Abstract: Prepare a polymeric foam article having a thermoplastic polymer matrix defining multiple cells therein, wherein the polymeric foam article has the following characteristics: (a) the thermoplastic polymer matrix contains dispersed within it nano-sized nucleating additive particles that have at least two orthogonal dimensions that are less than 30 nanometers in length; (b) possesses at least one of the following two characteristics: (i) has an effective nucleation site density of at least 3×1014 sites per cubic centimeter of pre-foamed material; and (ii) has an average cell size of 300 nanometers or less; and (c) has a porosity percentage of more than 50 percent by rapidly expanding at a foaming temperature a foamable polymer composition containing the nucleating additive and a blowing agent containing at least one of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon.

Abstract: This invention relates to coupling of polyethylene resins, more specifically coupling of polyethylene resins for use in extruded profiles, especially extruded profiles for sheet extrusion and cut sheet thermoforming applications and geomembranes. The process involves conveying a HDPE resin through an extruder, wherein the extruder comprises a feed zone, a first melt zone downstream of the feed zone, a second melt zone downstream of the first melt zone, and a third melt zone downstream of the second melt zone. The resin is melted in the first zone, contacted with oxygen in the second melt zone, and contacted antioxidant in the third melt zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crosslinked, olefin elastic fibers where the olefin materials are specifically selected to provide a more robust fiber with higher tenacity and greater temperature stability. Such fibers will be less subject to breakage during fiber spinning and post-spinning (downstream processing) operations including spool formation and unwinding. The specific olefin material used is a blend having an overall melt index (I2) of less than 2.5 g/10 min before crosslinking with a density in the range of 0.865 to 0.885 g/cm3. One component of the blend will be characterized as having either a density in the range of from 0.855 to 0.88 g/cm3 or a residual crystallinity at 80° C. of greater than 9 percent but not both. The at least one other component will meet at least whichever characteristic the first component does not meet.

Abstract: Prepare a polymeric foam from a foamable polymer composition containing a thermoplastic polymer composition and a blowing agent wherein 75 percent or more by weight of all non-halogenated polymers in the foamable polymer composition is a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer composition having a polymerized acrylonitrile content distribution with a positive skew in a copolymerized AN content distribution and a positive percent difference between the mean and the median copolymerized AN content distribution.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for blow molding applications and other applications, where such compositions comprise a high density ethylene polymer and a high molecular weight ethylene polymer. In these compositions, the high density ethylene polymer has a density greater than the density of the high molecular weight ethylene polymer, and the high molecular weight ethylene polymer has a weight average molecular weight greater than the weight average molecular weight of the high density ethylene polymer, and in addition, the high density ethylene polymer has a density from 0.94 g/cm3 to 0.98 g/cm3, and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than 8, and the high molecular weight ethylene polymer has a weight average molecular weight greater than 200,000 g/mole, and a molecular weight ratio, Mz/Mw, less than 5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crosslinked, olefin elastic fibers where the olefin materials are specifically selected to provide a more robust fiber with higher tenacity and greater temperature stability. Such fibers will be less subject to breakage during fiber spinning and post-spinning (downstream processing) operations including spool formation and unwinding. The specific olefin material used is a blend having an overall melt index (I2) of less than 2.5 g/10 min before crosslinking with a density in the range of 0.865 to 0.885 g/cm3. One component of the blend will be characterized as having either a density in the range of from 0.855 to 0.88 g/cm3 or a residual crystallinity at 80° C. of greater than 9 percent but not both. The at least one other component will meet at least whichever characteristic the first component does not meet.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprises a low-molecular-weight (LMW) ethylene polymer component and a high-molecular-weight (HMW) ethylene polymer component coupled with a polysulfonyl azide. Preferably, the LMW polyethylene component and the HMW polyethylene component co-crystallize in the composition such that it exhibits a single or substantially single peak in a lamella thickness distribution (LTD) curve. The ethylene polymer for the LMW and the HMW polyethylene components can be either homopolymer or ethylene copolymer. Preferably, both components are an ethylene copolymer of the same, or different, composition (that is, with the same or different comonomers). A method of making a pipe that includes selecting a polymer composition having a substantially single peak in the LTD curve is described. Compositions comprising a chromium-catalyzed ethylene polymer, coupled with a polysulfonyl azide are also described herein.

Abstract: An extruded polymeric foam comprising a styrenic polymer and an olefinic polymer, the olefinic polymer in an amount less than the amount of the styrenic polymer. The styrenic polymer and the olefinic polymer are present as a blend, preferably free of an interpolymer or compatiblizer. The foam has a density below about 36 kg/m3 (as measured by ASTM D1622-03), a vertical compressive strength greater than about 100 kPa (as measured by ASTM D1621-04) and a compressive strength ratio greater than about 0.35.

Abstract: A polymeric blend composition, and method of using same for large parison blow molding applications, comprising greater than about 50 parts by weight of a carbonate polymer component (e.g., a branched polycarbonate having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 28,000 to about 36,000); and less than about 50 parts by weight of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) component, the ABS component including a styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) phase including acrylonitrile (e.g., in an amount greater than 26 percent by weight of the SAN phase); and a butadiene-based rubber particle phase, wherein at least a portion of the butadiene-based rubber particle phase includes butadiene grafted with SAN.

Abstract: The present invention yields a triallyl phosphate (TAP)-mediated, rheology-modified polymer being prepared in a reaction from a reaction mixture made from or containing (a) a free-radical, chain-scissionable organic polymer and (b) TAP, wherein the TAP-mediated, rheology-modified polymer has extensional viscosity at Hencky strains above one greater than that of the free-radical, chain-scissionable organic polymer and/or a Relaxation Spectra Index (RSI) greater than that of the free-radical, chain-scissionable organic polymer.

Abstract: Ethylene polymer compositions comprising a high molecular weight high density polyethylene resin and a low density polyethylene resin are disclosed, where the polymer composition has a comparatively high melt strength for a given melt index. The compositions comprise from 25 to 99 percent by weight of the composition of a linear or substantially linear polyethylene polymer having a density of at least about 0.90 g/cc, and an I21 of less than about 20; and from 1 to 25 percent by weight of the composition of a high pressure low density type polyethylene resin having a melt index (I2) less than about 5, a molecular weight distribution greater than about 10, a Mw_abs/Mw_gpc ratio (“Gr”) of at least 2.7, and a melt strength at 190° C. greater than 19.0?12.6*log10(Mi). The compositions of the present invention are particularly well suited for blown film and thermoforming applications.

Abstract: The present invention is a rheology-modifiable polymeric composition or a free-radical crosslinkable polymeric composition, wherein the resulting rheologymodifying bond or crosslinking bond is a thermally-reversible bond. The resulting polymer is prepared from at least one polymer which upon forming free radicals preferentially degrades or carbon-carbon crosslinks. The present invention permits suppression of the preferential reaction while permitting the polymer to be coupled or crosslinked through a thermally-reversible bond. Suppressing the undesirable degradation or carbon-carbon crosslinking reaction and permitting the desirable reaction yield a rheology-modified polymer or a free-radical thermally-reversibly crosslinked polymer.