Crosslinkable polymer composition

Abstract

A crosslinkable polymer composition includes repeating units of formula (I)and repeating units derived from a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group, wherein the crosslinkable functional group is capable of forming a covalent linkage with a crosslinkable functional group of an adjacent repeating unit. R1 and R2 are as defined herein. The crosslinkable polymer composition can be particularly useful, for example, for pressure sensitive adhesive or coating compositions. A method of making the polymer composition and a pressure sensitive adhesive and a coating are also described.

1 . A crosslinkable polymer composition comprising
 a first polymer comprising repeating units of formula (I)   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 repeating units derived from a monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group, wherein the crosslinkable functional group is capable of forming a covalent linkage with a second crosslinkable functional group of an adjacent repeating unit, a crosslinker, or both, when pressure is applied to the crosslinkable polymer composition, a time sufficient to cure the crosslinkable polymer composition has passed, or both; 
 wherein in formula (I), 
 R 1  is independently at each occurrence hydrogen or methyl; and 
 R 2  is independently at each occurrence a C 4-12  alkyl group or a group of the formula 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 5  is hydrogen or methyl and n is an integer from 1 to 230. 
       
     
     
         2 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the repeating units derived from a monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group are of formula (III) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         R 3  is independently at each occurrence hydrogen or methyl; 
         R 4  is a C 1-14  alkylene group or a group of the formula 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein p is an integer from 1 to 230; 
         L 1  is a C 1-12  alkylene group; and 
         R 6  is a C 1-6  alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         3 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the repeating units derived from a monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group are of formula (IV) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         R 3  is independently at each occurrence hydrogen or methyl; and 
         L 1  is a C 1-12  alkylene group. 
       
     
     
         4 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , wherein
 R 1  is hydrogen and R 3  is methyl;   R 2  is a group of the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 5  is hydrogen and n is an integer from 1 to 10; and 
         R 4  is a group of the formula 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein p is 1. 
       
     
     
         5 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 2 , wherein L 1  is an ethylene group and R 5  is a methyl group. 
     
     
         6 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 3 , wherein L 1  is an ethylene group. 
     
     
         7 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , comprising
 60 to 99 mole percent repeating units according to formula (I); and   1 to 40 mole percent repeating units derived from a monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group;   wherein mole percent of each component is based on the total moles of repeating units according to formula (I) repeating units derived from a monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group.   
     
     
         8 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating units derived from a multifunctional crosslinker comprising at least two polymerizable groups of formula (IV) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 6  is hydrogen or methyl. 
       
     
     
         9 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 8 , wherein the multifunctional crosslinker comprises a difunctional poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinker of formula (VI) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 8  is hydrogen or methyl and m is an integer from 1 to 230. 
       
     
     
         10 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 8 , wherein repeating units derived from the multifunctional crosslinker are present in an amount of less than 1 weight percent, based on the total weight of the crosslinkable polymer composition. 
     
     
         11 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer in an amount effective to increase the glass transition temperature of the crosslinkable polymer composition. 
     
     
         12 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , comprising
 the first polymer comprising repeating units of formula (I) and repeating units derived from the monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group are of formula (III); and   a second polymer comprising repeating units of formula (I) and repeating units derived from the monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a crosslinkable functional group are of formula (IV);   wherein the crosslinkable functional groups of formula (III) and (IV) form a covalent linkage when pressure is applied to the crosslinkable polymer composition, a time sufficient to cure the crosslinkable polymer composition has passed, or both.   
     
     
         13 . The crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinkable polymer composition is a pressure sensitive adhesive composition. 
     
     
         14 . A pressure sensitive adhesive or a coating comprising a crosslinked polymer composition derived from the crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a pressure sensitive adhesive or a coating, the method comprising:
 contacting a substrate with the crosslinkable polymer composition of  claim 1 ; and   curing the crosslinkable polymer composition to provide the pressure sensitive adhesive or the coating;   wherein curing the crosslinkable polymer composition comprises applying pressure to the pressure sensitive adhesive, waiting for a time sufficient to cure the crosslinkable polymer composition, or both.