Process for fabricating an article from a multiphase copolymer composition

Abstract

Abstract A process is disclosed for fabricating a thermoplastic, which thermosplastic is either a thermoplastic ionomer or a multiphase graft or block copolymer of the ABA, (A-B)n, or WHEREIN N IS GREATER THAN 1 AND WHERE THE POLYMER BLOCKS, A and B, are each thermoplastic resins having softening points substantially above room temperature with the B block being present in at least about 30 wt. percent of the total polymer. The thermoplastic composition is first suspended in finely divided form in a liquid medium in a sufficient amount such that the solids content of the resulting suspension is in the range of from about 15 to about 75 wt. percent. The liquid medium must be nonvolatile and must be capable of plasticizing the B block (or the backbone if the ionomer is employed) of the thermoplastic composition above the softening point of that block, but no more than 10 weight percent of said liquid medium will be incorporated into said A block. The suspension is then applied as a coating to any desired surface, e.g., to wire, textiles, the interior of a mold, etc., and that surface is heated to a temperature at least 5* above the softening point of either polymer block thereby solidifying the composition in the shape of said surface. The process is useful in wire coatings, coatings on textiles, preparation of leather-like upholstery, flexible sheets, toys, etc.

Inventors

• 👤 R Lundberg
• 👤 H Makowski

Bibliographic Details