Patent ID: 7402642

Claim:
A linear functional polymer comprising randomly repeating units A, B and D, wherein: A represents —CH 2 —; B represents wherein R 1 represents a polar functional group; and D represents wherein there are at least four A units separating each B unit, each D unit, and each B and D unit, further wherein when the total number of B units, y, is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and the total number of D units, h, is an integer greater than or equal to 0, then the total number of A units, x, is an integer sufficient that the molar fraction of the B and D units in the polymer is represented by a value j defined by the equation: j = y + h x + y + h ≤ 0.032 ; and wherein each occurrence of a B or D unit is separated by a run length, r, representing the number of A units, wherein each r conforms to an equation selected from the group consisting of: r =( e+e )+ zd; r =( e+f )+ zd ; and r =( f+f )+ zd, wherein z is any integer greater than or equal to 0; e and f are predetermined integers greater than or equal to 2; and d is a predetermined integer greater than or equal to 4, wherein the predetermined integers e and f are derived from a first comonomer and the predetermined integer d is derived from a second comonomer wherein values of r conforming to all three equations are present in the linear functional polymer, and wherein at least one value of r corresponds to a z value of 1 or greater.