New Thermoplastic Elastomers. Styrene Grafts on Lithiated Polydienes and Their Hydrogenated Counterparts

Abstract

Abstract Metalation of diene polymers such as poly (butadiene) and poly(isoprene) with sec-butyllithium and tetramethylethylenediamine in cyclohexane at room temperature forms lithiated polydienes. Reaction of the polylithiodienes with styrene or α-methylstyrene forms graft copolymers. The extent of metalation is much greater than previously reported metalations with n-butyllithium and tetramethylethylenediamine. The grafting efficiencies, determined by acetone extraction and gel permeation chromatography, are greater than 95 per cent. Graft copolymers of poly (styrene) on EPDM rubbers may also be prepared using this technique. The physical properties of the graft copolymers are a function of molecular weight, graft site level, and composition. Products at specific compositions and graft levels are thermoplastic elastomers. Their properties are comparable to SBS rubbers, and offer as an advantage high melt flow. Graft copolymers of poly(styrene) on poly(ethylene) and poly(ethylene-co-butene-1) result from the hydrogenation of the butadiene moeities of graft copolymers of poly (styrene) on 1,4-poly(butadiene) and 1,2 and 1,4-butadiene copolymers, respectively. Complete hydrogenation results in graft copolymers of poly(vinylcyclohexane) on poly(ethylene) and on poly(ethylene-co-butene-1). In both of these cases thermoplastic elastomers result if the proper choice of composition and graft level is made.