispersed in said matrix, said rubber particles produced from a rubber component comprising from 5 to 100 weight percent of a functionalized diene rubber having at least one functional group per rubber molecule capable of enabling controlled radical polymerization; wherein the composition is further characterized by: a) a volume average rubber particle size of from about 0.15 to 0.35 micron, b) a total rubber phase volume between 12 and 45 percent, based on the total volume of the combination of the matrix phase and the rubber particles; c) a partial rubber phase volume between 2 and 20 percent characterized by rubber particles having a volume average particle size of greater than 0.40 microns; and d) a crosslinked rubber fraction of at least 85 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the rubber particles.