Branched polyether-polyamide block copolymers and methods of making and using the same

1. A polyether polyamide block copolymer having the following formula:

wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 8 hydrocarbon radical, R 2 is a C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbon diradical, R 3 is a C 2 -C 52 hydrocarbon diradical, R 4 is selected from C 2 -C 12 hydrocarbon diradicals optionally substituted with alkylene oxide groups, wherein at least a portion of the R 4 groups is substituted with Y—C(═O)—R 3 —C(═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 , wherein Y is O or NH, Z is O or NH, w is an integer from 2 to 100; x is an integer from 2 to 100; y is an integer from 1 to 10, and z is an integer from 2 to 100, and wherein at least a portion of the Y groups is NH, wherein the softening point of the polyether polyamide block copolymer is from 60° C. to 150° C. and a viscosity of less than 5,000 centipoise at 160° C.,

wherein the polyether polyamide block copolymer is prepared from reactants comprising a C 2 -C 12 aliphatic diamine and a trifunctional component, wherein the trifunctional component is selected from triols, triamines, and mixtures thereof, and the diamine is present in amounts of 50% or less based on the total amount of difunctional and trifunctional amines and alcohols present on an equivalents basis.

2. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein in at least a portion of the R 4 groups substituted with Y—C(═O)—R 3 —C(═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 , Y is O.

3. The block copolymer of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the R 4 groups is a C 3 diradical substituted with O—C(═O)—R 3 —C(═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 .

4. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein in at least a portion of the R 4 groups substituted with Y—C(═O)—R 3 —C(═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 , Y is NH.

5. The block copolymer of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the R 4 groups is a C 6 diradical substituted with alkylene oxide groups and NH—C(═O)—R 3 —C(═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 .

6. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the weight average molecular weight is from 5000 to 30,000.

7. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the softening point is 60° C. to 140° C.

8. A polyether polyamide block copolymer having the following formula:

wherein R 1 is a C 1 -C 8 hydrocarbon radical, R 2 is a C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbon diradical, R 3 is a C 2 -C 52 hydrocarbon diradical, R 4 is selected from C 2 -C 12 hydrocarbon diradicals optionally substituted with alkylene oxide groups, wherein at least a portion of the R 4 groups is substituted with Y—C(═O)—R 3 —C(═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 , wherein Y is O or NH, Z is O or NH, and w is an integer from 2 to 100; x is an integer from 2 to 100; y is an integer from 1 to 10, and z is an integer from 2 to 100,

produced by reacting a dibasic acid; a C 2 -C 12 aliphatic diamine; a tri-functional component selected from the group consisting of triols, triamines, and mixtures thereof: and a monofunctional poly(alkyleneoxy) monoamine, wherein the diamine is present in an amount of 50% or less based on the total amount of difunctional and trifunctional amines and alcohols present on an equivalents basis,

wherein the polyether polyamide block copolymer has a softening point from 60° C. to 150° C. and a viscosity of less than 5,000 centipoise at 160° C.

9. The block copolymer of claim 8 , wherein the trifunctional component includes glycerin.

10. The block copolymer of claim 8 , wherein the trifunctional component includes a poly(alkyleneoxy) triamine.

11. The block copolymer of claim 10 , wherein the trifunctional component is a C6 triamine substituted with oxypropylene groups.

12. The block copolymer of claim 8 , wherein the weight average molecular weight is from 5000 to 30,000.

13. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the R 4 groups are substituted with O—C(═O)—R 3 —C(C═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 .

14. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the R 4 groups are substituted with Y—C(═O)—R 3 —C(C═O)—Z—(R 2 —O) w —R 1 .

15. The block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein at least 50 mol % of the R 3 groups are C 34 hydrocarbon diradicals.