Abstract: This invention describes a staged process in which successive dynamic vulcanizations of plural curable rubber blend components are based on condensation reactions of a functional group (reactive site) carried by each curable rubber. The process is carried out in three stages during each of which gases evolved during the condensation reactions are removed. It is essential to form an intermediate fully dense hard blend in the second stage. This intermediate hard blend contains a relatively large amount of plastic (relative to curable rubbers) and is therefore much harder than the desired final blend. In the third stage, additional rubber and curative for uncured rubber are added to achieve the desired softness. This process, carried out in an extruder, results in fully dense pellets which are injection moulded to produce articles having essentially the same specific gravity as that of the pellets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to adhere a hard cellulose ester compound to a surface of a soft thermoplastic elastomer compound and shaped composite articles comprising said components.

Abstract: Phenolic resin curatives having a majority of dibenzyl ether linkages were unexpectedly found to be very effective in curing unsaturated rubbers in a blend of a crystalline polyolefin and said rubber. Their effectiveness exceeds that of conventional phenolic resins for many thermoplastic vulcanizate compositions allowing for the reformulation of the recipes with lower amounts of curatives and equivalent or superior physical properties in the resulting thermoplastic vulcanizate.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer is formed from a thermoplastic polymer such as a polyester, polycarbonate, or combinations thereof or a polyamide, which polymer is melt blended with an acrylic rubber. The acrylic rubber desirably has from about 0.5 to about 5 mole percent repeat units from halogen (desirably chlorine) containing monomer. Subsequently the acrylic rubber is crosslinked with 2,5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole or a derivative thereof. Such a thermoplastic elastomer may have a compression set less than 50% making it useful in applications involving continuous use under compression.

Abstract: High elasticity foams can be prepared from a reprocessable blend of a thermoplastic vulcanizate and an elastic thermoplastic polymer. These foams can be mechanically foamed with water and can have elongations to break in excess of 250 percent. They also have recovery of that elongation also known as low permanent set.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of thermoplastic elastomers by hydrosilylation crosslinking, in which a platinum containing hydrosilylation catalyst is used in combination with oil which is substantially free of materials which have the chemical behavior of a Lewis base. A crosslinked rubber component is obtained in the thermoplastic elastomer composition.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a triblend of engineering resin, dynamically vulcanized alloy of thermoplastic olefin polymer and elastomeric copolymer, and a compatibilizer for the engineering resin and alloy. The compatibilizer can be formed in a separate step or in-situ in a one step process. The processes produce compositions which retain structural integrity at high temperature, and have good tensile properties, elongation and fluid resistance.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomer compositions which have good high temperature end use and good oil swell resistance are made by blending a high melting thermoplastic polymer containing a non-polar rubber and a polar rubber. Alternatively, a high melting thermoplastic polymer containing a non-polar rubber or a polar rubber or both is blended with a polyolefin thermoplastic polymer containing a non-polar rubber, or a polar rubber, or both. The composition is dynamically vulcanized. The cured multi-component thermoplastic elastomer compositions exhibit good end use properties such as hardness, tensile strength, modulus, flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new block copolymers of chemically modified polyolefins and thermoplastic polyurethanes, copolyesters or copolyamides a method for the preparation of said block copolymers and their use for compatibilizing blends of polar and non-polar thermoplastic elastomers. The block copolymers according to the present invention can further be used for promoting the adhesion of thermoplastic elastomers onto various polar engineering resins.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomers having improved surface properties are provided by incorporating a copolymer of a functionalized polyolefin and a polyamide into a thermoplastic elastomer selected from(A)(a) a thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer, and(b) an olefinic rubber which is fully crosslinked, partially crosslinked or not crosslinked, and optionally(c) common additives;(B)(a) a block-copolymer of styrene/conjugated diene/styrene and/or its hydrogenated derivative, optionally compounded with(b) a thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer and/or(c) common additives and(C) any blend of (A) and (B).The invention further relates to a process of making these modified thermoplastic elastomers, their use and shaped articles comprising them.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition has a plastic phase or matrix of an engineering thermoplastic such as an ester polymer and a crosslinked phase of self-cured acrylic rubber particles. The rubber particles are the reaction product of at least one functionalized acrylic rubber self-cured by a different functionalized acrylic rubber wherein the functional groups are generally a carboxyl, an epoxy, or hydroxyl, and the like. The composition can be dynamically vulcanized in the presence of an accelerator and desirably has a single low temperature brittle point.

Abstract: A sports ball bladder and method of manufacture which produces a sports ball in which a valve element (48) is fused to the bladder and is disposed away from a parting line (40) of a mold (34). The bladder is made by extruding a parison (64) and closing a mold cavity (42) in surrounding relation thereof. A blow needle (46) supports the valve element thereon and delivers fluid pressure to an interior area (68) of the parison. The expanding parison fills the mold cavity and impinges on the valve element. The expanded parison is cooled to solidify the thermoplastic material. The pressure in the interior area is then relieved through the blow needle and the mold is opened. To avoid thinning of the bladder adjacent to the parting line, thermoplastic material is pushed inwardly into the mold cavity from a pinch pocket (80) as the mold is closed. After the ball bladder is formed, a valve member (72) is inserted into the valve element to enable holding of the bladder in an inflated condition.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition has a plastic phase or matrix of an engineering thermoplastic such as a polyamide and a crosslinked phase of cured acrylic rubbers. The rubbers contain at least two functionalized acrylic rubbers wherein the functional group such as a carboxyl, an epoxy, or a hydroxyl can be the same or different. The curing agents generally react via covalent bonding with the reactive functional groups of the rubbers. The composition can be dynamically vulcanized and when one of the rubbers is a terpolymer of ethylene-alkyl acrylate-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the composition has a single low temperature brittle point.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition has a plastic phase or matrix of an engineering thermoplastic such as an ester polymer and a crosslinked phase of cured acrylic rubbers. The rubbers are cured by a curing agent and contain at least two functionalized acrylic rubbers wherein the functional group such as a carboxyl, an epoxy, or a hydroxyl can be the same or different. The composition can be dynamically vulcanized and desirably when one of the functionalized acrylic rubbers is a terpolymer of ethylene-alkyl acrylate-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the composition has a single low temperature brittle point.

Abstract: The phenolic resin curatives used as a curative in thermoplastic elastomers are attributed with staining of painted surfaces which physically contact the thermoplastic elastomers. When the phenolic resin curatives are esterified (e.g., acetylated, tosylated, silylated or phosphorylated) before use as a curative, the amount of staining is reduced or staining is eliminated.

Abstract: Thermoplastic vulcanizates from semicrystalline polyolefins and blends of crosslinked rubbers are disclosed. The blends are a mixture of at least two rubbers. One rubber is a copolymer predominantly of C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 isomonoolefins (e.g. isobutylene), along with optional monomers of conjugated dienes and/or p-alkylstyrene. This copolymer is optionally halogenated. The second rubber is ethylene/propylene rubber, natural rubber or a rubber polymerized predominantly from a conjugated diene. Such rubbers include polybutadiene, nitrile rubber, butadiene-styrene copolymers or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method to adhere thermoplastic elastomer blends comprising(a) at least one thermoplastic polyolefin,(b) at least one non-cured, partially cured or fully cured elastomer or blends thereof,(c) a functionalized polyolefin and(d) optionally additives,to a polyester substrate, said method comprising the steps oftreating the substrate with a blocked di-isocyanate in aqueous dispersion, or subsequently or simultaneously treating the substrate with a blocked di-isocyanate and an epoxy resin in aqueous dispersion/emulsion,applying the thermoplastic elastomer blend to the treated substrate and bonding the thermoplastic elastomer blend to the surface of the substrate using heat and pressure.The invention further relates to shaped articles obtainable by said process.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomer compositions comprise a blend of polyamide resin and a covalently-crosslinked acrylate rubber. Such compositions can be prepared by dynamic vulcanization of the rubber in admixture with the polyamide and can exhibit high temperature dimensional stability and low oil swell. The compositions can be used to form a variety of molded, extruded, or calendered articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soft thermoplastic elastomeric composition having improved resistance to oil swell and compression set comprising a blend of an engineering thermoplastic resin, a cured rubber concentrate and optionally a compatibilizer and a method for its preparation. The invention further relates to the cured rubber concentrate, a method for its preparation and the use thereof.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer comprising a triblend of engineering resin, dynamically vulcanized alloy of thermoplastic olefin polymer and elastomeric copolymer, and a compatibilizer for the engineering resin and alloy. The compositions retain structural integrity at high temperature, and have good tensile properties, elongation and fluid resistance.