The Dow Chemical Company

Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Che-I Kao

Michael J Mullins

Thoi H Ho

H Craig Silvis

Clark H Cummins

Wendy D Hoenig

David A Babb

Michael E Rowland

Teresa Plumley Karjala

Sarat Munjal

Clark J Cummings

Bharat Indu Chaudhary

Yunwa Wilson Cheung

Pradeep Jain

Martin J Guest

Seema V Karande

Li-Min Tau

Robert H Terbrueggen

Masao Yoshimine

Sanford A Siegel

Robert O Swindoll

Rak-Wing S Chum

The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer; and (c) heating the second admixture at least to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by processes of the invention as well as blends of those compositions with one or more polymers of compositions different from the first or second polymer or the product of a process of the invention. Additionally the invention includes articles made from compositions of the invention, and shaping those articles particularly by processes which comprise shaping the compositions in a melted state into an article, more preferably when the process comprises thermoforming, injection molding, extrusion, casting, blow molding, foaming or blowing as well as the use of the compositions in those processes.

Process of rheology modification of polymers

The invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one polyolefin comprising ethylene and optionally at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof said polyolefin having a molecular weight distribution of less than or equal to about 3 and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least about 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer; particularly where the polyolefin is the product of polymerization of ethylene and optionally at least one other alpha-olefin in the presence of a single site catalyst (transition metal like Va or Cr, metallocene or constrained geometry). The amount of poly(sulfonyl azide) is preferably from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of the polyolefin. The poly(sulfonyl azide)and polyolefin preferably react at a temperature at least the decomposition temperature and greater than about 150&deg; C. The invention also includes any composition made by the process of the invention and any article made from the composition as well as processes for making the articles, particularly melt processing (especially where the article is formed from a melt of a composition of the invention), more preferably selected by molding, blow molding or extrusion blow molding the composition. The invention also includes the use of a composition of the invention in any of these processes.

Rheology modification of polymers prepared using metallocenes

The present invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one elastomer comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer having a gel content of less than 2 weight percent. The invention includes compositions comprising the reaction product formed by the inventive process. The invention additionally includes articles which comprise a composition of the invention particularly when the article is formed from a melt of the composition.

Rheology modification of elastomers

The polymer recovery capacity of solution polymerization units is increased by flashing a polymer solution exiting olefin polymerization reactors to produce a concentrated polymer solution having a reduced temperate and a solids content from 10 percent to 40 percent by weight. Flashing of the polymer solution preferably occurs at a temperature at least 20&deg; C. higher than the crystallization temperature of the concentrated polymer solution The concentrated polymer solution can be prepared adiabatically and can be subsequently finished in conventional polymer recovery units without increasing the risk of gel formation.

Finishing design to increase the polymer content in an olefin solution polymerization process

The present invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one elastomer comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least about 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer having a gel content of less than about 2 weight percent.

The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer; and (c) heating the second admixture at lest to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by processes of the invention as well as blends of those compositions with one or more polymers of compositions different from the first or second polymer or the product of a process of the invention. Additionally the invention includes articles made from compositions of the invention, and shaping those articles particularly by processes which comprise shaping the compositions in a melted state into an article, more preferably when the process comprises thermoforming, injection molding, extrusion, casting, blow molding, foaming or blowing as well as the use of the compositions in those processes.

The invention includes a process comprising (a) forming a polymeric admixture including at least one polyolefin which has been prepared using a single site catalyst and at least a crosslinking amount of at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) crosslinking agent; (b) shaping the resulting admixture; and (c) heating the resulting shaped admixture to a temperature at least the decomposition temperature of the crosslinking agent. The steps take place in any sequence and optionally include substeps. The single site catalyst is preferably a constrained geometry or metallocene catalyst, but optionally another transition metal catalyst which is not a traditional Ziegler Natta Ti/MgCl,catalyst such as a vanadium catalyst. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by the process of the invention as well as all articles formed from these compositions. The articles are preferably thermoformed, compression molded, injection molded, extruded, cast, blow molded, blown, profile extruded, spun, foamed or molded of any composition of the invention. The invention includes a use of any composition of the invention in any process of thermoforming, injection molding, extrusion, casting, blow molding, spinning, blowing, profile extrusion, foaming, compression molding or a combination thereof.

Crosslinking of polymers and foams thereof

The present invention relates to a blend comprising at least one interpolymer produced from polymerizing a monomer mixture comprising from about 5 to about 65 mole percent of (a) at least one vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) a combination of at least one vinylidene aromatic monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic vinylidene monomer, and from about 35 to about 95 mole percent of at least one aliphatic &agr;-olefin having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms; and a composition comprising an aromatic polyether and optionally (a) at least one homopolymer of a vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) at least one interpolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers, or (c) at least one interpolymer of at least one vinylidene aromatic monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic vinylidene monomers, or (d) at least one of (a-c) further comprising an impact modifier, or (e) a combination of any two or more of the aromatic polyether and (a-d). The blend also comprises at least one optional impact modifier and at least one optional processing aid. The blend is useful in the preparation of fabricated articles such as adhesives, films, blow molded articles, and injection molded articles, and is characterized by improved high temperature serviceability.

Polymeric blend compositions of &agr;-olefin/vinylidene aromatic monomer interpolymers and aromatic polyethers

The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture, hereinafter referred to as a concentrate, of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer, hereinafter diluent, and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer, hereinafter second polymer composition; and (c) heating the second admixture at least to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The diluent is preferably a non-volatile, non-polar compound such as mineral oil in which the poly(sulfonyl azide) is sufficiently miscible to disperse the poly(sulfonyl azide) in the second polymer.

A process for preparing halogenated polycarbonate wherein the total amount of base the end pH of the aqueous phaser and the amount of coupling catalyst employed in the reaction are controlled to selected levels.

Process for the preparation of high molecular weight halogenated

A process for preparing halogenated polycarbonate wherein the total amount of base, the end pH of the aqueous phase, and the amount of coupling catalyst employed in the reaction are controlled to selected levels.

A molten substituted phenol and an aqueous caustic solution are reacted at temperatures from 170.degree. C. to 190.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure to form an aqueous solution of an alkali metal phenate. By employing a rapid drying process such as flashing the water vapor from the reactor to cool the mixture, alkali metal phenate solids are produced with low levels of toxic by-products.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Che-I Kao