The combination of anionic polymerization techniques and a subsequent coupling reaction created a versatile process for producing block polymers of not only controlled block length and block sequence but also with a controlled number of branches. This process has been successfully used in commercial production since 1967. Radial styrene-diene block polymers have properties significantly different from linear polymers of the same molecular weight, showing lower melt viscosities as well as lower solution viscosities. This feature is significant in adhesive applications because it allows the use of polymers of higher molecular weights with a corresponding improvement in shear resistance.