Resin compositions having improved antistatic properties

Abstract: Disclosed is a resin composition having excellent antistatic properties and practical physical properties. The resin comprises (i) a styrene resin; (ii) a polyethylene oxide having a viscosity-average molecular weight ranging from 15,000 to 1,200,000; (iii) either or both of a (meth) acrylate resin and an oxide selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide; (iv) either a surfactant selected from specific sulfonic acid salts or a surfactant selected from specific alkyl sulfates; and, optionally, (v) a (poly)ethylene glycol having an average molecular weight ranging from 62 to 1,200. The resin composition also provides excellent resistance to hot water.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a resin composition having excellent practical physical properties and antistatic properties. (b) Description of the Prior Art In general, general-purpose resins such as styrene resins and acrylic resins have been widely used in electric electronic parts because of their excellent electrical insulation properties. In addition, general-purpose resins have been widely used in fields where electrical insulation properties are not always needed because they show well-balanced properties such as mechanical strength, heat resistance and molding and processing properties. When these general-purpose resins are employed in those fields where electrical insulation properties are not always needed, various problems arise because they have such good electrical insulation properties. For instance, they are easily charged due to friction and contact. As a result they absorb dust and impair the appearance thereof and to cause dielectric breakdown of integrated circuits (IC) or the like in which such resins are employed. In addition, there is often observed the so-called drop-out phenomenon which is due to charging of a container made of such a resin for a magnetic recording material. Hence the absorption of dust becomes conspicuous with the recent increase in the density of magnetic recording materials. This is a serious problem in the field. In order to solve this problem, attempts have been made to reduce the surface intrinsic resistance by kneading a low molecular weight surfactant as an antistatic agent with the general-purpose resin, or by applying a surfactant onto the surface of the resulting molded product. Generally, when an antistatic agent is kneaded with a styrene or acrylic resin, the antistatic effect can be maintained so long as the antistatic agent is present on the resin surface. However, since most of the antistatic agent present in the bulk of the resin is not on the surface of the resin, the antistatic effect of the resin is substantially reduced if the antistatic agent is washed with water or wiped with a cloth from the resin surface. Moreover, it is necessary to knead the antistatic agent with the resin, or apply it to the surface thereof, in relatively large amounts. This makes the surface of a molded product sticky. To solve this problem, JP-A-2 233 743 proposes a resin composition which comprises a styrene resin, a polyethylene oxide having a specific molecular weight and a sulfonate having a specific chemical structure. This composition has already been put to practical use. However, the resin composition suffers from a problem of blushing which is observed when the composition is brought into contact with hot water over long periods of time. It has long been desired to develop a means for solving this problem in fields where the use of resin materials having resistance to hot water is required. JP-A-49039644 discloses antistatic styrene resin compositions containing poly alkylene oxide and JP-A-7304094 discloses polystyrene and polyethylene oxide compositions for use as writing and printing media. Neither of these documents address the problem of hot water resistance. BE-A-717866 discloses a resin composition containing a sulfonic acid salt represented by the formula: (R-SO 3 )x-Me wherein R is an alkyl group having 10 to 18 carbon atoms, x is 1 or 2 and Me is Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba or Zn. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventors of this invention have conducted intensive studies to solve the foregoing problems associated with the conventional general-purpose resins. They have discovered that the problems can effectively addressed by providing a resin composition which comprises a styrene resin, a polyethylene oxide having a specific viscosity-average molecular weight, a specific agent for improving resistance to hot water and a specific surfactant. Optionally, a specific (poly)ethylene glycol can be included. According to the present invention, there is provided a resin composition having antistatic properties comprising: (i) a styrene resin selected from homopolymers of styrene and derivatives thereof, copolymers of at least two such styrene compounds and copolymers of a styrene compound with other copolymerizable monomers; (ii) 3 to 35 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of styrene resin of a polyethylene oxide having a viscosity-average molecular weight range from 15,000 to 1,200,000 (e.g. 20,000 to 500,000), and either; (A) (iii) an agent for improving resistance to hot water comprising a (meth)acrylate resin in an amount ranging from 4 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the styrene resin, and (iv) a surfactant comprising an alkyl sulfate represented by the formula: R 3 - OSO 3 M· wherein R 3 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and M represents at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K, Na and NH 4 , in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 5 (e.g. 0.7 to 3) parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the components (i), (ii) and (iii), or (B) (iii) an agent for improving resistance to hot water comprising both of a (meth)acrylate resin in an amount ranging for 4 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the styrene resin, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide in an amount ranging from 0.7 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (i) and (ii); and (iv) a surfactant comprising either sulfonic acid salts represented by the forumula: wherein R 1 and R 2 each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not more than 12 carbon atoms and X represents at least one alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Na, Li and K, or an alkyl sulfate represented by the formula: R 3 - OSO 3 M· wherein R 3 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and M represents at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K, Na and NH 4 , in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 5 (e.g. 0.7 to 3) parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the components (i), (ii) and (iii). DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The styrene resin used in the present invention is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of a styrene compound selected from the group consisting of styrene and derivatives thereof, copolymers of at least two such styrene compounds and copolymers of such a styrene compound with another copolymerizable monomer. Examples of the styrene compounds are styrene; styrenes having a side chain substituted with an alkyl group such as α-methylstyrene and α-ethylstyrene; styrenes having a substituent on the benzene nucleus such as vinyltoluene and p-methylstyrene; and halogenated styrenes such as monochlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, tribromostyrene and tetrabromostyrene and particularly preferred are styrene and α-methylstyrene. In the present invention, these styrene compounds may be used alone or in combination. In addition, other copolymerizable monomers may optionally be used simultaneously with the foregoing styrene compounds to form styrene copolymers and examples thereof are acrylonitrile monomers such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and fumaronitrile; maleimide monomers such as maleimide, N-methylmaleimide and N-phenylmaleimide; (meth)acrylate monomers such as methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate; and maleic acid monomers such as maleic acid and maleic anhydride. The foregoing styrene resins may be modified with a rubbery polymer such as polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, ethylenepropylene-diene copolymers and butadiene-acrylate copolymers. These rubbery polymers can be dispersed in the rubber-modified styrene resins in the form of particles and form dispersion phase (hereinafter referred to as a "microgel"). On the other hand, the styrene resin can be a continuous phase (or a matrix phase). The microgel also comprises a styrene resin which is grafted to or included in the microgel. When such a polymer mixture is observed by an electron microscope, the microgels are present like islands dispersed in a matrix phase of a styrene resin. The styrene resins used in the present invention may be prepared according to any known methods such as bulk polymerization, suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization. The polyethylene oxides used in the present invention are those having a viscosity-average molecular weight ranging from 15,000 to 1,200,000. If the viscosity-average molecular weight thereof is less than 15,000, the polyethylene oxide has good compatibility with the styrene resin, but provides insufficient antistatic effect. If it exceeds 1,200,000, the compatibility with the styrene resin is insufficient, and the resulting molded product peels off in thin layers, and its mechanical strength and antistatic properties are impaired. Thus, the polyethylene oxide used in the present invention should have a viscosity-average molecular weight preferably ranging from 20,000 to 1,000,000; more preferably 50,000 to 500,000 and most preferably 100,000 to 300,000. The term "viscosity-average molecular weight" is defined as follows: First relative viscosity (η rel = η /η 0 ) is calculated from the viscosity (η 0 ) of pure water determined at 30 °C and the viscosity (η) of an aqueous solution of a polyethylene oxide; then specific viscosity (η sp ) is obtained according to the following relation: η sp = η rel -1 Thereafter, the specific viscosity (η sp ) is divided by each concentration of the aqueous solution of polyethylene oxide (C, grams per 100 mℓ of the aqueous solution) to obtain reduced viscosity (η red =η sp /C) values. Subsequently, every reduced viscosity value (η red ) obtained for the corresponding concentrations (C) was plotted against C and the resulting curve is extrapolated to C=0 (infinitely diluted solution) to obtain the intrinsic viscosity ( [η] ). The viscosity-average molecular weight (M v ) can thus be calculated from the following equation: [η] = 1.25 X 10 -4 M v 0.78 Methods for preparing the polyethylene oxide are not particularly limited and commercially available polyethylene oxides having viscosity-average molecular weights which fall within the range defined above may be used in the invention. In this respect, a polyalkylene oxide or a derivative thereof other than polyethylene oxide (such as polypropylene glycol, methoxy polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol monooctyl ether, polyethylene glycol monostearate or polyethylene glycol monolaurate) do not show sufficient antistatic effect and, therefore, the desired effect cannot be obtained if they are employed. The amount of the polyethylene oxide to be incorporated into the resin composition of the present invention ranges from 3 to 35 parts by weight, preferably 5 to 20 parts by weight based on the weight of the styrene resin. If the amount of the polyethylene oxide is less than 3 parts by weight, the intended antistatic effect is not ensured and absorption of dust is observed. On the other hand, if it exceeds 35 parts by weight, the mechanical strength of the resulting resin composition is substantially reduced. In particular, a reduction in impact resistance is conspicuous. Thus such a resin composition cannot be used for producing large-scale molded products such as electric . electronic parts. (Meth)acrylate resins employed in the present invention are selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of (meth)acrylate monomers, copolymers of these (meth)acrylate monomers, copolymers of these (meth)acrylate monomers with other copolymerizable monomers. Examples of the (meth) acrylate monomers include alkyl methacrylates such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate; and alkyl acrylates such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate and butyl acrylate. Among these, particularly preferred is methyl methacrylate. The (meth)acrylate monomers may be used alone or in combination. Moreover, examples of the other copolymerizable monomers are styrene, acrylonitrile, maleimide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride. The amount of (meth)acrylate resin to be added to the resin composition of the present invention ranges from 4 to 100 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 60 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the styrene resin. If the amount thereof is less than 4 parts by weight, the resulting resin composition has insufficient resistance to hot water and it causes blushing when contacted with hot water. On the other hand, if it exceeds 100 parts by weight, there is insufficient antistatic effect. The oxides which are selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide are not required to have any specific crystalline structure and/or particle size. Those having any crystalline structures and/or particle size may be used in the invention so long as they have good compatibility with thermoplastic resins. The amount of the foregoing compounds in the resin composition ranges from 0.7 to 5 parts by weight and preferably 2 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight based on the sum of the foregoing styrene resin and the polyethylene oxide. If the amount thereof is less than 0.7 part by weight, the resulting resin composition provides insufficient resistance to hot water and causes blushing when it comes in contact with hot water. On the other hand, if the amount thereof exceeds 5 parts by weight, strength, in particular impact resistance, of the resulting resin composition is lowered. Specific examples of the sulfonic acid salts represented by the foregoing general formula include alkali metal salts of benzenesulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, ethylbenzenesulfonic acid, propylbenzenesulfonic acid, isopropylbenzenesulfonic acid, n-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, isobutyl-benzenesulfonic acid, sec-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, t-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, pentylbenzenesulfonic acid, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, xylenesulfonic acid, ethyltoluenesulfonic acid, cymenesulfonic acid, t-butyltoluenesulfonic acid and diethylbenzenesulfonic acid. Examples of the alkali metal salts may be arbitrarily selected from Na, Li and K salts. Among the foregoing sulfonic acid salts, particularly preferred is sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate from the viewpoint of antistatic properties of the resulting resin composition. The amount of the sulfonic acid salt to be added to the resin composition ranges from 0.4 to 5 parts by weight, preferably 0.7 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the weight based on the sum of the styrene resin, the polyethylene oxide, the (meth)acrylate resin and the oxide. If the amount of sulfonic acid salt is less than 0.4 parts by weight, the antistatic properties of the resulting resin composition is insufficient. If it exceeds 5 parts by weight, the resin composition causes a change of color and the surface of the resulting molded product causes silver streak when it is subjected to heat, for instance, in an extruder and/or a molder. The alkyl sulfates represented by the foregoing general formula are potassium, sodium and ammonium sulfates carrying an alkyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Typical examples thereof are sodium octyl sulfate, sodium ethylhexyl sulfate, sodium undecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium dodecyl sulfate, ammonium dodecyl sulfate, sodium hexadecyl sulfate and ammonium octadecyl sulfate. These alkyl sulfates may be used alone or in combination. The amount of the alkyl sulfate to be added to the resin composition of the present invention ranges from 0.4 to 5 parts by weight, preferably 0.7 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight based on the total of components (i) to (iii) of claim 1, i.e. either the sum of the foregoing styrene resin, the polyethylene oxide and the (meth)acrylate resin or the sum of the styrene resin, the polyethylene oxide, the (meth)acrylate resin and the oxide. If the amount thereof is less than 0.4 part by weight, the antistatic properties of the resulting resin composition is insufficient. If it exceeds 5 parts by weight, the resin composition causes a change of color and the surface of the molded product causes silver streak when it is subjected to heat, for instance, in an extruder and/or a molder. The (poly)ethylene glycols optionally usable in the present invention are those having an average molecular weight ranging from 62 to 1,200. Specific examples thereof are ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and low molecular weight polyethylene glycols having an average molecular weight of 200, 300, 400, 600 or 1,000. These (poly)ethylene glycols may be used alone or in combination. If the average molecular weight of the (poly)ethylene glycol is outside the foregoing range, the antistatic properties of the resulting resin composition are insufficient. The amount of the (poly)ethylene glycol used ranges from 0.05 to 5 parts by weight, preferably 0.3 to 2 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the aforesaid total of components (i) to (iii) of claim 1. If the amount is less than 0.05 part by weight, the antistatic properties of the resulting resin composition are insufficient. If it exceeds 5 parts by weight, the heat resistance of the composition is lowered. The resin composition of the invention may be prepared according to any methods and, for instance, it can be prepared by a method which comprises melting and mixing, in a mixer such as a single screw extruder, a twin screw extruder or a Banbury mixer, the components of the resin composition of the invention, i.e., a specific styrene resin, a polyethylene oxide, a (meth)acrylate resin with or without the oxide, a sulfonate or an alkyl sulfate and an optional ethylene glycol or a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol. The resin composition of the present invention may include additional antistatic agents such as cationic, nonionic or anionic surfactants to impart even better antistatic properties to the composition. In addition, the resin composition may include ordinary additives such as plasticizers, releasing agents, light-resistance-improving agents, antioxidants, flame retardants, coloring agents and stabilizers while maintaining the intended effects of the present invention. The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following non-limitative working Examples. The effects practically achieved by the present invention will also be discussed in comparison with the following Comparative Examples. In the following Examples and Comparative Examples, the following compounds and/or materials were employed. Styrene resin: "SANTAC ST-42" available from MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC.; Polyethylene oxide: the following compounds each having a viscosity-average molecular weight put in parentheses: "PEG 11000" available from Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd. (10,000); "PEG 20000" available from SANYO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. (20,000); "ALKOX R-400" available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. (200,000); "ALKOX E-30" available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. (400,000); A mixture of 80% by weight of "ALKOX E-60" and 20% by weight of "ALKOX E-75", both available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. (1,300,000); and "ALKOX E-75" available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. (2,200,000; number-average molecular weight = 1,500,000). (Meth)acrylate resin: "PARAPET HR" available from Kyowa Gas Chemicals, Co., Ltd. and "PARAPET GF" available from KURARAY CO., LTD. Titanium oxide: "Titanium Dioxide" (primary grade; anatase type one) available from Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd.; zinc oxide: "Zinc Oxide" (99.9%) available from Aldrich Chemical Company; and magnesium oxide: "Magnesium Oxide" (special grade) available from Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd. Sulfonate: "NEWLEX POWDER F" (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate) available from Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd. Alkyl sulfate: "sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (primary grade) available from Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd. Ethylene glycol available from MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC. and polyethylene glycols having the following average molecular weight (given in parentheses) and ; "PEG 200" available from Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd. (200). The physical properties of the resin compositions were determined according to the following techniques. To determine 1) Surface Intrinsic Resistance a resin composition to be examined was molded into a plate (test piece) of 4 cm X 4 cm X 2 mm (thickness) with an injection molding machine (cylinder temperature: 220°C ; mold temperature: 40°C ) and the surface intrinsic resistance was determined with an SM-10E Model Ultra-high Insulation Tester (available from TOA Electronics Ltd.) under the following conditions; (a) "Immediately after Molding": Immediately after molding, the test piece was sufficiently washed with distilled water sufficiently, the moisture on the surface was removed, and then the humidity of the test piece was adjusted by allowing it to stand at 20% RH and 10°C for 24 hours (50% RH, 23 °C for 24 hours in Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8) to determined the titled property. (b) "After Allowing to Stand for 150 Days": After molding, the resulting test piece was allowed to stand at 50% RH and 23 °C for 150 days, sufficiently washed with distilled water, the moisture on the surface was removed, and then the humidity of the test piece was adjusted by leaving it to stand at 20% RH and 10°C for 24 hours (50% RH, 23 °C for 24 hours in Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8) to determine the property. 2) Notched Izod Impact Strength was determined according to ASTM D-256. 3) Vicat Softening Point was determined according to ASTM D-1525. To determine 4) Appearance of Molded Product a resin composition was held within an injection molding machine (cylinder temperature = 240 °C ) for 3 minutes, then molded into a plate (test piece) of 4 cm X 4 cm X 2 mm (thickness) to evaluate the extent of change of color and the degree of silver streak. To determine 5) Resistance to Hot Water a resin composition to be examined was molded into a plate (test piece) of 4 cm X 4 cm X 2 mm (thickness) with an injection molding machine (cylinder temperature: 220°C ; mold temperature: 40°C ) and the test piece was immersed in hot water of 60°C for 2 hours to confirm whether blushing is observed on the surface thereof or not. Example 1 A mixture of 100 parts by weight of a styrene resin ("SANTAC ST-42" available from MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC.), 10 parts by weight of a polyethylene oxide having a viscosity-average molecular weight of 200,000 ("ALKOX R-400" available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.), 40 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylate resin ("PARAPET GF" available from KURARAY Co., Ltd.) and 3 parts by weight of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (available from Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd.) (2 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the styrene resin, the polyethylene oxide and the (meth) acrylate resin) were blended in a tumbler for 15 minutes. After the blend, the mixture was molten and mixed in a twin screw extruder ("AS-30" available from NAKATANI Co., Ltd.) and pelletized therein to obtain a sample to be examined. After drying the sample at 80 °C for 3 hours, the surface intrinsic resistance, Izod impact strength, appearance and resistance to hot water of the sample were determined according to the aforementioned methods. The results obtained are summarized in the following Table 1. Examples 2 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 The same procedures used in Example 1 were repeated except that polyethylene oxides having a viscosity-average molecular weight different from that of the polyethylene oxide used in Example 1 were employed to prepare resin compositions and the properties thereof were likewise evaluated. The results obtained are listed in Table 1. Examples 4 and 5 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4 The same procedures used in Example 1 were repeated except that the polyethylene oxide was used in different amounts to prepare resin compositions and the properties thereof were likewise evaluated. The results obtained are listed in Table 1. Examples 6 and 7 and Comparative Examples 5 and 6 The same procedures used in Example 1 were repeated except that the (meth)acrylate resin was used in different amounts to prepare resin compositions and the properties thereof were likewise evaluated. The results obtained are listed in Table 1. Examples 8 and 9 and Comparative Examples 7 and 8 The same procedures used in Example 1 were repeated except that the sodium n-dodecyl sulfate was used in different amounts to prepare resin compositions and the properties thereof were likewise evaluated. The results obtained are listed in Table 1. Examples 10 to 13 A resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a styrene resin ("SANTAC ST-42" available from MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC.), 10 parts by weight of a polyethylene oxide having a viscosity-average molecular weight of 200,000 ("ALKOX R-400" available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.), a (meth)acrylate resin ("PARAPET GF" available from KURARAY CO., LTD.) whose kind and amount are shown in the following Table 2 and an oxide whose kind and amount are shown in the following Table 2 as well as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate ("NEWLEX POWDER F" available from Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd.) in an amount listed in Table 2 or alkyl sulfate whose amount is shown in the following Table 2 (available from Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd.) were blended in a tumbler for 15 minutes. After the blend, the mixture was molten and mixed in a twin screw extruder ("AS-30" available from NAKATANI Co., Ltd.) and pelletized therein. Thus, samples to be examined were prepared. After drying these samples at 80°C for 3 hours, the surface intrinsic resistance, Izod impact strength, appearance and resistance to hot water of the samples were determined according to the aforementioned methods. The results obtained are summarized in the following Table 2. Examples 14 to 16 A resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a styrene resin ("SANTAC ST-42" available from MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC.), 10 parts by weight of a polyethylene oxide having a viscosity-average molecular weight of 200,000 ("ALKOX R-400" available from MEISEI CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.), 40 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylate resin ("PARAPET GF" available from KURARAY CO., LTD.) and an oxide whose kind and amount are shown in the following Table 3 as well as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate ("NEWLEX POWDER F" available from Nippon Oil and Fats Co., Ltd.) in an amount listed in Table 3 or alkyl sulfate whose amount is shown in the following Table 3 (available from Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd.) and a polyethylene glycol ("PEG 200" available from Nippon 3 Oil and Fats Co., Ltd.) whose amount is shown in Table 3 were blended in a tumbler for 15 minutes. After the blend, the mixture was molten and mixed in a twin screw extruder ("AS-30" available from NAKATANI Co., Ltd.) and pelletized therein. Thus, samples to be examined were prepared. After drying these samples at 80°C for 3 hours, the surface intrinsic resistance, Izod impact strength, appearance and resistance to hot water of the samples were determined according to the aforementioned methods. The results obtained are summarized in the following Table 3. As seen from the results set forth in Tables 1 to 6, the resin composition of the present invention can provide excellent antistatic properties and substantially improved practical physical properties.

Claims: A resin composition having antistatic properties comprising: (i) a styrene resin selected from homopolymers of styrene and derivatives thereof, copolymers of at least two such styrene compounds and copolymers of a styrene compound with other copolymerizable monomers; (ii) 3 to 35 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of styrene resin of a polyethylene oxide having a viscosity-average molecular weight range from 15,000 to 1,200,000 (e.g. 20,000 to 500,000), and either; (A) (iii) an agent for improving resistance to hot water comprising a (meth)acrylate resin in an amount ranging from 4 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the styrene resin, and (iv) a surfactant comprising an alkyl sulfate represented by the formula: R 3 - OSO 3 M· wherein R 3 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and M represents at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K, Na and NH 4 , in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 5 (e.g. 0.7 to 3) parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the components (i), (ii) and (iii), or (B) (iii) an agent for improving resistance to hot water comprising both of a (meth)acrylate resin in an amount ranging for 4 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the styrene resin, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide in an amount ranging from 0.7 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (i) and (ii); and (iv) a surfactant comprising either sulfonic acid salts represented by the forumula: wherein R 1 and R 2 each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not more than 12 carbon atoms and X represents at least one alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Na, Li and K, or an alkyl sulfate represented by the formula: R 3 - OSO 3 M· wherein R 3 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and M represents at least one ion selected from the group consisting of K, Na and NH 4 , in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 5 (e.g. 0.7 to 3) parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the components (i), (ii) and (iii). A resin composition according to claim 1 wherein the styrene resin is a homopolymer derived from a styrene compound selected from styrene, α-methylstyrene, α-ethylstyrene, vinyl toluene, p-methylstyrene, monochlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, tribromostyrene and tetrabromostyrene, preferably from styrene and α-methylstyrene. A resin composition according to claim 1 wherein the polyethylene oxide is one having a viscosity-average molecular weight ranging from 20,000 to 1,000,000, preferably from 50,000 to 500,000, and most preferably from 100,000 to 300,000. A resin composition according to claim 1 wherein the amount of the polyethylene oxide ranges from 5 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of styrene resin. A resin composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the (meth)acrylate resin is a homopolymer derived from a (meth)acrylate monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, preferably from methyl methacrylate. A resin composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the amount of the (meth)acrylate resin ranges from 10 to 60 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of styrene resin. A resin composition according to any one of the preceding claims as dependent on claim 1(B) wherein the amount of the oxide ranges from 2 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the components (i) and (ii). A resin composition according to any one of the preceding claims as dependent on claim 1(B) wherein the sulfonic acid salt is a member of the group consisting of Na, Li and K salts of benzenesulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, ethylbenzenesulfonic acid, propylbenzenesulfonic acid, isopropylbenzenesulfonic acid, n-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, iso-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, sec-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, tert-butylbenzenesulfonic acid, pentylbenzene-sulfonic acid, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, xylenesulfonic acid, ethyltoluenesulfonic acid, cymenesulfonic acid, t-butyltoluenesulfonic acid and diethylbenzenesulfonic acid. A resin composition according to claim 8 wherein the amount of sulfonic acid salt ranges from 0.7 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (i), (ii) and (iii). A resin composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the alkyl sulfate is a member of the group consisting of sodium octyl sulfate, sodium ethylhexyl sulfate, sodium undecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium dodecyl sulfate, ammonium dodecyl sulfate, sodium hexadecyl sulfate and ammonium octadecyl sulfate. A resin composition according to claim 10 wherein the amount of alkyl sulfate ranges from 0.7 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (i), (ii) and (iii). A resin composition having antistatic properties according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising : (v) a (poly)ethylene glycol having an average molecular weight ranging from 62 to 1,200, in an amount of 0.05 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (i), (ii) and (iii) of the composition. A resin composition according to claim 12 wherein the (poly)ethylene glycol is a member selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and low molecular weight polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of 200, 300, 400, 600 and 1000, respectively. A resin composition according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the amount of the (poly)ethylene glycol ranges from 0.3 to 2 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (i ), (ii) and (iii).

Inventors: HASHIMOTO ATSUSHI, IIO KEIJI, INOUE HARUO, ISHIDA YUZURU, MITSUBOSHI MASAHIRO, OTSUKA ICHIRO, TAKAKU MASATO, HASHIMOTO, ATSUSHI, IIO, KEIJI, INOUE, HARUO, ISHIDA, YUZURU, MITSUBOSHI, MASAHIRO, OTSUKA, ICHIRO, TAKAKU, MASATO
Applicants: MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: C08K5
IPC codes: C08L25, C08K5, C08L71, C08L33, C08K3, C08K13