Sulfonated block copolymers

摘要

A thermoplastic polymer which possesses excellent mechanical properties at both room and elevated temperatures is obtained by reacting an acyl sulfate with a block copolymer composed of at least one conjugated diene block and one alkenyl arene block. The block copolymer is first selectively hydrogenated and thereafter modified by grafting sulfonic acid functional groups primarily in the alkenyl arene blocks. The mechanical properties may be varied and controlled by varying the degree of functionalization (amount of sulfonation), and the degree of neutralization of the sulfonic acid groups to metal sulfonate salts.