Queen's University at Kingston

Lanxess Corporation

John Scott Parent

Rui Resendes

Ralph Allen Whitney

Sergio A Guillén-Castellanos

Andrea Liskova

Saurav Sankar Sengupta

The present invention relates to the modification of butyl elastomers, particularly halobutyl elastomers, under solvent free conditions with a phase transfer catalyst in the presence of an alkyl metal salt of an oxygen or sulfur-based nucleophile.

Halobutyl elastomers

A process for preparing a functionalised polyolefin is described. The process comprises the step of reacting: (i) a polyolefin, (ii) a compound containing a functional group, and (iii) a coagent compound having Formula I:X&#x2014;Y&#x2014;Z&#x2003;&#x2003;(I) wherein: (a) when m is 2 and n is 0, the process comprises initially reacting the polyolefin and the coagent to form a product that is then reacted with the compound containing the functional group, and (b) the compound containing a functional group is substantially inert in free radical-mediated polymerization reactions and in free radical-mediated grafting reactions. The invention also relates to a functionalized polyolefin produced by such a process. The polyolefins, particularly high molecular weight polyolefins (Mn&#x3e;10,000), can be extensively modified with functional groups (e.g., thiols, epoxides, anhydrides, carboxylic acids, amines, amides, boron-containing compounds, silicon-containing compounds, cyano-containing compounds, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfites, esters, thioesters, dithioesters, ether, halides, phosphates, phosphonates, phosphines, phosphites and other compounds containing polar moieties) without altering molecular weight thereby rendering the functionalised polyolefins useful in a wide range of applications.

Functionalised polyolefins, moisture curable polyolefin resins and processes of manufacturer thereof

Preparation of butyl rubber based graft co-polymers from halobutyl elastomers using phase transfer catalysts in the presence of a solution of an alkali metal salt of an oxygen or sulfur nucleophile that is bound to a polymeric substrate. Graft co-polymers can be produced of a butyl polymer (isobutene-co-isoprene) and polymeric substrates such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polysilanes, polysiloxanes, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyphosphazenes, polyferrocenes or their hybrids.

Methods for the preparation of butyl graft copolymers

The present invention provides a process for preparing a filled halobutyl elastomer, which includes mixing a halobutyl elastomer with at least one mineral filler and at least one phosphine modifier and optionally curing the filled elastomer with sulfur or other curative systems. Filled halobutyl elastomers prepared according to the present invention possess improved levels of filler dispersion which results in a reduction in the hardness of the compound and an increased tensile strength.

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Kingston, Canada

John Scott Parent