Cross-Linkable Polymer Compositions and Applications Thereof

1 . A cured composition obtained by curing a curable polymer composition comprising:

(a) 3 to 50 wt. % of at least one hydroxyl group containing compound selected from the group consisting of diols, triols, tetraols, polyols, polymeric polyols, and mixtures thereof, wherein each of diols, triols, tetraols, and polyols independently has a molar mass of less than 0.5 kg/mol;

(b) 50 to 97 wt. % of a sulfonated styrenic block copolymer comprising a block A, a block B, and a block D, wherein:

each block A is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and selected from polymerized: (i) para-substituted styrene monomers, (ii) ethylene, (iii) alpha olefins of 3 to 18 carbon atoms, (iv) 1,3-cyclodiene monomers, (v) monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mole % prior to hydrogenation, (vi) acrylic esters, (vii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof,

each block B is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation and derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer, wherein the block B has a degree of sulfonation of >10 mole %, and

each block D is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and derived from a conjugated diene monomer; and

wherein the cured composition is characterized as having:

a tensile stress per ASTM D412 of:

6.2 to 30 MPa in a dry state, and

3 to 10 MPa in a wet state after 1 day, both measured as described in the specification; and

a Gel Content of >70%, measured according to Gel Content Test as described in the specification.

2 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl group containing compound is a polymeric polyol having a weight average molecular weight (M w) of 0.5 to kg/mol and selected from the group consisting of polyether polyol, polyester polyol, polyester-polyether polyol, polycarbonate polyol, polycaprolactone polyol, acrylic polyol, polyether polycarbonate polyol, and mixtures thereof.

3 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl group containing compound is a polymeric polyol having a weight average molecular weight (M w) of 0.7 to 22 kg/mol.

4 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl group containing compound is a polyether polyol.

5 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl group containing compound is selected from the group consisting of diol, triol, tetraol, and polyol, and wherein each diol, triol, tetraol, and polyol independently has a molar mass of 0.05 to 0.45 kg/mol.

6 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl group containing compound is glycerol.

7 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has a tensile stress in wet state, after 1 week, of 3.0 to 10 MPa.

8 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has at least one of:

a toughness in dry state of 3 to 25 MJ/m 3 ;

a Young's modulus in dry state of 190 to 700 MPa; and

an elongation at break in dry state of 75 to 250%, all properties measured according to ASTM D412.

9 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has at least one of:

a toughness in wet state, after 1 week, of 1.2 to 8 MJ/m 3 ;

a Young's modulus in wet state, after 1 week, of 6.5 to 110 MPa; and

an elongation at break in wet state, after 1 week, of 58 to 150%, all properties measured according to ASTM D412.

10 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has at least one of:

a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) in an upright manner of 6000 to 9900 g/m 2 /day; and

a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) in an upside down manner of 50000 to 150000 g/m 2 /day, both measured according to ASTM E96.

11 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has a Gel Content of >80%.

12 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has a Weight Gain of:

15 to 100% after 1 week at room temperature; and

150 to 300% after 1 week at 80° C.

13 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has an ion exchange capacity of 0.7 to 2.5 meq/g.

14 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer has an ion exchange capacity of 0.5 to 2.6 meq/g.

15 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the cured composition has a proton conductivity:

at 25° C. of 100 to 180 mS/cm;

at 60° C. of 180 to 280 mS/cm; and

at 80° C. of 250 to 350 mS/cm.

16 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer is obtained by sulfonation of a styrenic block copolymer precursor having a general configuration of: A-B-A, (A-B) n (A), (A-B-A) n , (A-B-A) n X, (A-B) n X, A-D-B, A-B-D, A-D-B-D-A, A-B-D-B-A, (A-D-B) n A, (A-B-D) n A (A-D-B) n X, (A-B-D) n X, (A-D-B-D-A) n X, (A-B-D-B-A) n X, or mixtures thereof; wherein n is an integer from 2 to 30; and X is a residue of a coupling agent.

17 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the block B has a degree of sulfonation of 10 to 100 mol %, based on total mol of the block B.

18 . The cured composition of claim 1 obtained by curing the curable polymer composition at 70 to 200° C.

19 . The cured composition of claim 1 , wherein the curable polymer composition comprises:

(a) 5 to 30 wt. % of at least one hydroxyl group containing compound selected from diols, triols, tetraols, polyols, polymeric polyols, and mixtures thereof; and

(b) 70 to 95 wt. % of the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer, based on total weight of the cured composition.

20 . A membrane comprises the cured composition of claim 1 .