| PATENT NUMBER | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT GRANT DATE | February 6, 2001 |
| PATENT TITLE |
Curable resin composition |
| PATENT ABSTRACT | A curable resin composition containing (A) a saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule, and (B) a hydrogenated oligomer of an .alpha.-olefin, or a curable resin composition containing (A) a saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule, (C) a saturated hydrocarbon oligomer, and (D) an ester plasticizer, both of which have good workability, in particular, at low temperature |
| PATENT INVENTORS | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT ASSIGNEE | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT FILE DATE | October 31, 1997 |
| PATENT FOREIGN APPLICATION PRIORITY DATA | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT REFERENCES CITED | Hawley, "Condensed Chemical Dictionary", p. 643, 1971. |
| PATENT CLAIMS |
What is claimed is: 1. A curable resin composition comprising: (A) saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one hydroxyl or hydrolyzable group bonded to a silicon atom and is crosslinkable through the formation of a siloxane bond, in a molecule and (B) a hydrogenated oligomer of a linear .alpha.-olefin. 2. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A) has a number average molecular weight of between 500 and 50,000, and hydrolyzable silyl groups of the formula (1): ##STR7## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group, a C.sub.6-20 aryl group, a C.sub.7-20 aralkyl group or a triorganosiloxy group of the formula: (R').sub.3 SiO-- in which three R' groups are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group which may be substituted; the X groups are the same or different and represent a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and b is 0, 1 or 2, provided that the sum of a and b is not 0; and m is an integer of 0 to 19, at backbone chain ends and/or side chain ends. 3. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein X is an alkoxy group. 4. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A) is a polymer comprising at least 50 wt. % of repeating units derived from isobutylene. 5. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hydrogenated oligomer of the .alpha.-olefin (B) is an oligomer comprising an .alpha.-olefin having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, and having an oligomerization degree of between 2 and 10 and substantially no carbon--carbon unsaturated bond. 6. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said .alpha.-olefin is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene and 1-dodecene. 7. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hydrogenated oligomer of the .alpha.-olefin (B) has a number average molecular weight of between 200 and 700 and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of between 1 and 1.1. 8. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of said hydrogenated oligomer of the .alpha.-olefin (B) is between 10 and 150 wt. parts per 100 wt parts of said saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). 9. A sealing composition for construction comprising a curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1. 10. A sealing composition for insulating glass units comprising a curable resin composition as claimed in claim 1. 11. A curable resin composition comprising: (A) saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one having at least one reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule, (B) a saturated hydrocarbon oligomer, and (C) an ester plasticizer. 12. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein said saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A) has a number average molecular weight of between 500 and 50,000, and hydrolyzable silyl groups of the formula (1): ##STR8## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group, a C.sub.6-20 aryl group, a C.sub.7-20 aralkyl group or a triorganosiloxy group of the formula: (R').sub.3 SiO-- in which three R' groups are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group which may be substituted; the X groups are the same or different and represent a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and b is 0, 1 or 2, provided that the sum of a and b is not 0; and m is an integer of 0 to 19, at backbone chain ends and/or side chain ends. 13. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 12, wherein X is an alkoxy group. 14. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein said saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A) is a polymer comprising at least 50 wt. % of repeating units derived from isobutylene. 15. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein said saturated hydrocarbon oligomer (C) is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of paraffinic process oils, naphthenic process oils, polybutene, hydrogenated polybutene and hydrogenated oligomers of .alpha.-olefins. 16. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ester plasticizer (D) is a non-aromatic dibasic acid ester. 17. A curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein the amount of said saturated hydrocarbon oligomer (C) is between 10 and 150 wt. parts, and the amounts of said ester plasticizer (D) is between 10 and 150 wt. parts, both per 100 wt. parts of said saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). 18. A sealing compositions for construction comprising a curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11. 19. A sealing composition for insulating glass units comprising a curable resin composition as claimed in claim 11. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| PATENT DESCRIPTION |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention the present invention relates to a curable resin composition comprising a saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one silicon-containing group which has at least one hydroxyl or hydrolyzable group bonded to a silicon atom and is crosslinkable through the formation of a siloxane bond (hereinafter referred to as a "reactive silicon-containing group"). 2. Description of the Prior Art It is known that saturated hydrocarbon polymers having at least one reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule have interesting properties that they are crosslinked through the formation of siloxane bonds which is associated with the hydrolysis of reactive silicon-containing groups with moisture even at room temperature, and provide rubbery cured materials. Such polymers are useful as sealing materials for construction or sealing materials for insulating glass units, since they have excellent heat resistance, water resistance, weather resistance and the like. The sealing materials for construction are required to have good handling properties and workability, since they are applied at construction sites using caulking guns and the like. The sealing materials for insulating glass units are discharged using applicators, that is, apparatuses for discharging sealing materials, in factories for insulating glass units. In this case, good workability with good discharging properties is required for the sealing materials. However, saturated hydrocarbon polymers such as polyisobutylene have high viscosity and thus low handling properties, when they are used as sealants such as the sealing materials for construction or insulating glass units. Thus, they are plasticized by the addition of hydrogenated polybutene, paraffinic oils, naphthenic oils, and the like. However, the use of such plasticizers may be associated with some problems, for example, large heating loss, insufficient plasticizing effects, low flowability at low temperature, etc. Because of the low flowability at low temperature, the sealing materials for construction, which have to be applied at the construction sites, are attended with low extrudability or workability in winter seasons. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a curable resin composition comprising a saturated hydrocarbon polymer having a reactive silicon-containing group which has improved workability, in particular, at low temperature without deteriorating physical, adhesion and curing properties and storage stability of the composition. According to the first aspect, the present invention provides a curable resin composition comprising: (A) a saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule, and (B) a hydrogenated oligomer of an .alpha.-olefin. According to the second aspect, the present invention provides a curable resin composition comprising: (A) a saturated hydrocarbon polymer having at least one reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule, (C) a saturated hydrocarbon oligomer, and (D) an ester plasticizer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A saturated hydrocarbon polymer contained in the curable resin composition of the present invention has, in a molecule, at least one silicon-containing group which has at least one hydroxyl or hydrolyzable group bonded to a silicon atom and is crosslinkable through the formation of a siloxane bond, that is, at least one reactive silicon-containing group. The saturated hydrocarbon polymer means a polymer which contains substantially no carbon--carbon unsaturated bond except aromatic rings. Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, hydrogenated polybutadiene, hydrogenated polyisoprene, and the like. A preferable example of the reactive silicon-containing group is a group of the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group, a C.sub.6-20 aryl group, a C.sub.7-20 aralkyl group or a triorganosiloxy group of the formula: (R').sub.3 SiO-- in which three R' groups are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-20 alkyl group which may be substituted with, for example, a halogen atom, C.sub.6-20 aryl group, and the like; the X groups are the same or different and represent a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; a is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and b is 0, 1 or 2, provided that the sum of a and b is not 0; and m is an integer of 0 to 19. The hydrolyzable group may be any conventional hydrolyzable group, and examples of such a group are a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, a ketoxymate group, an amino group, an amido group, an aminoxy group, a mercapto group, an alkenyloxy group, and the like. Among them, the alkoxy, amido and aminoxy groups are preferable. In particular, the alkoxy group is preferable in view of its mild hydrolyzability and easy handling. One, two or three hydrolyzable groups and/or hydroxyl groups can be attached to one silicon atom, and the total number of the hydrolyzable groups and/or hydroxyl groups, that is, (a+mb) is preferably between 1 and 5. When two or more hydrolyzable or hydroxyl groups are present in the reactive silicon-containing group, they may be the same or different. The reactive silicon-containing group contains at least one silicon atom. When the silicon atoms are bonded through siloxane bonds or the like, the number of silicon atoms is preferably 20 or less. In particular, a reactive silicon-containing group of the formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 and X are the same as defined above and a' is 1, 2 or 3, is preferable, because of easy availability. The saturated hydrocarbon polymer contains at least one reactive silicon-containing group, preferably 1.1 to 5 reactive silicon-containing groups in a molecule on the average. When the number of the reactive silicon-containing group in a molecule is less than one, the composition tends to have insufficient curing properties, and thus the cured material may not have good rubbery elasticity. The reactive silicon-containing group(s) may be bonded to an end or an internal part of each polymer chain of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer, or both. The reactive silicon-containing groups are preferably bonded to the ends of polymer chains, since they can maximize the chain length between cross-linking sites in the final cured material. Thus, a rubbery cured material having high strength and large elongation is easily obtained. The saturated hydrocarbon polymers may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. The polymer which constitutes the backbone of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer having the reactive silicon-containing group may be prepared by any conventional polymerization method. For example, such a polymer can be prepared by (1) polymerizing a C.sub.1-6 olefin such as ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, isobutylene, etc. as a main monomer, or (2) polymerizing a diene compound such as butadiene, isoprene, etc. or copolymerizing such a diene compound with the above olefin, and then hydrogenating the polymer. Among the polymers, isobutylene polymers and hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers are preferred, since functional groups are easily introduced at the polymer chain ends, their molecular weights can be easily controlled and the number of the functional groups to be introduced is increased. Isobutylene polymers may consist of isobutylene repeating units. Alternatively, the isobutylene polymers may contain 50 wt. % or less, preferably 30 wt % or less, more preferably 10 wt. % or less of comonomeric repeating units. Examples of the comonomer which may be copolymerized with isobutylene are C.sub.4-12 olefins, vinyl ethers, aromatic vinyl compounds, vinylsilanes, allylsilanes, and the like. Specific examples of the comonomers are 1-butene, 2-butene, 2-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, hexane, vinylcyclohexene, methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, styrene, .alpha.-methylstyrene, dimethylstyrene, monochlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, .beta.-pinene, indene, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinylmethyldichlorosilane, vinyldimethylchlorosilane, vinyldimethylmethoxysilane, vinyltrimethylsilane, divinyldichlorosilane, divinyldimethoxysilane, divinyldimethylsilane, 1,3-divinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane, trivinylmethylsilane, tetravinylsilane, allyltrichlorosilane, allylmethyldichlorosilane, allyldimethylchlorosilane, allyldimethylmethoxysilane, allyltrimethylsilane, diallyldichlorosilane, diallyldimethoxysilane, diallyldimethylsilane, .delta.-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, .delta.-methacryloyloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, and the like. When vinylsilanes or allylsilanes are used as comonomers to be copolymerized with isobutylene, the content of silicon atoms in the copolymer increases and thus the number of groups which act as silane-coupling sites increases. Therefore, the adhesion properties of the resulting composition improve. The hydrogenated polybutadiene or other saturated hydrocarbon polymers may comprise other repeating units in addition to the main repeating units as in the case of the above isobutylene polymers. the saturated hydrocarbon polymer having the reactive silicon-containing groups may comprise a small amount, preferably 10 wt % or less, more preferably 5% or less, in particular 1 wt. % or less, of repeating units having a double bond after polymerization, which are derived from polyene compounds, for instance, butadiene, isoprene and the like. The number average molecular weight of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer, preferably isobutylene or hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers is preferably between 500 and 50,000, more preferably between 1000 and 20,000, in which range the polymers are in a liquid state or have flowability and thus their handling is easy. Now, the preparation of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer having the reactive silicon-containing groups will be explained. Among the isobutylene polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups, isobutylene polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups at the chain ends can be prepared using isobutylene polymers having functional groups at chain ends, preferably at all the chain ends, which has been prepared by cationic polymerization using special compounds which are so-called inifers and function as initiators and chain transfer agents (inifer method). For example, polyisobutylene having unsaturated groups at chain ends is prepared by dehydrohalogenation of such a polymer or the introduction of unsaturated groups to such a polymer as described in JP-A-63-105005 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,631). Then, a hydrosilane compound of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, X, a and b are the same as defined above, preferably, a hydrosilane compound of the formula: ##STR4## wherein R.sup.2, X and a' are the same as defined above is added to polyisobutylene having the unsaturated groups at the chain ends in the presence of platinum catalysts by a so-called hydrosilylation reaction, and thus the reactive silicon-containing groups are introduced into the polymer. Such methods are described in JP-B-4-69659 (=EP-A-0 252 372), JP-B-7-108928 (=EP-A-0 252 372), JP-A-63-254149 (=EP-A-0 287 025), JP-A-64-22904 and Japanese Patent No. 2539445. Examples of the hydrosilane compounds used in the above methods are halogenated silanes (e.g. trichlorosilane, methyldichlorosilane, dimethylchlorosilane, phenyldichlorosilane, etc.); alkoxysilanes (e.g. trimethoxysilane, triethoxysilane, methyldiethoxysilane, methyldimethoxysilane, phenyldimethoxysilane, etc.); acyloxysilanes (e.g. methyldiacetoxysilane, phenyldiacetoxysilane, etc.); ketoximatesilanes (e.g. bis(dimethylketoximate)-methylsilane, bis(cyclohexylketoximate)methylsilane, etc.); and the like. Among them, halogenated silanes and alkoxysilanes are preferable. Isobutylene polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups in the internal parts of the polymer chains can be prepared by copolymerizing vinylsilans or allylsilanes having at least one reactive silicon-containing group with a monomer comprising isobutylene. Furthermore, isobutylene polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups at the chain ends and also in the internal parts of the polymer chains can be prepared by polymerizing isobutylene in the presence of vinylsilanes or allylsilanes having at least one reactive silicon-containing group and then introducing the reactive silicon-containing groups at the chain ends in the same method as described above. Examples of the vinylsilane or allylsilanes having the reactive silicon-containing group are vinyltrichlorosilane, vinylmethyldichlorosilane, vinyldimethylchlorosilane, vinyldimethylmethoxysilane, divinyldichlorosilane, divinyldimethoxysilane, allytrichlorosilane, allylmethyldichlorosilane, allyldimethylchlorosilane, allyldimethylmethoxysilane, diallyldichlorosilane, diallyldimethoxysilane, .delta.-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, .delta.-methacryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, .delta.-methacryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, and the like. The hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers may be prepared by converting the hydroxyl groups of hydrogenated polymers having terminal hydroxy groups to oxymetal groups such as --ONa or --OK, and then reacting the polymers with an organic halocompound of the formula: CH.sub.2.dbd.CH--R.sup.3 --Y (3) wherein Y is a halogen atom such as a chlorine or iodine atom, and R.sup.3 is a divalent organic group of the formula: --R.sup.4 --, --R.sup.4 --OCO-- or --R.sup.4 -- CO-- in which R.sup.4 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon, preferably, an alkylene, cycloalkylene, arylene or aralkylene group, in particular, --CH.sub.2 --, --R"--C.sub.6 H.sub.5 --CH.sub.2 -- in which R" is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers having olefinic groups at the chain ends (which may be referred to as "olefin-terminated hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers") are obtained. The terminal hydroxyl groups of the hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers having the hydroxyl groups at the chain ends may be converted to the oxymetal groups by reacting such polymers with alkali metals (e.g. sodium, potassium, etc.), metal hydrides (e.g. sodium hydride, etc), metal alkoxides (e.g. sodium methoxide, etc.), alkali metal hydroxides (e.g. sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.), and the like. The above methods provide the olefin-terminated hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers having substantially the same molecular weight as that of the hydroxy-terminated hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers used as the starting polymers. To obtain polybutadiene polymers having higher molecular weights, prior to the reaction with the organic halocompound (3), the hydroxy-terminated hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers are reacted with polyvalent organic halocompounds having at least 2 halogen atoms in a molecule, and then with the organic halocompound (3). Thereby, the olefin-terminated hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers having the higher molecular weight are obtained. Specific examples of the organic halocompound (3) are allyl chloride, allyl bromide, vinyl(chloromethyl)benzene, allyl(chloromethyl)benzene, allyl(bromomethyl)benzene, allyl chloromethyl ether, allyl(chloromethoxy)benzene, 1-butenyl chloromethyl ether, 1-hexenyl(chloromethoxy)benzene, allyloxy(chloromethyl)benzene, and the like. Among them, allyl chloride is preferable since it is inexpensive and easily reacts with the polymers. The reactive silicon-containing groups can be introduced in the olefin-terminated hydrogenated polybutadiene polymers by adding hydrosilane compounds to the polymers in the presence of platinum catalysts like in the case of the preparation of the isobutylene polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups at the chain ends. When the unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups include substantially no unsaturated bonds except aromatic rings in the molecules, the resin compositions comprising such polymers have much better weather resistance than the sealants comprising rubbery polymers such as organic polymers having unsaturated bonds or oxyalkylene polymers. Since such polymers are hydrocarbon polymers, they have good moisture barrier properties and water resistance as well as good adhesion properties onto various inorganic substrates such as glass, aluminum, etc., and provide cured materials having high moisture barrier properties. The amount of the saturated hydrocarbon polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups in the curable resin composition of the present invention is preferably at least 10 wt %, more preferably at least 20 wt. %, in particular at least 30 wt %. The curable resin composition according to the first aspect of the present invention contains a hydrogenated oligomer of an .alpha.-olefin (B) for improving extrudability and workability of the curable resin composition at low temperature. the hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins are obtained by hydrogenating polymers which have been prepared from .alpha.-olefins having at least 4 carbon atoms. Such oligomers are distinguished by that they have more bulky side chains than oligomers of lower olefins such as ethylene or propylene, or natural mineral or animal oils, and have very unique physical properties. Because of the bulky side chains, the above hydrogenated oligomers have low pour (flow) points and very low viscosities at low temperature. Thus, the hydrogenated oligomers may improve the extrudability and workability of the curable compositions at low temperature. Furthermore, the hydrogenated oligomers have good compatibility with the saturated hydrocarbon polymers (A), since they are nonpolar hydrocarbon oils comprising carbon and hydrogen atoms. Thus, they may not have adverse effects on adhesion properties, coating properties, stain resistance, and the like of the curable resin composition of the present invention. Kinds of monomers constituting the hydrogenated oligomers are not limited. Preferable examples of such monomers are linear .alpha.-olefins having 4 to 18 carbon atoms (e.g. 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, etc.), branched .alpha.-olefins having 4 to 18 carbon atoms (e.g. 4-methyl-1-pentene, etc.), and the like. Among them, linear .alpha.-olefins having 8 to 18 carbon atoms such as 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, and the like are preferable, since they provide oligomers having good flowability. The number average molecular weight of the hydrogenated oligomer is not limited, but is preferably between 200 and 700, in particular between 250 and 500. When the number average molecular weight of the oligomer is less than 200, the heating loss is high, and thus the mechanical properties of the cured materials of the compositions of the present invention may greatly change over time. When the number average molecular weight exceeds 700, the plasticizing effect of the oligomer is insufficient, and the workability of the compositions may deteriorate at low temperature. The polymerization degree of the hydrogenated oligomer is not limited either, but is preferably between 2 and 10. When the polymerization degree exceeds 10, the plasticizing effect of the oligomer is insufficient, and the workability of the compositions may deteriorate at low temperature. The molecular weight distribution of the hydrogenated oligomer (Mw/Mn) is not limited, but is preferably between 1 and 1.1. The oligomers having the narrow molecular weight distribution have large plasticizing effects and low heating loss. The oligomers are preferably hydrogenated after polymerization. When the oligomers have double bonds, the heat resistance and weather resistance of the compositions of the present invention deteriorate. Thus, the hydrogenated oligomers (B) preferably have an iodine value of 5 g-Br.sub.2 /100 g-oligomer or less, more preferably 1 g-Br.sub.2 /100 g-oligomer or less, when the iodine value is measured according to ASTM D1159. A specific example of the hydrogenated oligomer which has the above properties is PAO (IDEMITSU poly-alpha-olefin) manufactured by Idemitsu Petrochemicals, Co., Ltd. The hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins may be used for regulating reaction temperatures and viscosities of reaction systems in place of solvents during the introduction of the reactive silicon-containing groups into the saturated hydrocarbon polymers. The hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins can greatly increase the workability, in particular at low temperature, of the curable resin compositions comprising the saturated hydrocarbon polymers having the reactive silicon-containing groups. Furthermore, the hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins do not have any adverse effects on the properties of the cured materials such as mechanical properties, adhesion properties, heat resistance, weather resistance, and the like, since they have good compatibility with the unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers (A). The amount of the hydrogenated oligomer of the .alpha.-olefin (B) in the curable resin composition of the present invention is preferably between 10 and 150 wt. parts, more preferably between 30 and 100 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). When the amount of the hydrogenated oligomer of the .alpha.-olefin is less than 10 wt. parts, the viscosity of the curable resin compositions may not be sufficiently decreased. When the amount of the hydrogenated oligomer of the .alpha.-olefin exceeds 150 wt. parts, the mechanical and adhesion properties of the curable resin compositions tend to deteriorate. The hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. The hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins may be used in combination with any other conventional plasticizers. In particular, the plasticizers described in JP-A-1-163255 are preferable, since they have good compatibility with the curable resin compositions of the present invention. Examples of the other plasticizers having good compatibility with the curable resin composition of the present invention are polyvinyl type oligomers (e.g. polybutene, hydrogenated polybutene, atactic polypropylene, etc.), aromatic oligomers (e.g. biphenyl, terphenyl, etc.), hydrogenated polyene oligomers (e.g. hydrogenated liquid polybutadiene, etc.), paraffin oligomers (e.g. paraffinic oils, chlorinated paraffinic oils, etc.), cycloparaffin oligomers (e.g. naphthenic oils, etc.), and the like. The following plasticizers may be used in combination with the hydrogenated oligomers (B) in such an amount that the adhesion properties, weather resistance and heat resistance and the like of the curable resin compositions of the present invention do not deteriorate: phthalates (e.g. dibutyl phthalate, diheptyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diundecyl phthalate, etc.), non-aromatic dibasic acid esters (e.g. di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, di-n-octyl adipate, diisononyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, etc.), aromatic esters (e.g. di(2-ethylhexyl) tetrahydrophthalate, tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate, triisodecyl trimellitate, etc.), aliphatic esters (e.g. butyl oleate, methyl acetylricinoleate, pentaerithritol ester, etc.), esters of polyalkylene glycols (e.g. diethylene glycol benzoate, triethylene glycol dibenzoate, etc.), phosphate esters (e.g. tricresyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, etc.), epoxy plasticizers (e.g. epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, etc.), and the like. They may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. The curable resin composition according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises the saturated hydrocarbon polymer having the reactive silicon-containing groups (A), the saturated hydrocarbon oligomer (C) and the ester plasticizer (D). The use of these two plasticizers (C) and (D) in combination can decrease the viscosity of the polymer (A) so that the handling of the composition becomes easy, and improve the extrudability and workability at low temperature of the composition. The saturated hydrocarbon oligomers (C) have the close backbone structures to those of the saturated hydrocarbon polymers (A), and good water resistance, heat resistance and weather resistance. Furthermore, the oligomers (C) have good compatibility with the hydrocarbon polymers (A) and hardly bleed out. Examples of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers are those described in JP-A-1-163255. Specific examples of such saturated hydrocarbon oligomers are polyvinyl type oligomers (e.g. polybutene, hydrogenated polybutene, atactic polypropylene, etc.), aromatic oligomers (e.g. biphenyl, terphenyl, etc.), hydrogenated polyene oligomers (e.g. hydrogenated liquid polybutadiene, etc.), paraffinic oils (e.g. paraffinic oils, chlorinated paraffinic oils, etc.), cycloparaffin oligomers (e.g. naphthenic oils, etc.), and the like. The hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins (B) used in the composition according to the first aspect of the present invention are also included in the hydrogenated hydrocarbon oligomers. Among these oligomers, paraffinic oils (paraffinic process oils), naphthenic oils (naphthenic process oils), polybutene, hydrogenated polybutene, and hydrogenated oligomers of .alpha.-olefins are preferable, since they have good compatibility with the polymer (A), and high plasticizing effects. These plasticizers may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. The saturated hydrocarbon oligomers have good compatibility with the polymer (A) as described above, but among the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers, mineral oils such as paraffinic and naphthenic oils have low flowability at low temperature and may provide curable resin compositions having low workability although they are inexpensive. The ester plasticizers (D) have relatively good cold resistance, that is, low viscosity and thus good flowability at low temperature. Therefore, they can improve the extrudability and workability at low temperature of the curable resin compositions of the present invention. However, the ester plasticizers (D) have a larger polarity than the hydrocarbon plasticizers (C). Thus, the ester plasticizers (D) have low compatibility with the non-polar polymers (A) and may decrease the various properties of the curable resin compositions such as the adhesion properties, when only the ester plasticizers are used as the plasticizers for the non-polar polymers (A). The use of the ester plasticizers in combination with the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers can provide curable resin compositions which do not suffer from the deterioration of adhesion properties, coating properties, stain resistance and the like, while improving extrudability and workability at low temperature of the compositions. When the ester plasticizers are used in combination with the saturated hydrocarbon plasticizers, the cured materials of the compositions may have increased elongation, which is desirable for the elastic sealants for construction. Specific examples of the ester plasticizers are phthalates (e.g. dibutyl phthalate, diheptyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diundecyl phthalate, etc.), non-aromatic dibasic acid esters (e.g. di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, di-n-octyl adipate, diisononyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, etc.), aromatic esters (e.g. di(2-ethylhexyl) tetrahydrophthalate, tri-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate, triisodecyl trimellitate, etc.), esters of polyalkylene glycols (e.g. diethylene glycol benzoate, triethylene glycol dibenzoate, etc.), phosphate esters (e.g. tricresyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, etc.), and the like. Among them, the non-aromatic dibasic acid esters are preferable, since they have very good flowability at low temperature. These platicizers may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. The saturated hydrocarbon oligomers and ester oligomers may be used for regulating the reaction temperatures and viscosities of the reaction systems in place of solvents during the introduction of the reactive silicon-containing groups in the saturated hydrocarbon polymers. The use of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers and ester oligomers in combination in the curable resin composition of the present invention can greatly increase the workability, in particular at low temperature, of the curable resin composition comprising the saturated hydrocarbon polymer having the reactive silicon-containing groups. Furthermore, the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers and ester oligomers do not have any adverse effects on the properties of the cured materials such as mechanical properties, adhesion properties, heat resistance, weather resistance, and the like. The amount of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomer (C) is preferably between 10 and 150 wt. parts, more preferably between 30 and 100 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). When the amount of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomer is less than 10 wt. parts, the compatibility of the components in the composition may not be sufficient. When the amount of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomer exceeds 150 wt. parts, the mechanical properties of the composition tend to deteriorate. The amount of the ester oligomer (D) is preferably between 10 and 150 wt. parts, more preferably between 30 and 100 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). When the amount of the ester oligomer is less than 10 wt. parts, the viscosity of the composition may not sufficiently decrease. When the amount of the ester oligomer exceeds 150 wt. parts, the mechanical and adhesion properties of the composition tend to deteriorate. The weight ratio of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomer (C) to the ester oligomer (D) is preferably between 0.2:1 and 15:1, more preferably between 1:1 and 5:1. When the weight ratio is less than 0.2:1, the adhesion properties of the composition may deteriorate. When the weight ratio exceeds 15:1, the workability at low temperature of the composition may not be sufficiently improved. The number average molecular weights of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers and ester oligomers are not limited, and are preferably between 200 and 1000, more preferably between 300 and 500. When the number average molecular weights are less than 200, the heating loss is large, and thus the mechanical properties of the cured materials of the compositions of the present invention may greatly change over time. When the number average molecular weights exceed 1000, the plasticizing effects of the oligomers are insufficient, and the workability of the compositions may deteriorate at low temperature. The saturated hydrocarbon oligomers and ester oligomers may be used together with any other conventional plasticizers. The curable resin compositions of the present invention may optionally contain various fillers. Specific examples of the fillers are wood meal, pulp, cotton chips, asbestos, glass fiber, carbon fiber, mica, walnut shell flour, graphite, diatomaceous earth, china clay, humed silica, precipitated silica, silica, carbon black, calcium carbonate, clay, talc, titanium oxide, magnesium carbonate, quartz, aluminum fine power, flint powder, zinc powder, and the like. Among them, precipitated silica, humed silica, carbon black, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide and talc are preferable. In particular, glued calcium carbonate which is treated with about 3 wt. % of a fatty acid ester as a surface treating agent (for example, SEELETS manufactured by MARUO CALCIUM Co., Ltd.) is preferably used since it can significantly improve the workability of the curable resin compositions, and provide the compositions having good thixotropy and stream-breaking properties. The above additives may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. When the fillers are used, the amount of the fillers is between 1 and 500 wt. parts, preferably between 50 and 200 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). The curable resin compositions of the present invention needs moisture for condensation curing the saturated hydrocarbon polymers (A). Thus, water or hydrates of metal salts may be added to the composition as sources for supplying moisture. Any commercially available hydrates of metal salts may be used. For example, hydrates of alkaline earth metal salts or other metal salts may be used. Specific examples of the hydrates of the metal salts are as follows: Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.3H.sub.2 O, Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.18H.sub.2 O, Al.sub.2 (C.sub.2 O.sub.4).sub.3.4H.sub.2 O, AlNa(SO.sub.4).sub.2.12H.sub.2 O, AlK(SO.sub.4).sub.2.12H.sub.2 O, BaCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O, Ba(OH).sub.2.8H.sub.2 O, CaSO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, CaS.sub.2 O.sub.3.6H.sub.2 O, Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O, CaHPO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, Ca(C.sub.2 O.sub.4).H.sub.2 O, Co(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2 O, Co(CH.sub.3 COO).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O, CuCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O, CuSO.sub.4.5H.sub.2 O, FeCl.sub.2.4H.sub.2 O, FeCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2 O, FeSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, Fe(NH.sub.4)(SO.sub.4).sub.2.12H.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 CO.sub.3.1.5H.sub.2 O, KNaCO.sub.3.6H.sub.2 O, LiBr.2H.sub.2 O, Li.sub.2 SO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O, MgSO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O, MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, MgHPO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, Mg.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2.8H.sub.2 O, MgCO.sub.3.3H.sub.2 O, Mg.sub.4 (CO.sub.3).sub.3 (OH).sub.2.3H.sub.2 O, MoO.sub.3.2H.sub.2 O, NaBr.2H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3.7H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4.10H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.3.5H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.6.2H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10H.sub.2 O, NaHPHO.sub.3.2.5H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4.12H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.7H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.10H.sub.2 O, CH.sub.3 COONa.3H.sub.2 O, NaHC.sub.2 O.sub.4.H.sub.2 O, NiSO.sub.4.6H.sub.2 O, NiC.sub.2 O.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, SnO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O, NiC.sub.2 O.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, Sn(SO.sub.4).sub.2.2H.sub.2 O, ZnSO.sub.3.2H.sub.2 O, ZnSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, Zn.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O, Zn(CH.sub.3 COO).sub.2.2H.sub.2 O, etc. Among them, the hydrates of the alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts are preferable. Specific examples of such hydrates are MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.10H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4.10H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.3.5H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.3 PO.sub.4.12H.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7.10H.sub.2 O, etc. Water is preferably used in an amount of between 0.01 and 25 wt. parts, more preferably between 0.05 and 15 wt. parts, in particular between 0.2 and 5 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). The hydrate of the metal salt is preferably used in an amount of between 0.01 and 50 wt. parts, more preferably between 0.1 and 30 wt. parts, in particular 1 and 10 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer (A). Water and the hydrates of the metal salts may be used independently or in admixture of two or more of them. In addition to the above described plasticizers, fillers and moisture sources, the curable resin composition of the present invention may contain other additives, if necessary. Examples of such additives are curing catalysts for accelerating the silanol condensation reaction, property-adjusting agents for regulating tensile properties of the cured material of the composition, adhesion improvers, anti-aging agents, radical polymerization inhibitors, UV light absorbers, metal-deactivating agents, antiozonants, light stabilizers, photocurable resins, anti-sagging agents, phosphor base peroxide-decomposers, lubricants, pigments, foaming agents, and the like. Specific examples of such additives are described in JP-B-4-69659, JP-B-7-108928, JP-A-63-254149 and JP-A-64-22904. The effects of the addition of the hydrogenated oligomers of the .alpha.-olefins or the combination of the saturated hydrocarbon oligomers and ester oligomers can be attained even when the various additives are added to the curable resin compositions. That is, the addition of the oligomer(s) can improve the workability, in particular at low temperature, of the sealants, when the curable resin compositions of the present invention are used as the sealants for construction or insulating glass units. |
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