Milliken & Company

Xiaodong Edward Zhao

Darin L Dotson

Jusong Xia

Todd D Danielson

Mary E Mason

Eric B Stephens

Jason Dean Sprinkle

Daniel M Connor

Jiang Li

Jiannong Xu

Brian Michael Burkhart

Jeffrey R Jones

Kemper David Lake, Jr

Kaye Cannon Suddeth

Patrick D Moore

Brian G Morin

Robert Linn Mahaffey, Jr

Martin E Cowan

Raj Batlaw

James Michael Spry

Qinghong Jessica Ann

Jr Kemper David Lake

Clarified polyolefins such as polypropylene are used widely to make polymer articles, containers, and the like. Such articles may be manufactured by the injection of molten polymer into a mold or forming device in manufacturing processes at high rates. A clarified composition is provided to achieve optimized clarity and organoleptic performance at lower processing temperatures and/or within a polypropylene resin having a higher melt flow rate.

Polyolefin composition

Addictive composition and articles containing the same

Bicyclic nucleator compounds that provide highly versatile nucleation benefits for different polyolefins are provided. Such nucleator compounds provide very high peak crystallization temperatures and significantly reduced crystallization cycle time for certain thermoplastic formulations with or without the presence of other calcium stearate and/or peroxide components within the same type of formulation. Furthermore, such inventive nucleator compounds exhibits very little if any fugitivity from such thermoplastic formulations thereby providing excellent processing characteristics as well as excellent nucleation capabilities for a variety of different thermoplastic resins, independent of the presence of different, potentially necessary, additives (such as calcium stearate). Thermoplastic compositions as well as thermoplastic additive packages comprising such inventive nucleator compounds are also contemplated within this invention.

Polymer additive compositions comprising highly versatile thermoplastic nucleators

Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.

Low-color ultraviolet absorbers for high UV wavelength protection applications

Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well. This invention also concerns the end products, specific broadly defined types of compounds providing such beneficial characteristics, methods of making such low-color compounds, and methods of producing such clear, UV protected end products.

Low-color ultraviolet absorber compounds and compositions thereof

Novel ultraviolet absorbing compounds that are liquid in nature, are extremely low in color (and thus permit use without the concomitant necessity of adding large amounts of other coloring agents to combat such discoloring), and are highly effective in providing protection in wavelength ranges for which previous attempts at low-color ultraviolet absorbers have failed are provided herein. Such compounds provide such excellent, inexpensive, and beneficial protection from ultraviolet exposure within various media, including, but not limited to, clear thermoplastics. The particular compounds are generally polymeric in nature including various chain lengths of polyoxyalkylenes thereon and are liquid in nature to facilitate handling and introduction within the target media. In addition, such ultraviolet absorbers also exhibit extremely low migratory properties thereby providing long-term protective benefits to the target media as well.

Compounds and compositions comprising specific metal salts of bicyclo&lsqb;2.2.1&rsqb;heptane dicarboxylate salts in order to provide highly desirable properties within polyolefin articles are provided. The inventive salts and derivatives thereof are useful as nucleating and/or clarifying agents for such polyolefin, provide excellent crystallization temperatures, stiffness, and calcium stearate compatibility within target polyolefin. Also, such compounds exhibit very low hygroscopicity and therefore excellent shelf stability as powdered or granular formulations. Polyolefin additive compositions and methods of producing polyolefin with such compounds are also contemplated within this invention.

Thermoplastic nucleating compounds

Low-color vanillin-based ultraviolet absorbers and methods of making thereof

Certain thermoplastic additives (combinations of clarifying and nucleating compounds) that induce simultaneously low clarity and high nucleation efficacy are provided. Such additives include combinations of certain bicyclic salts (which by themselves induce very high nucleation efficacy) and thermoplastic clarifying agents, including certain dibenzylidene sorbitol acetals and derivatives (hereinafter collectively referred to as &ldquo;DBSs&rdquo;)(which alone provide very low haze measurements and thus highly desirable clarity characteristics). In comparison, other types of standard thermoplastic nucleators, such as sodium benzoate and sodium 2,2&prime;-methylene-bis-(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate provide relatively high peak crystallization temperatures, but do not combine synergistically with clarifiers, such as DBSs, to provide the same results as for the inventive combination of bicyclic salts and DBSs. Thermoplastic compositions as well as thermoplastic additive packages comprising such inventive nucleator compounds, as well as methods of producing polypropylene compositions and articles made therefrom, are also contemplated within this invention.

Clarified thermoplastics exhibiting very high nucleation efficacy

Compounds of and compositions comprising specific salts of saturated &lsqb;2.2.2&rsqb; dicarboxylate in order to provide highly desirable properties within thermoplastic (e.g., polyolefin) articles are provided. The inventive salts and derivatives thereof are useful as nucleating and/or clarifying agents for such thermoplastics, are easy to produce and handle, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Such compounds induce high peak crystallization and improved stiffness within thermoplastics. Also, thermoplastic compositions comprising such novel nucleating agents exhibit improved heat distortion properties and clarity levels in comparison with the closest unsaturated salt nucleating agents. Thermoplastic additive compositions and methods of producing thermoplastics with such compounds are also contemplated within this invention.

Saturated &lsqb;2.2.2&rsqb; dicarboxylate salt thermoplastic nucleators and thermoplastic compositions thereof

Highly versatile thermoplastic nucleators

Compounds and compositions comprising specific metal salts of bicyclo&lsqb;2.2.1 &rsqb;heptane dicarboxylate salts in order to provide highly desirable properties within polyolefin articles are provided. The inventive salts and derivatives thereof are useful as nucleating and/or clarifying agents for such polyolefin, provide excellent crystallization temperatures, stiffness, and calcium stearate compatibility within target polyolefin. Also, such compounds exhibit very low hygroscopicity and therefore excellent shelf stability as powdered or granular formulations. Polyolefin additive compositions and methods of producing polyolefin with such compounds are also contemplated within this invention.

Highly nucleated thermoplastic articles

Certain thermoplastic additives that induce simultaneous low clarity and high nucleation efficacy are provided. Such additives include combinations of certain bicyclic salts (which by themselves induce very high nucleation efficacy) and certain benzylidene sorbitol acetals and derivatives (hereinafter collectively referred to as &ldquo;DBSs&rdquo;)(which alone provide very low haze measurements and thus highly desirable clarity characteristics). In comparison, other types of standard thermoplastic nucleators, such as sodium benzoate and sodium 2,2&prime;-methylene-bis-(4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate provide relatively high peak crystallization temperatures, but do not combine synergistically with DBSs to provide the same results as for the inventive combination of bicyclic salts and DBSs.

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Moore, SC, United States of America

Xiaodong Edward Zhao