Abstract: A heat curable hot melt adhesive system is disclosed. The system uses an epoxy-crosslinking ethylene polymer component, a tackifier compatible therewith and an epoxy crosslinking agent having an epoxide functionality of at least 2. The ethylene polymer component may be either an ethylene copolymer of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, or an ethylene copolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated alcohol used in combination with a dicarboxylic acid anhydride. The dicarboxylic acid anhydride and/or the epoxy can be encapsulated to inhibit premature crosslinking. The formulation is applied to a substrate surface as a hot melt at a moderate temperature, and subsequently cured by heating the adhesive composition to a higher curing temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing high elongation elastomers and highly oriented films and fibers from polymers having specific associative groups, such that the end groups on each macromolecule tend to associate with one another after the macromolecules are in a disentangled state, i.e., in the form of a semi-dilute solution. This association is of a force strong enough to prevent the macromolecular chains from slipping past one another and reentangling when the polymer is moderately heated or further concentrated in solution. The association may be manipulated, i.e., is reversible, under a change in parameter such as temperature, pH, polarity of the solvent medium and like parameters. The associated polymer macromolecules can be drawn as a gel from a semi-dilute solution into a highly aligned disentangled polymer to yield shaped articles.

Abstract: An adhesive is disclosed. The adhesive is a blend of a tackifier and a polymer, having an elastomeric main chain and incorporating thermoplastic macromonomer side chain grafts, which can exhibit enhanced shear thinning and allow spray application of the adhesive onto a substrate. In one embodiment, the polymer main chain comprises a polymer of an isoolefin having about 4 to about 7 carbon atoms and a para-alkylstyrene, and the side chains comprise a grafted macromonomer, such as a terminally functionalized polystyryl chain of very narrow molecular weight distribution, attached to the para-alkyl group of the para-alkylstyrene. In another embodiment, the polymer comprises a polyolefin main chain and a norbornene terminated macromolecule copolymerized to introduce the side chains.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film is provided which is especially suited for use in stretch/cling applications such as, for example, the bundling, packaging and unitizing of foods and other goods. The film comprises a cling layer comprising a polymer of at least ethylene and acrylate and a non-cling layer comprising a polyolefin. One or both surfaces of the film are partially fluorinated to substantially increase the film cling and inhibit blocking.

Abstract: Oxygen barrier structures such as packages, laminated films, etc. are disclosed. The oxygen barrier has at least one layer comprising a polymer having oxamide units of the formula: ##STR1## and may further include amide units selected from the formulae: ##STR2## wherein R and R' are independently hydrocarbyl radicals of from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and R" is a hydrocarbyl radical of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms. The polyoxamide or copoly(amide-oxamide) layer has an oxygen permeability which, at a high relative humidity, is less than or about the same as the oxygen permeability at a low relative humidity. Also disclosed is a method of protecting an article such as a foodstuff against oxidation by packaging the article with the oxygen barrier structure.

Abstract: A grafted and/or functionalized macromolecule comprises entanglement-inhibited architecture wherein the polymer exhibits reduced melt viscosity. In one embodiment, the macromolecule comprises a polymer of an isoolefin having about 4 to about 7 carbon atom and a para-alkylstyrene, wherein a grafted macromonomer such as a terminally functionalized polystyryl chain of very narrow molecular weight distribution is attached to the para-alkyl group of the para-alkylstyrene such that entanglement of adjacent chains in the melt are inhibited. In addition to distributed macromonomer grafts, other functionality may be attached to the para-alkyl group of the para-alkylstyrene to introduce other desirable properties such as radiation curability. In another embodiment the macromolecule comprises a polymer of one or more simple olefinic monomers wherein a macromolecule is attached to pendent functionality and/or copolymerized into the polymer backbone.

Abstract: The viscous and elastic components of a viscoelastic melt, for example a polymer melt, are examined to provide information useful in quality control in the process for the manufacture of the material. Measurement of the entrance pressure drop exhibited by the viscoelastic fluid when forced through a narrow die is shown to be an effective means of preparing polymers of differentiated property characteristics despite otherwise being similar in terms of commonly measured properties of molecular weight and melt index.

Abstract: A polyketone having a molecular weight greater than 1,000 and containing 0.01 to 50 mole percent carbonyl groups is contacted directly with an organic peroxyacid to produce a polyester. The polyketone is in a single homogenous phase during the oxidation process and may be in either solid or liquid form.In a preferred embodiment, a molten polyketone is contacted with an organic peroxyacid in a reactive extrusion process to produce polyester pellets.

Abstract: Acrylic copolymer compositions which contain a tackifying hydrocarbon resin and a polyfunctional crosslinking monomer and the use of such composition in pressure-sensitive adhesives are described. The tackifying hydrocarbon resin is dissolved, as is the polyfunctional monomer, in a solution of alkyl(meth)acrylate and (meth) acrylic acid monomers and is present during the polymerization of the monomers to form a tackified acrylic copolymer.

Abstract: Low creep polypropylene textiles are disclosed which comprise a blend of isotactic polypropylene with 10-30 weight percent of a resin obtained by hydrogenating polymerized olefinically unsaturated monomers derived from petroleum cracking, e.g., polydicyclopentadiene. The hydrocarbon resin has a weight average molecular weight of from 500 to 1000 and a glass transition temperature of from 40.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. The blend exhibits creep resistance at ambient temperatures and has a glass transition temperature greater than 20.degree. C. The textile blend is useful in carpet, drapery and other applications wherein creep resistance and resiliency are desirable.

Abstract: Acrylic copolymer PSA compositions having enhanced peel strength without substantially decreasing shear properties have been formulated by homogeneously incorporating the tackifying resin into the polymer matrix. The tackifying resin is dissolved into a solution of alkyl (meth) acrylate and (meth) acrylic acid monomers prior to polymerization. To enhance the molecular weight of the resultant PSA, the monomer/tackifier solution is emulsion polymerized in the absence of chain transfer agents, such as antioxidant additives typically found in commercially available tackifiers, and allylic hydrogen present in many unsuitable tackifiers.

Abstract: A copolymer of trans-1,4-hexadiene and propylene, and a method for its preparation. The copolymer is isotactic, essentially free of cis-1,4-hexadiene, and contains from 0.01 to 5 mole percent 1,4-hexadiene. The copolymer is radiation-stabilized against molecular weight degradation, and cross-links to form gel upon exposure to radiation. The copolymer is prepared by contacting a mixture of propylene and 1,4-hexadiene essentially free of cis-1,4-hexadiene with a coordination catlyst, e.g. Ziegler-Natta catalyst, under copolymerization conditions. Hydrogen is used to moderate the molecular weight of the copolymer and enhance the catalyst activity.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film is provided which is especially suited for use in stretch/cling applications such as, for example, the bundling, packaging and unitizing of foods and other goods. The film comprises a cling layer comprising (i) a polymer of at least ethylene and acrylate or vinyl acetate, blended with (ii) a compatible, non-migratory tackifier. The film may further comprise a non-cling layer comprising a thermoplastic material essentially free of tackifier, with or without an anticling (slip and/or antiblock) additive. Preferred thermoplastic materials include linear low density polyethylene and polypropylene.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film is provided which is especially suited for use in stretch/cling applications such as, for example, the bundling, packaging and unitizing of foods and other goods. The film comprises a cling layer comprising a polymer of at least ethylene and acrylate, preferably without a tackifying additive. The film further comprises a slip layer comprising a polyolefin preferably including an anticling (slip and/or antiblock) additive. Preferred polyolefins include linear low density polyethylene and polypropylene.

Abstract: A method for preparing a substrate coated or laminated with a multiblock copolymer comprising endblocks of phenylbutadiene and an elastomeric midblock of a conjugated diene such as isoprene or butadiene is disclosed. The copolymer is crosslinkable by EB radiation such that the crosslinks are confined primarily to the endblock domains in the polymer with minimal crosslinking occurring in the rubbery matrix. Also disclosed are blends of the copolymers with tackifier resins compatible with the midblock regions. The blends provide a curable PSA having enhanced cohesive strength while maintaining adhesive properties.