(en)α-Methylstyrene-styrene copolymer is blended with an α-methylstyrene-styrene diene block copolymer or copolymers to provide impact resistant molding material.

1.ApplicationNumber: US-52533583-A
1.PublishNumber: US-4525532-A
2.Date Publish: 19850625
3.Inventor: TUNG; LU H.
LO; GRACE Y.
GRIGGS; JERALD A.

4.Inventor Harmonized: TUNG LU H(US)
LO GRACE Y(US)
GRIGGS JERALD A(US)

5.Country: US
6.Claims:
(en)α-Methylstyrene-styrene copolymer is blended with an α-methylstyrene-styrene diene block copolymer or copolymers to provide impact resistant molding material.

7.Description:
(en)Synthetic resinous compositions particularly those based on vinyl or alkenyl aromatic monomers have found wide use in commerce. Such resins generally lend themselves to injection molding, extrusion, sheet forming and like processes. Polystyrene resins have been employed with great benefit in a variety of areas. Such resins generally are transparent and readily moldable and extrudable. However, such resins exhibit a relatively low impact resistance which limits their application. Elastomers of conjugated dienes have been admixed with such resins to provide improved impact resistance. Generally as the impact resistance is increased by the addition of elastomer, the heat distortion temperature of the resultant product is decreased and the resultant impact resistant polymers are not suited for applications which require exposure to elevated temperatures such as that encountered with boiling water. Polymers of α-methylstyrene generally exhibit a heat distortion temperature greater than that of the equivalent polymers of styrene. In order to obtain polymers having a higher heat distortion, monomers such as α-methylstyrene have been employed. α-methylstyrene has a relatively low ceiling temperature of about 61° C. The ceiling temperature is that temperature at which the rate of depolymerization equals the rate of polymerization. It has been found desirable to utilize copolymers of α-methylstyrene and styrene to obtain polymers having an increased heat distortion temperature over that obtained using styrene alone. The increase of heat distortion of poly(α-methylstyrene) over that of polystyrene is about 70° C. This magnitude often exceeds the requirement for many high heat applications. For example, in hot-fill food containers, the required heat distortion temperature is about 110° C. or approximately 15° C. above that of polystyrene. In retortable containers, about 130° C. is required, again an increment of 35° C. which is only half of the difference between poly(α-methylstyrene) and polystyrene. High energy comsumption, however, always associates with the fabrication of high heat distortion polymers. To avoid paying unnecessary penalty for unneeded heat distortion temperatures, it has been found desirable to utilize copolymers of α-methylstyrene and styrene to obtain polymers having a selected increased heat distortion temperature over that of polystyrene.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,666 discloses the preparation of block copolymers having the configuration BAB where B represents a block of a conjugated diene elastomer and A represents a block of α-methylstyrene polymer formed from trimers and isomers. The polymer is terminated by the addition of carbon dioxide to provide a carboxyl terminated polymer which may be water dispersible or water soluble.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,995, there is disclosed graft polymers of a diene rubber having a copolymer of styrene acrylonitrile and α-methylstyrene grafted thereon to provide a polymer having relatively high impact resistance and high heat distortion. In essence, the polymer is an ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) polymer wherein a portion of the styrene has been replaced with α-methylstyrene.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,793 discloses a polymer of the general configuration ABA where A represents an α-methylstyrene tapered block, and B represents a butadiene block. By tapered block is meant that the A block contains increasing amounts of diene monomer copolymerizing with α-methylstyrene as the A block approaches the B block. The products are alleged to be generally odorless and thermally stable.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,512 there are disclosed copolymers having the general configuration of ACBCA and wherein A represents a block of poly alpha-methylstyrene, C represents a block of polystyrene and B is a block of polybutadiene.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,768 there are disclosed polyvinyl aromatic monomers reinforced with a colloidal crosslinked elastomer for form molding compositions, the elastomer has the configuration AB or ABA wherein A represents vinyl aromatic block and B represents a conjugated diene block.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,913 discloses a block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic block and an elastomeric block of a conjugated diene plus a vinyl aromatic compound to result in a generally transparent polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,848 discloses latex polymers of vinyl aromatic compounds plus other monomers having a molecular weight of from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,137 shows a block copolymer of the general configuration AB(BA) n prepared by the polymerization of α-methylstyrene with an ebullient cooling wherein the A represents the α-methylstyrene polymers, B represents a conjugated diene block copolymer. A polymer of the AB configuration is formed and treated with a suitable coupling agent to form an ABA or AB(BA) n configuration.
British Pat. No. 1,414,924 discloses the preparation of block copolymers having the configuration ABC wherein A represents a block of α-methylstyrene, B is an elastomeric block and C is a block of polystyrene.
The publication Research Disclosure of October 1979, entry number 18617 discloses that polyalpha-methylstyrene or copolymers of α-methylstyrene may be toughened by blending with elastomers having the configuration of AB wherein A represents a block of polystyrene and B represents a block of polybutadiene.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,591 discloses random copolymers of at least one conjugated diene with α-methylstyrene, the polymerization being initiated with an organolithium compound together with a compound of sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium.
In British Pat. No. 1,264,741 there are disclosed block copolymers of the general configuration of AB(BA) n wherein B represents an elastomeric block and A represents a block of a random copolymer of styrene and α-methyl-styrene. The teachings of the foregoing cited references are herewith incorporated by reference thereto.
None of the foregoing provides a material which is entirely suited for injection molding or extrusion into film for the packaging of hot filled foods, cosmetics and the like, and provides a combination of dishwasher proof, suitable for tableware, permissible for food contact, non-toxic, and exhibiting highly desirable stress crack resistance together with desirable tensile strength, impact resistance, elongation and heat distortion.
It would be desirable if there were available an improved synthetic resinous composition for molding and extrusion which exhibited desirable physical properties.
It would also be desirable if there were available an improved resinous composition of desirable physical properties suitable for food contact.
It would also be desirable if there were available an improved synthetic resinous material readily injection molded and extruded, exhibiting impact resistance and elongation, having a heat distortion temperature sufficiently high to permit contact with boiling water.
These benefits and other advantages in accordance with the present invention are achieved in a copolymer blend, the blend comprising a copolymer of alkenyl aromatic monomer and isopropenyl aromatic wherein the ratio of isopropenyl aromatic monomer to alkenyl aromatic monomer is from about 1 to 99 to 99 to 1 in admixture with a member selected from a group consisting of
(1) an AB block copolymer
(2) an ABA block copolymer
(3) an AB(BA) n block copolymer and mixtures thereof wherein n is an integer of from about 2 to 10; A represents a block of an alkenyl aromatic monomer isopropenyl aromatic monomer copolymer; B is a block of conjugated diene elastomer; the A blocks having a ratio of isopropenyl aromatic monomer to alkenyl aromatic monomer of from about 1 to 99 to 99 to 1 by weight, the molecular weight of the alkenyl aromatic monomer isopropenyl aromatic monomer copolymer being from about 50,000 to 1,000,000, the block copolymers containing from about 10 to 90 weight percent of a diene elastomer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene and copolymers of butadiene and isoprene wherein the 1,2-vinyl content is from about 8 to 50 weight percent; the block copolymers having a molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 800,000.
By the term alkenyl aromatic monomer is meant a monomer of the formula: ##STR1## where n is an integer from 0 to 3, R 1 is an alkyl radical containing up to 5 carbon atoms and R 2 is hydrogen. Preferred alkenyl aromatic monomers include styrene, vinyltoluene, (all isomers alone or in admixture); particularly desirable is paravinyltoluene. Isopropenyl aromatic monomers are obtained when R 2 is a methyl group.
By the term isopropenyl aromatic monomer is meant a compound of the above formula wherein R 1 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing up to 5 carbon atoms and R 2 is methyl, for example, α-methylstyrene.
Copolymers of alkenyl aromatic monomer and an isopropenyl aromatic monomer are readily prepared by the method set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,591, the teachings of which are herewith incorporated by reference thereto. Such copolymers are also readily prepared using a mono or dilithium initiator dispersed in isopropenyl aromatic monomer with or without a solvent and by adding the alkenyl aromatic monomer such as styrene either continuously or intermittently to thereby provide the desired random copolymer. Beneficially, the weight ratio of isopropenyl aromatic monomer to alkenyl aromatic monomer varies from about 1 to 99 to 99 to 1 and preferably from about 30 to 70 to 71 to 29. The copolymer of alkenyl aromatic monomer and isopropenyl aromatic monomer has a molecular weight of from about 50,000 to 1,000,000 and most advantageously from about 70,000 to about 500,000 grams per mole.
Block copolymers suitable for the practice of the present invention and a method for the preparation thereof are disclosed in British Pat. No. 1,264,741 and in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 297,371, filed Aug. 28, 1981, since British Pat. No. 1,264,741 cannot be used for low 1,2 content B-block. Such block copolymers have the configuration of AB(BA) n where B represents an elastomeric polymer and A represents a random copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and an isopropenyl aromatic monomer; n is an integer of from 0 to 10. Such polymers may be used alone or in admixture with each other. The weight proportion of the B block in such block copolymers may vary from 10 to 90 weight percent. The 1,2 vinyl content of the B block is beneficially from about 8 to 50 percent of the B block, the 1,2 vinyl content being computed from the infrared spectrometer method of P. Morero et al., as set forth in Chim. Ind. Milan, configuration 41, 758 (1959). The A portion of the block is a random copolymer of alkenyl aromatic monomer of isopropenyl aromatic monomer while the total molecular weight of the block copolymer is from about 30,000 to 800,000 grams per mole and beneficially from about 50,000 to 500,000 grams per mole. The block copolymers suitable for the practice of the present invention may be prepared by a variety of methods well known to those skilled in the art. A particularly desirable method for the preparation of such block copolymers is by the use of a multifunctional lithium containing initiator wherein the conjugated diene component is initially polymerized to provide a multifunctional living conjugated diene copolymer which may be a homopolymer of butadiene, a homopolymer of isoprene or a copolymer of butadiene and isoprene. Polymerization with the multifunctional, or in the case of preparing a polymer of AB configuration a monofunctional, initiator, such polymerization of the conjugated diene may take place in a non-reactive solvent, or in the presence of the isopropenyl aromatic monomer. If it is desired that a graded block copolymer be prepared, such polymerization of the diene may be accomplished in the presence of the A aromatic monomer wherein initially the conjugated diene olefin enters preferentially into the polymerization reaction; and as the polymerization of the conjugated diene olefin is completed, the alkenyl aromatic monomer forms a more or less random copolymer which increases in alkenyl aromatic monomer content to form a graded block copolymer. Suitable polymerization initiators are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,660,536; 3,663,634; 3,668,263; 3,684,780; 3,725,368; 3,734,973; 3,776,893; 3,776,964; 3,784,637; 3,787,510; 3,954,894; 4,172,100; 4,172,190; 4,182,818; 4,196,153; 4,196,154; 4,200,718; 4,201,729; and 4,205,016; the teachings of which are herewith incorporated by reference thereto.
Polymer blends in accordance with the present invention may be formed by any of the conventional means of blending polymers. The block copolymers or mixture of block copolymers and the copolymer of the alkenyl aromatic monomer and isopropenyl aromatic monomer may be mechanically blended using a variety of malaxating and mixing machines including extruders compounding rolls, Banbury mixers and the like. The copolymer and block copolymer are readily blended by dissolving the polymers in an appropriate solvent, such as benzene, admixing the two solutions and either evaporating the solvent or precipitating the polymers by the addition of a suitable nonsolvent such as methanol. The precipitate may then be washed, dried and fabricated by the desired method, such as injection molding or extrusion. Alternatively, a mixed solution of copolymer and block copolymer may be employed as a coating material by applying the mixture of solutions to a surface and removing the solvent by evaporation. Alternatively, the block copolymer or mixture of block copolymers may be dissolved in a non-reactive solvent such as benzene, cyclohexane or the like; or a reactive solvent such as α-methylstyrene and the vinyl aromatic monomer/isopropenyl aromatic monomer polymer polymerized in the presence of the block copolymer. Any of the foregoing methods are capable of preparing polymer blends in accordance with the present invention. However, a desirable method is the polymerization of the alkenyl aromatic monomer and isopropenyl aromatic monomer random copolymer in the presence of a block copolymer or a mixture of block copolymers as hereinbefore specified.
So-called radial, star or multi-armed polymers desirably are prepared employing a polyfunctional initiator using the general procedure hereinbefore set forth wherein a tapered diene polymer block copolymer may be obtained or a homopolydiene block obtained depending upon the sequence of monomer addition as hereinbefore set forth. An alternate route to radial block copolymers is to prepare a living polymer of the AB configuration, employing a multifunctional coupling agent; for example, silicon tetrachloride, divinylbenzene and like, well known polyfunctional coupling agents.
The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited, by the following examples. All reactions and polymerizations described below were conducted under a dry nitrogen atmosphere. All glass containers were baked at 150° C. overnight, and flushed with nitrogen before use. The transfer of monomers and reagents was carried out with nitrogen flushed syringes. All monomers and reagents were purified according to the standard procedure used in anionic polymerization.
PREPARATION I
α-Methylstyrene-Styrene Copolymers
Three α-methylstyrene-styrene copolymers were prepared by anionic polymerization using secondary butyllithium or n-butyllithium as initiator and an excess of α-methylstyrene monomer as a solvent. Technical grade α-methylstyrene was purified by passing through a bed of activated alumina. Freshly distilled styrene was employed. The reaction mixture was blanketed with dry nitrogen. Impurities in the system were neutralized by the addition of an equivalent amount of n-butyllithium. The monomer mixture was heated to about 60° C. and predetermined quantity of polymerization initiator added. The contents of the reaction vessel rose in temperature due to the heat of polymerization. When the temperature of the reaction mixture returned to the initial polymerization temperature, it was taken as an indication that all of the styrene monomer had been consumed, and that polymerization had ceased. The resultant living polymer was inactivated by the addition of isopropanol. The copolymers were recovered by precipitation with methanol, the precipitate subsequently dissolved in methylene chloride and re-precipitated with methanol. Portions of the methylene chloride solution were retained for additional blending experiments. The precipitated portions of the sample were dried in a vacuum over night at a temperature of about 58° C. The dried samples in powder form were then mixed with a methanol solution of stabilizer and anti-oxidant having the trade designations of Ionol and Irganox 1076 and dried again under vacuum at room temperature. The amounts of Ionol and Irganox 1076 were approximately 0.2 weight percent each by weight based on the weight of the copolymer sample. The polymerization conditions for the preparation of the styrene-α-methylstyrene copolymers are set forth in Table 1A.

TABLE 1A______________________________________Polymerization Conditions Feed Weight Percent s-BuLiCopolymer α-Methylstyrene Styrene me/1*______________________________________A 95.17 4.83 0.44B 95.21 4.79 0.43C 95.11 4.89 --**______________________________________ *Milliequivalent per liter. SBuLi = secondary butyllithium. **Due to the excessive residue impurities in the system, sBuLi amount for initiation and initiation temperature were not well controlled.

The molecular weight of the samples was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and the proportion of α-methylstyrene (α-MS) determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr). These values are set forth in Table 1B.

TABLE 1B______________________________________Molecular Weights and Composition Wt. % αMS*Copolymer GPC Molecular Weights By nmr______________________________________A 325,000 49B 227,000 52C 132,000 49______________________________________ *αMS = methylstyrene.

Each of the three copolymers were compression molded into test bars at a temperature of about 220° C., the tensile strength and elongation were determined as well as the notched izod impact strength and the Vicat softening point. These properties are set forth in Table 1C.

TABLE 1C______________________________________Physical Properties Tensile Notched Vicat Strength Izod SofteningCopolymer psi Elongation % ft-lb/in Point °C.______________________________________A 5259 1.4 0.37 115B 3914 1.0 0.32 110C 3518 0.8 0.21 116______________________________________

PREPARATION II
α-Methylstyrene Styrene Copolymers
Two samples designated AA and BB of alpha-methylstyrene styrene copolymer were prepared by the same general procedure as in Preparation I except that methanol was not used to precipitate the products from their alpha-methylstyrene solutions. The resultant polymer syrups were concentrated to about 38 weight percent solids, by a vacuum distillation of monomer therefrom. The syrups were further devolatilized by placing in a tray in a vacuum oven at approximately 180° C. for a period of about 45 minutes after the polymer reached 170° C. The resultant polymer slabs were then cooled and ground into granules for subsequent blending experiments. The feed proportions and the molecular weights and compositions of the copolymers are set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2______________________________________Copolymers AA and BB GPC Wt. %Feed wt. % s-BuLi Molecular α-MSCopolymer αMS Styrene me/l weight by nmr______________________________________AA 95.21 4.79 0.75 165,000 48BB 95.25 4.74 0.79 138,000 45______________________________________

PREPARATION III
α-methylstyrene-Styrene Copolymers
Two α-methylstyrene-styrene copolymer samples, CC and DD, were prepared by a procedure that uses five consecutive polymerizations in a single α-methylstyrene solution. Each run is thus a blend of five polymers. The procedure for each of the consecutive polymerizations was the same as that described in Preparation I. When the styrene monomer of the first polymerization was consumed, usually in about 20 minutes, the polymerization reaction stopped automatically. This is because the temperature was maintained at above the ceiling temperature of poly(α-methylstyrene) and homopolymerization of α-methylstyrene could not take place. A quantity of polymer syrup was removed at this time from the reactor for the percent solids analysis. The reaction mixture was then cooled to about 60° C. and a second amount of styrene was charged into the reactor. This was followed by a second amount of s-butyllithium to initiate the second polymerization. This process was repeated five times. After the final polymerization 12 ml of isopropyl alcohol was added to inactivate any living polymer. A 0.2 weight percent of the phenolic antioxident was added based on the solids being contained within the reaction mixture. The polymer was recovered by using the procedure appeared in Preparation II. The quantities of the monomers and initiators for the 5 consecutive polymerizations are listed in Tables 3A and 3B. The copolymer molecular weights and compositions are listed in Table 3C.

TABLE 3A______________________________________Polymerization Conditions for CC Kg Removed α-MS Styrene S-BuLi for Wt. %Step kg kg Me* analysis Solids______________________________________1 52.51 3.35 73.05 minor 11.82 0 3.15 54.64 minor 21.63 0 2.95 43.14 minor 29.94 0 2.77 54.35 minor 37.05 0 2.60 40.26 minor 43.0______________________________________ *Me = milliequivalents


TABLE 3B______________________________________Polymerization Conditions for DD Kg Removed α-MS Styrene S-BuLi for Wt. %Step kg kg millieq. analysis Solids______________________________________1 32.78 2.01 48.45 1.37 10.72 0 1.66 18.48 0.94 19.63 0 1.54 25.30 0.90 27.14 0 1.43 27.63 0.70 33.65 0 1.34 18.48 -- 38.9______________________________________


TABLE 3C______________________________________Molecular Weights and Compositionsof Copolymers CC and DDSample Molecular Weight % α-MS______________________________________CC 106,000 48DD 155,000 48______________________________________

PREPARATION IV
Tri-block copolymer of α-methylstyrene-styrene and 1,3-butadiene blocks (α-MS/S-B-α-MS/S) were prepared employing a difunctional anionic initiator as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,154, the teachings of which are herewith incorporated by reference thereto.
The initiator 1,3-phenylene-bis(3-methyl-1-phenylpentylidene)bis(lithium) was prepared by dissolving 1,3-di-(1-phenylethenyl)benzene in dry toluene at a concentration of about 3 percent by weight. Two moles of secondary-butyllithium in cyclohexane were added to the toluene solution per mole of the phenylethenyl benzene. The secondary-butyllithium was about 1 molar. The addition was accomplished under a nitrogen purge at room temperature. The secondary-butyllithium added to the phenylethenyl benzene to provide the desired initiator after a period of about 90 minutes. The resultant initiator was storable at room temperature for several days without apparent loss of activity.
A nitrogen purged reaction vessel containing α-methylstyrene-styrene and 1,3-butadiene, all in purified form were contacted with the appropriate amount of secondary-butyllithium or n-butyllithium to react with residual impurities not removed with the conventional monomer purification procedures. The mixture was then heated to polymerization temperatures and the difunctional initiator solution then added, the butadiene polymerized initially to form the desired center block. When the polymerization of the butadiene was complete, the α-methylstyrene and styrene polymerized to form the desired end blocks. In general, two exothermic temperature rises were observed corresponding to the initial polymerization of the butadiene and the subsequent polymerization of the α-methylstyrene-styrene. When the copolymerization of the styrene was complete, the polymerization was inactivated by the addition of isopropanol or glacial acetic acid. The resultant triblock copolymer was of ABA configuration wherein A is a random copolymer of α-methylstyrene-styrene and B a polymer of butadiene was maintained as a solution in α-methylstyrene for blending experiments.
In a similar manner, block copolymers of AB configuration were prepared employing secondary-butyllithium as initiator and for comparative purposes styrene-butadiene-styrene (S-B-S) and styrene-butadiene (S-B) block copolymers were prepared. Table 4A shows polymerization conditions and characterization of the ABA copolymers. Table 4B shows that of the AB polymers. Table 4C shows the styrene-butadiene-styrene and styrene-butadiene polymers.

TABLE 4A__________________________________________________________________________Polymerization Conditions and Characterization of αMS/S--B--αMS/S Block Copolymers Weight % α-MSTriblock Feed Wt. % Initiator Initiation GPC Wt. % In Endα-MS/S--B--αMS/S α-MS Styrene Butadiene me/l Temp. °C. Mol. Wt. Butadiene Block__________________________________________________________________________D 90.22 2.45 7.33 1.07 70 494,000 58 53E 87.00 3.60 9.40 1.54 65 217,300 59 46F 86.58 3.19 10.24 2.99 40 116,000 60 54G 87.00 3.60 9.40 1.24 55 369,000 56 52H 87.00 3.60 9.40 1.41 55 240,000 53 56I 86.34 2.71 10.95 2.18 55 172,000 63 58J 87.35 3.49 9.16 2.85 46 103,000 50 61K 88.86 6.25 4.89 3.12 50 111,000 28 50__________________________________________________________________________


TABLE 4B__________________________________________________________________________Polymerization Conditions and Characterization of αMS/S DiblockCopolymers Weight % α-MSDiblock Feed Wt. % S--BuLi Initiation GPC Wt. % Inα-MS/S--B α-MS Styrene Butadiene me/l Temp. °C. Mol. Wt. Butadiene Block__________________________________________________________________________L 87.00 3.60 9.40 0.78 60 469,300 58 48M 87.00 3.60 9.40 1.22 60 194,900 58 47N 87.00 3.60 9.40 0.98 55 395,000 54 55O 87.00 3.60 9.40 1.14 55 241,000 54 55P 86.34 2.71 10.95 1.52 55 166,000 64 56__________________________________________________________________________


TABLE 4C__________________________________________________________________________Polymerization Conditions and Characterization of Styrene Butadiene BlockCopolymersBlock Copolymer Feed Wt. % Initiator Initiation GPC Weight %Type Toluene Styrene Butadiene me/l Temp. °C. Mol. Wt. Butadiene__________________________________________________________________________R SBS 81.85 8.17 9.98 1.66 55 256,000 55S SB 81.85 8.17 9.98 1.72 55 264,000 56__________________________________________________________________________

The diblock copolymers were prepared in the same manner as the triblock copolymers except that the secondary-butyllithium having a concentration of about 0.5 n in cyclohexane was employed as the initiator. The styrene-butadiene-styrene and styrene-butadiene block copolymers set forth in Table 4C were prepared in a manner similar to that employed in the preparation of polymers for Table 4A and 4B with the exception that anhydrous toluene was employed in place of α-methylstyrene
PREPARATION V
Triblock Copolymers
The consecutive polymerization procedure described in preparation III was used to prepare three triblock copolymers with α-methylstyrene styrene copolymer as the end blocks and polybutadiene as the center block. Sample EE was an elastomeric triblock, only two consecutive polymerizations were used. The procedure for each of the consecutive polymerizations was similar to that used in Preparation IV. The initiation temperature was 40° C. and the temperature would then rise to a peak value until styrene (S) monomer was consumed and polymerization reaction stopped. A portion of the reaction solution was withdrawn and the percent solids in it was analyzed. The reaction mixture was then cooled to the initiation temperature and more butadiene (B) and styrene monomers added and then the initiator for the second initiation. Stabilizer, 0.25 percent Irganox 1076, 2 percent Ionol and 1 percent tris-nonylphenyl phosphite (based on the weight of the polymer) were added to the final syrup. The polymer was then recovered by devolatilizing in a vacuum oven at a temperature of 170° C. for a period of 45 minutes after the polymer reached 160° C.
Sample FF and GG were triblock copolymers with lower amounts of polybutadiene. Three consecutive polymerizations were used for each sample. The initiation temperature was 50° C. After each polymerization the temperature was maintained at 70° C. for 30 minutes before cooling to 25° C. for the withdrawal of sample for solids analysis. More butadiene and styrene monomers were then added and the mixture was heated to the initiation temperature of 50° C. at which temperature the initiator for the second polymerization was added. The stabilizers used were the same as those for sample EE and the polymers were recovered also the same way except that the temperature of devolatilization was 10° C. higher.
The conditions of polymerization for the three runs are given in Tables 5A, 5B, 5C and the molecular weights and compositions of the samples are given in Table 5D.

TABLE 5A______________________________________Polymerization Conditions for EE Kg Initia- Isopro- Removedα-MS S B tor panol for SolidsStep kg kg kg mmoles* ml Analysis wt %______________________________________1 56.16 1.56 7.94 210 19.4 2.37 17.52 0 1.44 6.54 151 23.0 -- 28.3______________________________________ *Millimoles


TABLE 5B______________________________________Polymerization Conditions for FF Kg Initia- Isopro- Removedα-MS S B tor panol for SolidsStep kg kg kg mmoles ml Analysis wt %______________________________________1 44.17 3.08 2.17 163 none 5.50 15.92 0 0.97 0.77 19.3 none 1.30 23.23 0 2.58 1.74 82.0 43 -- 33.8______________________________________


TABLE 5C______________________________________Polymerization Conditions for GG Kg Initia- Isopro- Removedα-MS S B tor panol for SolidsStep kg kg kg mmoles ml Analysis wt %______________________________________1 43.23 2.27 2.40 88.7 9.9 6.29 13.92 0 1.88 1.85 49.2 5.0 3.31 25.13 0 1.66 1.62 99.0 16 -- 32.0______________________________________


TABLE 5D______________________________________Molecular Weights and Compositionsof Triblock Polymers EE, FF and GG GPC MolecularSample Weight % B Ratio α-MS/S______________________________________EE 84,000 63.5 62/38FF 79,000 29.9 48/52GG 120,000 34.2 49/51______________________________________



EXAMPLE 1
Blends Prepared by Coprecipitation from Solution
The solutions of α-methylstyrene-styrene copolymer and α-methylstyrene-styrene containing block copolymers dissolved in α-methylstyrene were mass precipitated by the addition of methanol, the precipitate dried and the precipitate dissolved in methylene chloride. The blends were stabilized by the addition of about 0.2 weight percent Ionol and 0.2 weight percent of Irganox 1076, the resultant blends were dried under vacuum overnight, compression molded and tensile strength, elongation, notched izod impact strength and the Vicat heat distortion temperature determined. The results are set forth in Table 6.

TABLE 6__________________________________________________________________________Composition and Properties of BlendsComposition Properties α-MS/S Block Wt. % NotchedBlend Copolymer Copolymer Butadiene Tensile Elonga- Izod VicatNo. Sample Wt. % Sample Wt. % In Blend psi tion % ft-lb/in °C.__________________________________________________________________________1 B 74.0 G 26.0 14.5 2689 8.4 1.4 1182 B 72.2 N 27.8 15.0 3863 1.8 0.97 1193 B 71.9 H 28.1 15.0 3719 8.8 4.3 1214 B 72.2 O 27.8 15.0 3695 1.7 2.6 1215 C 76.7 P 23.3 15.0 3192 3.3 3.5 1196 C 76.2 I 23.8 15.0 3131 9.7 4.8 1207 C 70.0 G 30.0 16.8 3122 10.1 5.5 1228 C 71.8 H 28.2 15.0 3343 12.3 6.4 1229 C 72.3 O 27.7 15.0 3548 2.1 5.0 12410 C 70.0 J 30.0 15.0 2452 23.8 5.7 12011 C 46.4 K 53.4 15.0 5293 3.7 0.44 101__________________________________________________________________________

It is noted that the addition of the α-methylstyrene-styrene block copolymer results in a substantial increase in the impact resistance of the blends when compared to the impact resistance of the α-methylstyrene-styrene copolymer of Table I.
EXAMPLE 2
Comparison of α-Methylstyrene-Styrene Block Copolymers and Styrene Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymers Blended with α-Methylstyrene-Styrene Copolymers
The procedure of Example 1 was employed to prepare blends of styrene-butadiene, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers with α-methylstyrene-styrene copolymers. In blending the styrene-butadiene and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, toluene was employed as a solvent for the styrene-butadiene-styrene blocks while α-methylstyrene was utilized as the solvent for the α-methylstyrene-styrene coplymers. The results are set forth in Table 7.

TABLE 7__________________________________________________________________________Comparison of Blends Using α-MS Containing BlockCopolymers with Those Using Styrene-Butadiene CopolymersComposition Properties α-MS/S Block Wt. % NotchedBlend Copolymer Copolymer Butadiene Tensile Elonga- Izod VicatNo. Sample Wt. % Sample Wt. % In Blend psi tion % ft-lb/in °C.__________________________________________________________________________3 B 71.9 H 28.1 15.0 3719 8.8 4.3 1214 B 72.2 O 27.8 15.0 3695 1.7 2.6 12112 B 72.9 R 27.1 15.0 2622 8.3 2.0 11813 B 73.4 S 26.6 15.0 2458 3.2 3.2 116__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 3
A fourteenth blend was prepared by coprecipitating 68.2 weight percent of Sample A and 31.8 weight percent of Sample D. Weight percent of butadiene polymer in the blend was 18.5. The resultant blend was then divided into 2 portions. One portion was mixed for a period of 10 minutes using a miniature Banbury mixer, employing as a stabilizer system 0.2 weight percent Ional and 0.2 weight percent trisnonylphenyl phosphite, the weights being based on the weight of the resin. The remaining portion was mixed on compounding rolls for a period of 5 minutes at a temperature of 210° C., employing a like quantity of the identical stabilizers. The resultant portions were ground to granular form, compression molded into test bars and the physical properties determined. The results are set forth in Table 8.

TABLE 8______________________________________Blend #14 After Mechanical Mixing Tensile Elongation Notch Izod VicatMixer Used psi % ft-lb/in °C.______________________________________Banbury 3607 2.3 5.3 123Compounding 3739 1.6 4.8 127Roll______________________________________

EXAMPLE 4
Four blends were prepared in the manner as set forth in Example 1 with the exception that the stabilizers used were 0.25 weight percent Ionol and 0.25 Irganox 1076 based on the weight of the polymer blend. The resultant samples were compression molded and ground to granular form. Each of the examples was passed through a one-inch National Rubber Machinery single screw extruder and pelletized. The pelletized samples were subsequently injection molded into specimens for mechanical testing. The composition and physical properties of the samples are set forth in Table 9.

TABLE 9__________________________________________________________________________Composition and Properties of Blends After Extrusion and InjectionMolding α-MS/S Block Wt. % NotchedBlend Copolymer Copolymer Butadiene Tensile Elonga- Izod VicatNo. Sample Wt. % Sample Wt. % In Blend psi tion % ft-lb/in °C.__________________________________________________________________________15 A 67.3 E 32.7 19.3 3756 32.8 4.0 12116 A 67.3 L 32.7 19.0 3323 28.8 4.5 11617 A 70.0 F 30.0 18.0 3645 16.8 2.5 11718 A 67.4 M 32.6 18.9 4027 29.4 5.0 124__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 5
Blends 19 and 20 were made by consecutive polymerization in a reactor. In blend 19A triblock of about 100,000 molecular weight, 30 percent butadiene and an α-methylstyrene to styrene ratio of 48 to 52 in the end block copolymer was prepared first using the procedure described in Preparation IV. The initial feed had 92.6 parts of α-methylstyrene, 4 parts of styrene and 3.4 parts of butadiene all by weight. After the triblock polymerization five consecutive polymerizations were made in the same syrup to prepare an α-methylstyrene styrene copolymer of molecular weight of about 115,000 and of an α-methylstyrene to styrene ratio of 48 to 52. The procedure used was similar to that described in Preparation II. The polymer syrup at the end of all six consecutive polymerizations contained 42.3 weight percent solids and was a blend of 20 weight percent triblock copolymer and 80 weight percent α-methylstyrene styrene copolymer. The polymer recovery and stabilizer system used were the same as described in Preparation V.
Blend 20 was prepared by making two triblock copolymer polymerizations and then followed with three α-methylstyrene styrene copolymer polymerizations. The procedure used was the same as in blend 19. The final blend contained about 60 weight percent of a triblock copolymer with a molecular weight of about 97,000, a butadiene content of about 30 percent and an α-methylstyrene to styrene ratio of 48 to 52 for the end blocks and an α-methylstyrene styrene copolymer of a molecular weight of about 145,000 and an α-methylstyrene and styrene ratio of 48 to 52.
Blend 21 was prepared by melt blending in a twin screw extruder, 85 parts of blend 20 and 15 parts of triblock copolymer sample EE.
Blend 22 was prepared by dissolving in toluene at a concentration of approximately 35 percent solids by weight of a triblock copolymer sample FF and an α-methylstyrene styrene copolymer sample CC. The solution was then dried in a heated vacuum oven. The final polymer contained 1 percent trisnonylphenyl phosphite, about 0.75 percent Ionol and 0.25 percent Irganox 1076.
All these four blends are high clarity, i.e., transparent, resins and their properties are listed in Table 10.

TABLE 10__________________________________________________________________________Blends of Alphamethylstyrene/Styrene Copolymer andAlphamethylstyrene/Styrene-Butadiene-Alphamethylstyrene/StyreneTriblock Polymers - Clear Resins% Melt Properties of Blends (Injection Molded Data) Buta- Flow Izod diene Rate Tensile Tensile Tensile (Ft. in (Sched- Vicat Yield Rupture Elong. Modulus lb/inBlends Blend ule I) (°C.) (psi) (psi) (%) (psi × 10.sup.-5) Notch)__________________________________________________________________________19 6.5 5.0 124 -- 7640 1.9 4.4 0.420 17.6 3.5 114 6485 5300 9.7 3.6 0.621 19.4 5.1 111 6105 4500 23 3.6 0.622 22 2.4 124 5570 3465 18 3.1 0.5__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 6
Four blends (23, 24, 25 and 26) of α-ms/s copolymer and triblock polymer (both of which contained stabilizers) were dry blended and subsequently extruded twice on a twin screw extruder. The pellets were then injection molded for property data which is set forth in Table 11.

TABLE 11__________________________________________________________________________Extrusion Blends of Alphamethylstyrene/Styrene Copolymer andAlphamethylstyrene/Styrene-Butadiene-Alphamethylstyrene/StyreneTriblock Polymers - Clear Resins % % Melt Properties of Blends (Injection Molded Data) Buta- Buta- Flow Tensile Izod α-MS diene diene Rate Tensile Tensile Modulus (Ft. Copolymer Triblock in (Sche- Vicat Yield Rupture Elong. (psi × lb/inBlends Sample Sample Blend dule I) (°C.) (psi) (psi) (%) 10.sup.-5) Notch)__________________________________________________________________________23 DD -- 0 1.5 134 -- 8570 1.8 5.5 0.424 DD EE 8 0.8 133 -- 7395 2.4 4.6 0.625 DD EE 12 0.7 135 6895 6765 2.6 4.4 0.726 DD EE 16 0.6 133 5045 3945 22 3.9 2.0__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 7
An additional four blends (27, 28, 29 and 30) were prepared using the following procedure. The copolymer and triblock were dissolved in toluene at a concentration of approximately 35 percent solids by weight. The polymer solution was dried in a heated vacuum oven. The final polymer contained 1 percent trisnonyl phenyl phosphite ˜0.75 percent Ionol and 0.25 percent Irganox 1076. The polymer was ground into granules and injection molded.

TABLE 12__________________________________________________________________________Solution Blends of Alphamethylstyrene/Styrene Copolymer andAlphamethylstyrene/Styrene-Butadiene-Alphamethylstyrene/StyreneTriblock Polymers - Opaque Resins % % Melt Properties of Blends (Injection Molded Data) Buta- Buta- Flow Tensile Izod α-MS diene diene Rate Tensile Tensile Modulus (Ft. Copolymer Triblock in (Sche- Vicat Yield Rupture Elong. (psi × lb/inBlends Sample Sample Blend dule I) (°C.) (psi) (psi) (%) 10.sup.-5) Notch)__________________________________________________________________________27 AA + BB.sup.a EE 15 0.7 123 4995 4445 28 3.4 1.728 CC EE 15 7.7 129 5495 5350 2.0 4.1 0.729 AA + BB.sup.a EE 20 0.5 124 3495 3300 30 2.4 6.030 CC EE 20 10 114 3630 2850 14 3.3 4.3__________________________________________________________________________

In a manner similar to the foregoing, other advantageous copolymer blends are readily prepared.
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the present invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. For this reason, it is to be fully understood that all of the foregoing is intended to be merely illustrative and is not to be construed or interpreted as being restrictive or otherwise limiting of the present invention, excepting as it is set forth and defined in the hereto-appended claims.