Block copolymer compositions

Claim 2

A polymeric composition comprising: a. 100 parts by weight of a block copolymer having at least two monoalkenyl arene polymer end blocks A and at least one elastomeric conjugated diene mid block B, each block A having an average molecular weight between about 5,000 and about 125,000 and each block B having an average molecular weight between about 15,000 and about 250,000, said blocks A comprising 8-65% by weight of the copolymer; b. 5-125 parts by weight of a high impact polystyrene resin containing from about 1-35 weight percent elastomeric component, said high impact polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight of over about 70,000; c. 5-175 parts by weight of a hydrocarbon rubber extending oil; and d. 0-250 parts by weight of a finely divided filler.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1 wherein said block A is a polystyrene block, said block B is a polybutadiene block and said high impact polystyrene elastomeric component is a polybutadiene rubber.

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 2 wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, clay and silica.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1 wherein said block copolymer is selectively hydrogenated such that no more than about 25% of the aromatic double bonds of block A are reduced by hydrogenation while at least 75% of the aliphatic double bonds of block B are reduced by hydrogenation.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 1 including between about 0 and about 150 parts by weight of a resin compatible with the monoalkenyl arene end blocks, said resin being selected from the group consisting of polymers of alphamethyl styrene, copolymers of alphamethyl styrene and vinyltoluene, coumarone-indene resins, poly(indene) resins, poly(methyl indene) resins and low molecular weight polystyrene resins.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric component of said high impact polystyrene is selected from the group consisting of poly(butadiene), styrene-butadiene random copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, poly(isoprene), natural rubber, silicone rubber, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

A shoe sole having the composition of claim 1.

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the block copolymer has the formula A--B--(B--A) n where n varies from 1 to 5.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 1 wherein said high impact polystyrene resin comprises 99-65 weight percent of a styrene polymer selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of styrene and the nuclear methyl substituted styrenes having a softening point greater than 70° C., and 1-35 weight percent of an elastomeric component.

Claim 11

A footwear composition having improved elephant hide, cycle time, mar resistance, and flex-crack resistance comprising: a. 100 parts by weight of a block copolymer having at least two monoarene polymer end blocks A and at least one elastomeric conjugated diene mid block B, each block A having an average molecular weight between about 5,000 and about 125,000 and each block B having an average molecular weight between about 15,000 and about 250,000, said blocks A comprising 8-65% by weight of the copolymer; b. 5-125 parts by weight of a high impact polystyrene resin containing from about 1-35 weight percent elastomeric component, said high impact polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight of over about 70,000; c. 5-175 parts by weight of a hydrocarbon rubber extending oil; and d. 0-250 parts by weight of a finely divided filler.

Claim 12

A footwear composition having improved elephant hide, cycle time, mar resistance, and flex-crack resistance comprising: a. 100 parts by weight of a block copolymer having at least two monoarene polymer end blocks A and at least one elastomeric conjugated diene mid block B, each block A having an average molecular weight between about 5,000 and about 125,000 and each block B having an average molecular weight between about 15,000 and about 250,000, said blocks A comprising 8-65% by weight of the copolymer; b. 5-125 parts by weight of a high impact polystyrene resin containing from about 1-35 weight percent elastomeric component, said high impact polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight of over about 70,000; c. 5-175 parts by weight of a hydrocarbon rubber extending oil; and d. 0-250 parts by weight of a finely divided filler.