Water-borne crosslinkable block copolymers obtained using raft

1. A process for obtaining a water borne non-biologically active crosslinkable block copolymer-polymer composition comprising a crosslinkable block copolymer comprising at least blocks [A] x [B] y , a polymer P, and a separate crosslinking agent, wherein the block copolymer-polymer composition has an acid value ≦150 mg KOH per g of block copolymer-polymer, wherein the process comprises:

(a) subjecting at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer by a controlled radical polymerization via a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mechanism in solution in the presence of a control agent selected from the group consisting of dithioesters, thioethers-thiones, trithiocarbonates, dithiocarbamates, xanthates and mixtures thereof, and in the presence of a source of free radicals to obtain at least blocks [A] and [B], wherein a first block [A] is prepared followed by the polyemerisation of at least a second block [B] or wherein a first block [B] is prepared followed by the polymerization of at least a second block [A], thereby obtaining the block copolymer; wherein

the wt % of blocks [A][B] together is in the range of from 0.5 to 50% based on the weight of the blocks [A][B] and the polymer P; and wherein

block [A] comprises:

i) 0 to 50 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups are selected from the group consisting of acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate, diacetone acrylamide, and mixtures thereof;

ii) 50 to 100 mol % ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing water dispersing functional groups;

iii) 0 to 50 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units selected from C1 18 alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers and styrenic monomers;

iv) 0 to 35 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units different from those from i), ii) + iii);

where i), ii), iii) + iv) add up to 100%;

block [A] has a Hansch parameter <1.5; and

block [A] has an average degree of polymerisation x, where x is an integer from 3 to 80; and wherein

block [B] comprises:

i) 5 to 80 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups are selected from the group consisting of acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate, diacetone acrylamide and mixtures thereof;

ii) 0 to 20 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing water dispersing functional groups;

iii) 20 to 95 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units selected from C1 18 alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers and styrenic monomers;

iv) 0 to 35 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units different from those from i), ii) + iii);

where i), ii), iii) + iv) add up to 100%;

block [B] has a Hansch parameter ≧1.5; and

block [B] has an average degree of polymerisation y, where y is an integer ≧10, where y>x;

(b) conducting an emulsion polymerization process in the presence of the block copolymer obtained according to step (a) to obtain the polymer P, wherein the polymer P comprises:

i) 0 to 5 wt % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups;

ii) 0 to 5 wt % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing water dispersing functional groups;

iii) 80 to 100 wt % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units selected from C1 18 alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers and styrenic monomers;

iv) 0 to 10 wt % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units different from those from i), ii) + iii);

where i), ii), iii) + iv) add up to 100%, and

(c) combining the crosslinkable copolymer-polymer with a separate crosslinking agent to obtain the water-borne non-biologically active crosslinkable copolymer-polymer composition.

2. A process according to claim 1 where:

block [A] comprises:

(i) 0 to 20 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing crosslinking functional groups are selected from the group consisting of acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate, diacetone acrylamide and hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates and mixtures thereof;

iii) 0 to 50 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units selected from C1 12alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers and styrenic monomers; and

iv) 0 to 20 mol %, of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units different from those from i), ii) + iii);

block [B] comprises:

iii) 20 to 95 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units selected from C1 12 alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers and styrenic monomers; and

iv) 0 to 20 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units different from those from i), ii) + iii); and

the polymer P comprises:

iii) 80 to 100 wt % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers units selected C1 12alkyl(meth)acrylate monomers and styrenic monomers.

3. A process according to claim 1 , where the number average molecular weight of the block copolymer is in the range of from 1,000 to 50,000 g/mol.

4. A process according to claim 1 , where the weight average molecular weight of the polymer P is >50,000 g/mol.

5. A process according to claim 1 , any one of the wherein polymer P is more hydrophobic than block [A].

6. A process according to claim 1 , where at least 20 wt % of polymer P is covalently bonded to the block copolymer.

7. A polymeric composition obtained by the process claimed in claim 1 .

8. A water borne composition comprising the block copolymer-polymer composition of claim 7 .

9. An ink, paint or adhesive comprising the block copolymer-polymer or a polymeric composition of claim 7 .

10. A coated substrate which comprises a coating formed of a formulation comprising the block copolymer-polymer composition of claim 7 .