Stable and compatible polymer blends

Abstract

The present invention pertains to products and processes relating to compatible polymer blends comprising at least one sulfonated polymer and at least one non-sulfonated polymer. The sulfonated polymers may be produced using a number of sulfonating agents including a coordination complex of sulfur trioxide. The polymeric blended materials described herein are useful in a variety of applications, including as coatings for medical devices, protective clothing and fabric, laboratory equipment, vascular stents and shunts, absorbent materials and separation membranes, three-dimensional constructs, devices, and other uses.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A polymeric material that is water insoluble and comprises (i) at least one uniformly sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprising at least one arene moiety-containing unit and at least one non-arene moiety-containing unit, wherein said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer is 30-80 mol % sulfonated; wherein said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprises a random block copolymer, a triblock copolymer, or a pseudorandom block copolymer wherein the end blocks comprise arylene-vinyl polymer and the central blocks comprise at least one hydrogenated segment prepared from a diene selected from the group consisting of isoprene, butadiene, 1-methyl-1-ethyl ethane, or higher alkylene derivatives thereof, and (ii) at least one thermoplastic or thermosetting non-sulfonated homopolymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a segmented polyurethane, a poly(ether urethane), a poly(carbonate urethane), a poly(siloxy urethane), a polyurethane urea, an arylene-vinyl containing block copolymer, a polysiloxane, a polyamide, a polyketone, a polyester, a poly(ether-ester), a polyanhydride, a polyamine, a poly(ortho ester), a polyacrylate, a polyalkylene, a polycarbonate, a fluoropolymer, a polysulfone, carbohydrate polymers, a polypeptide, a polyphosphazine, a polyether, a poly(ether sulfone), a poly(vinylalcohol), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), a poly(epoxide)-polyamine curing system, and an acrylate. 
     
     
         43 . The polymeric material of  claim 42 , wherein said uniformly sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprises a pseudo-random block copolymer or a random block copolymer wherein the end blocks comprise arylene-vinyl polymer. 
     
     
         44 . The polymeric material of  claim 42 , wherein said uniformly sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprises polyethersulfone, polyetherketone, polystyrene, methylmethacrylate, polydioxanone, polylactides, polyglycolides, lactide-glycolide copolymers, or polyesters. 
     
     
         45 . An article of manufacture made with the polymeric material of  claim 42 , wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of a membrane, a medical device, a pharmaceutical composition, a moisture transfer membrane, a fluid-absorbing material, a fuel cell, a capacitor, a wound dressing, a fabric, a building material, a desalination membrane or device, a membrane for heating, a membrane or device for ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), a packing material, a surface coating, a shunt, a stent, tubing, clothing, bedding, surface coatings, fluid absorbing materials, adhesives, fluid collection or storage bags, sensors, gauges, and fluid filters. 
     
     
         46 . A method of making the polymeric material of  claim 42 , wherein said method comprises the steps of combining at least one sulfonated polymer in solution with at least one non-sulfonated polymer, allowing the solution to thoroughly mix, and isolating and/or processing the polymer blend. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said step of isolating and/or processing the polymer blend comprises at least one of spray drying, precipitation, solvent evaporation, extruding, electrospraying, electrospinning, and precipitating the polymer blend. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising the step of converting the polymer blend to salt form. 
     
     
         49 . A method of making an article of manufacture comprising the polymeric material of  claim 42  comprising the steps of combining at least one sulfonated polymer in solution with at least one non-sulfonated polymer, allowing the solution to thoroughly mix, isolating the polymer blend, and manipulating the polymer blend to form the article. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said step of manipulating the polymer blend comprises at least one of thermal lamination, transfer molding, press molding, extruding, thermal fiber-spinning, electrospinning, electrospraying, painting, dipping, and pressure spraying. 
     
     
         51 . A polymeric material that is water insoluble and comprises (i) at least one sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprising at least one arene moiety-containing unit and at least one non-arene moiety-containing unit, wherein said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer is 30-80 mol % sulfonated; wherein the end blocks of said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprise arylene-vinyl polymer and the central blocks of said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprise at least one hydrogenated segment prepared from a diene, and (ii) at least one thermoplastic or thermosetting non-sulfonated homopolymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a segmented polyurethane, a poly(ether urethane), a poly(carbonate urethane), a poly(siloxy urethane), a polyurethane urea, an arylene-vinyl containing block copolymer, a polysiloxane, a polyamide, a polyketone, a polyester, a poly(ether-ester), a polyanhydride, a polyamine, a poly(ortho ester), a polyacrylate, a polyalkylene, a polycarbonate, a fluoropolymer, a polysulfone, carbohydrate polymers, a polypeptide, a polyphosphazine, a polyether, a poly(ether sulfone), a poly(vinylalcohol), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), a poly(epoxide)-polyamine curing system, and an acrylate. 
     
     
         52 . A polymeric material that is water insoluble and comprises (i) at least one uniformly sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprising at least one arene moiety-containing unit and at least one non-arene moiety-containing unit, wherein said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer is 30-80 mol % sulfonated; wherein said sulfonated aryl-containing block copolymer comprises a random block copolymer, a triblock copolymer, or a pseudorandom block copolymer wherein the end blocks comprise arylene-vinyl polymer and the central blocks comprise at least one monoalkene polymer segment prepared from a monoalkene selected from the group consisting of isobutylene, methyl cyclohexene, and methylcyclopentene, and (ii) at least one thermoplastic or thermosetting non-sulfonated homopolymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a segmented polyurethane, a poly(ether urethane), a poly(carbonate urethane), a poly(siloxy urethane), a polyurethane urea, an arylene-vinyl containing block copolymer, a polysiloxane, a polyamide, a polyketone, a polyester, a poly(ether-ester), a polyanhydride, a polyamine, a poly(ortho ester), a polyacrylate, a polyalkylene, a polycarbonate, a fluoropolymer, a polysulfone, carbohydrate polymers, a polypeptide, a polyphosphazine, a polyether, a poly(ether sulfone), a poly(vinylalcohol), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), a poly(epoxide)-polyamine curing system, and an acrylate.