Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers Award - Advances in the Synthesis of Thermoplastic Elastomers-Styrenic Block Copolymers

Many synthesis strategies for the preparation of valued styrenic block copolymers have been developed at Kraton Polymers.  The contributions of Carl Willis to a selection of these technologies will be reviewed at the Ralph S. Graff Chemistry of TPE Award presentation.

This contribution to the Science and Technology Awards Symposium will address advances in the synthesis of block copolymers using anionic polymerization techniques.  Areas of focus will be:

• the development of protected functionality polymerization initiators.
• the discovery of distribution control agents for the copolymerization aryl and dienyl monomers.
• the utility of ion containing block copolymers for various water treatment and energy storage applications.