The Dow Chemical Company

Gary K Lund

Calvin P Esneault

Brian W Walther

Raymond Lynn Laakso, Jr

A process is provided for metallating ethylene polymers which have polymerized therein a minor amount of nonconjugated diene. Metallation is accomplished with a blend of three metallating reagents: (a) an alkyllithium compound; (b) a potassium alkoxide; and (c) a chelating tertiary diamine. The metallated polymers so prepared may be reacted with one or more anionically polymerizable monomers to form graft polymers or with a reagent such as carbon dioxide to form a functionalized polymer. When the anionically polymerizable monomer has two or more polymerizable sites, the metallated polymer is reacted with a modifying compound such as alpha-methylstyrene before it is reacted with the monomer(s). Certain of the graft polymers behave as thermoplastic elastomers whereas others are thermoplastic. The blend of metallating reagents may be used with any polymer having partial or complete unsaturation.

Process for metallating nonconjugated diene-containing ethylene polymers

A process is provided for metallating crystalline ethylene polymers which have polymerized therein a minor amount of at least one nonconjugated diene and, optionally, a minor amount of at least one 1-olefin. Metallation is accomplished with an alkyllithium compound and at least one activating reagent after a slurry of the copolymer in a nonreactive, saturated, nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent is first heated to a temperature greater than 80.degree. Centigrade to provide the polymer with an expanded settling volume greater than its original settling volume. Metallation may be accomplished either at that temperature or at a lower temperature following cooling of the slurry. The activating reagents include potassium alkoxides, and chelating tertiary diamines. The metallated polymers so prepared may be reacted with (a) one or more anionically polymerizable monomers to form graft polymers or (b) a reagent such as carbon dioxide to form a functionalized polymer.

Process for metallating crystalline ethylene-nonconjugated diene

Olefins are polymerized in the presence of, as a catalyst therefor, the catalytic reaction product resulting from heating a mixture of

Process for polymerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst prepared

A catalyst for polymerizing olefins is the product resulting from heating in an inert hydrocarbon diluent a mixture of (A) an organomagnesium material, (B) an epihalohydrin, (C) a reducing halide source and (D) a transition metal compound.

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Ogden, UT, United States of America

Gary K Lund