Entanglement-inhibited macromolecules

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Applicants have discovered a polymer architecture which inhibits macromolecular entanglement.
The architecture involves the use of side chains having a low enough molecular weight to prevent side chain entanglement, and also wherein the side chains have a high enough molecular weight and are spaced along the backbone frequently enough to prevent main chain entanglements.
Accordingly, the invention provides an ultra low viscosity macromolecular system having advantages in adhesives, sealants, inks and coatings applications, to name a few, due to the low viscosity above the processing temperature of the main chain polymer.
In one aspect, the invention broadly provides a polymer, comprising macromolecules having an entanglement-inhibiting architecture, including a main chain and a plurality of side chains distributed along the main chain.
The weight average molecular weight of segments of the main chain between the adjacent side chains (M.
sub.
MCS) is in the range of from about 0.
02 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A to about 2 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A, preferably above about 0.
1 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A, and especially above about 0.
5 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A, wherein M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A is the entanglement weight average molecular weight of the main chain.
The side chains have a weight average molecular weight (M.
sub.
w.
sup.
B) in the range of from about 0.
02 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
B to about 2 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
B, preferably above about 0.
1 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
B, and especially above about 0.
5 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
B, wherein M.
sub.
e.
sup.
B is the entanglement weight average molecular weight of the side chains.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the architecture of the present invention, the weight average molecular weight of the main chain M.
sub.
w.
sup.
A is at least about 3 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A, more preferably at least about 5 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A, and most preferably at least about 10 M.
sub.
e.
sup.
A.
For most polymers, the main chain molecular weight will ordinarily be at least about 25,000, preferably at least about 50,000, and more preferably at least about 100,000