Process for producing branched polymer and polymer

Abstract

This invention is related to a production method of a branched polymer which comprises polymerizing a macromonomer [I], said macromonomer [I] being a vinyl polymer obtainable by radical polymerization and terminally having one polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group per molecule. Furthermore, by producing the macromonomer by living radical polymerization, in particular atom transfer radical polymerization, it becomes possible to produce the above polymers or gels having a well controlled side chain molecular weights.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . A branched polymer obtainable by the production method comprising performing living radical polymerization to obtain a macromonomer [I], said macromonomer [I] being a vinyl polymer terminally having one polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group per molecule, and polymerizing said macromonomer [I] 
 wherein the macromonomer [I] has a weight average molecular weight (Mw)-to-number average molecular weight (Mn) ratio (Mw/Mn) of less than 1.8 as determined by gel permeation chromatography,    wherein the polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group is represented by the general formula (1):      OC(O)C(R)═CH 2    (1)    wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms:    
   
   
       34 . A thermoplastic elastomer comprising the polymer according to  claim 33 .  
   
   
       35 . A shock resistance improver comprising the polymer according to  claim 33 .  
   
   
       36 . A pressure sensitive adhesive comprising the polymer according to  claim 33 .  
   
   
       37 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein R is H or a methyl group.  
   
   
       38 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the living radical polymerization is atom transfer radical polymerization.  
   
   
       39 . The branched polymer according to  claim 38  wherein the atom transfer radical polymerization is carried out using, as a catalyst, a transition metal complex whose central metal is an element of the group 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 of the periodic table.  
   
   
       40 . The branched polymer according to  claim 39  wherein the metal complex to serve as a catalyst is a complex of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, ruthenium and iron.  
   
   
       41 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the polymer main chain of the macromonomer (I) is an acrylic (meth)polymer.  
   
   
       42 . The branched polymer according to  claim 41  wherein the polymer main chain of the macromonomer (I) is an acrylic ester polymer.  
   
   
       43 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the main chain of the macromonomer (I) is a styrene type polymer.  
   
   
       44 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the macromonomer (I) is obtained by substituting a compound having a radical-polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond for a terminal halogen group of a vinyl polymer.  
   
   
       45 . The branched polymer according to  claim 44  wherein the macromonomer (I) is obtained by reacting a vinyl polymer having a terminal halogen group represented by the general formula (2):  
       —CR 1 R 2 X   (2)  wherein R 1  and R 2  each represents a group attached to an ethylenically unsaturated group of a vinyl monomer and X represents a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, with a compound represented by the general formula (3):      M +− OC(O)C(R)═CH 2    (3)    wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and M +  represents an alkali metal or a quaternary ammonium ion, for substitution for the terminal halogen group.    
   
   
       46 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the macromonomer (I) is obtained by reacting a hydroxy-terminated vinyl polymer with a compound represented by the general formula (4):  
       XC(O)C(R)═CH 2    (4)  wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and X represents a chlorine, bromine atom or a hydroxyl group.    
   
   
       47 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the macromonomer (I) is obtained by reacting a hydroxy-terminated vinyl polymer with a diisocyanate compound and reacting the remaining isocyanato group with a compound represented by the general formula (5):  
       HO—R′—OC(O)C(R)═CH 2    (5):  wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R′ represents a divalent organic group containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms.    
   
   
       48 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the macromonomer (I) has a number average molecular weight of not less than 3,000.  
   
   
       49 . A branched polymer obtainable by the production method comprising performing radical living polymerization to obtain a macromonomer (I), said macromonomer (I) being a vinyl polymer terminally having one polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group per molecule, and 
 polymerizing said macromonomer (I) in the manner of living radical polymerization,    wherein the polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond-containing group is represented by the general formula (1):      —OC(O)C(R)═CH 2    (1)    wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms.    
   
   
       50 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein homopolymerization of the macromonomer (I) gives a stellar polymer.  
   
   
       51 . The branched polymer according to claim  32  wherein the copolymerization of the macromonomer (I) with a copolymerizable monomer (II) other than said macromonomer (I) gives a graft copolymer.  
   
   
       52 . The branched polymer according to  claim 51 , wherein the weight ratio between the macromonomer (I) and the monomer (II) is 95:5 to 5:95.