Abstract: This invention relates generally to films made from crystalline polypropylene polymers. Specifically, this invention relates to films comprising crystalline polypropylene polymer compositions containing both propylene homopolymers and propylene copolymers. The compositions are prepared using metallocene catalyst systems comprising at least two metallocenes in a polymerization process that involves the sequential or parallel polymerization of propylene homopolymers and copolymers using propylene with a small amount of comonomer, preferably ethylene. The resulting polymers are excellent for use in the production of biaxially oriented films. Films prepared with these propylene polymers have a significantly broader processability range and can be evenly stretched at lower temperature compared to films prepared from traditional polypropylene polymers.

Abstract: An olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition which includes an acrylic-modified polytetrafluoroethylene. When foamed, such compositions produce a very soft foam with improved processing properties and physical characteristics. A process of foaming and foamed articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Composite structures are described that include (a) a first polymer structure (e.g., a film or solid component) made of EPDM adhered to (b) a second polymer structure (film or solid component) that is made of a blend of dynamically vulcanized EPDM dispersed in a matrix of a thermoplastic polyolefin polymer. Either the first polymer structure, or both the first and second polymer structures are blended with an effective amount of a semicrystalline random adhesive copolymer.

Abstract: Polyethylene blend compositions suitable for rotomolding, rotomolded articles, and processes for rotomolding articles are provided. The polyethylene compositions include a first polyethylene having a melt index of 0.4 to 3.0 g/10 min and a density of from 0.910 to 0.930 g/cm3; and a second polyethylene having a melt index of 10 to 30 g/10 min and a density of 0.945 to 0.975 g/cm3. The composition has a density of from 0.930 to 0.955 g/cm3 and a melt index of 1.5 to 12 g/10 min, and the first and second polyethylenes differ in density by from 0.030 to 0.048 g/cm3. These compositions exhibit improved physical properties, such as Environmental Stress Crack Resistance and Izod Impact Strength.

Abstract: Thermoplastic vulcanizates having improved coring properties, comprising a blend of thermoplastic polypropylene resin, vulcanized butyl rubber, a SEPS block copolymer and a polybutene oil plasticizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic vulcanizate prepared by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing rubber within a blend that includes the rubber and a thermoplastic resin, where the rubber comprises an elastomeric copolymer of ethylene, at least one ?-olefin, and optionally one or more diene monomers, where the elastomeric copolymer is characterized by having a crystallinity, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry, of less than 10 J/g, an ethylene content that is less than 90 mole percent based upon the entire copolymer, a weight average molecular weight that is greater than about 20,000 as measured by GPC with polystyrene standards, a molecular weight distribution that is less than 7, and an ethylene compositional distribution that is less than about 4 percent for the closest 90 percent of fractioned samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-frequency weldable thermoplastic rubber composition, to a method of rendering non-polar thermoplastic rubbers high-frequency weldable, to a high-frequency weldable shaped article obtainable from the composition according to the invention, to a method for manufacturing said shaped articles and to a method of high-frequency welding of said articles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to shaped high-frequency welded articles obtainable by the method according to the present invention.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate prepared by dynamically vulcanizing a halogenated butyl rubber within a mixture that includes the halogenated butyl rubber and from about 10 to about 100 parts by weight of a crystalline thermoplastic resin per 100 parts by weight rubber, to thereby form a thermoplastic vulcanizate, where the thermoplastic resin includes a resin other than polyethylene, melt mixing the thermoplastic vulcanizate with about 5 to about 75 parts by weight of polyethylene resin per 100 parts by weight rubber, from about 3 to about 60 parts by weight of a tackifier per 100 parts by weight rubber, and from about 5 to about 250 parts by weight of a block copolymer containing at least the structure S-B/S-S per 100 parts by weight rubber, where the S block of the block copolymer has a glass transition temperature above about 25° C., the B/S block has a glass transition temperature below about 25° C.

Abstract: An olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition which includes an acrylic-modified polytetrafluoroethylene. When foamed, such compositions produce a very soft foam with improved processing properties and physical characteristics. A process of foaming and foamed articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A combination of a low flexural modulus and low crystallinity polyolefin and a functionalized polyolefin were found to result in an olefin composition with excellent adhesion to metals and polar polymers (e.g. polyesters, polyamides, etc) especially fibers therefrom. When these two polyolefins were added to a thermoplastic vulcanizate (e.g. used to partially or fully replace the semicrystalline polyolefin of a thermoplastic vulcanizate), the thermoplastic vulcanizate was found to have the necessary adhesion to form fiber reinforced thermoplastic vulcanizate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to bridged metallocene catalyst complexes that are sufficiently soluble in aliphatic solvents to be particularly suitable for solution olefin polymerization processes such that olefin copolymers can be prepared with high molecular weights and catalyst activities particularly at high polymerization reaction temperatures. More specifically, the invention particularly relates to a polymerization process for ethylene copolymers having a density of about 0.850 to about 0.940 comprising contacting, under solution polymerization conditions at a reaction temperature at or above 60° C. to 250° C.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a mixed transition metal olefin polymerization catalyst system suitable for the polymerization of olefin monomers comprising one late transition metal catalyst system and at least one different catalyst system selected from the group consisting of late transition metal catalyst systems, transition metal metallocene catalyst systems or Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems. Preferred embodiments include at least one late transition metal catalyst system comprising a Group 9, 10, or 11 metal complex stabilized by a bidentate ligand structure and at least one transition metal metallocene catalyst system comprising a Group 4 metal complex stabilized by at least one ancillary cyclopentadienyl ligand. The polymerization process for olefin monomers comprises contacting one or more olefins with these catalyst systems under polymerization conditions.

Abstract: The invention comprises an olefin polymerization process comprising contacting ethylene alone or with one or more olefinically unsaturated comonomers with a Group 3-6 metallocene catalyst compound comprising one &pgr;-bonded ring having a C3 or greater hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyl or hydrocarbylgermyl substituent said substituent bonded to the ring through a primary carbon atom; and, where the compound contains two &pgr;-bonded rings, the total number of substituents on the rings is equal to a number from 3 to 10, said rings being asymmetrically substituted where the number of substituents is 3 or 4. The invention process is particularly suitable for preparing ethylene copolymers having an MIR less than about 35, while retaining narrow CD even at high comonomer incorporation rates, and with certain embodiments providing ethylene copolymers having improved melt strength with the low MIR.

Abstract: This invention is a solution process for the preparation of ethylene-&agr;-olefin-diolefin copolymers comprising contacting ethylene, one or more &agr;-olefin monomer, and one or more cyclic diene monomer, with a catalyst composition comprising a bridged, bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium compound having an unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand, a multiply substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand, said ligands bridged by a covalent bridging group containing one or more Group 14 element, and two uninegative, activation reactive ligands and a catalyst activator compound. The invention process exhibits high catalyst activity, high comonomer incorporation and high diene monomer conversion rates and is particularly suitable for the preparation of elastomeric ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer elastomers.

Abstract: The invention is a polymerization catalyst system derived from tethered, heteroatom-bridged monocyclopentadienyl transition metal compound precursor from Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The catalyst system comprises an activated, tethered pair of Group 4 transition metal compounds having a bidentate ancillary ligand system consisting of one cyclopentadienyl group bound to the transition metal and a Group 15 or Group 16 atom covalently bound to the transition metal and linked to the cyclopentadienyl group through a bridging group containing a Group 14-15 element. The ligand systems of each transition metal compound are tethered by at least one tethering group comprising a Group 13-16 element connected at both ends to either the Group 15 or Group 16 atom or the Groups 14-15 bridging group element. The catalyst system can be employed to polymerize olefins to produce a high molecular weight polymer.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising vinyl ended copolymer chains having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 1500 to 75,000, the number average molecular weight being determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) at 145° C.

Abstract: The described invention provides a low fouling, high particle density polymerization process and an olefin polymerization cocatalyst activator composition comprising a cross-linked polymer bead having a surface area of from about 1 to 20 m2/g to which are bound a plurality of non-coordinating anions, where the polymeric support comprises ligands covalently bound to the central metal or metalloid atoms of said anions, and an effective number of cationic species to achieve a balanced charge. The invention also provides an olefin polymerization catalyst compositions comprising the reaction product of a) the foregoing cocatalyst activator, and b) an organometallic transition metal compound having ancillary ligands, at least one labile ligand capable of abstraction by protonation and at least one labile ligand into which an olefinic monomer can insert for polymerization.

Abstract: Greases having low noise properties are prepared by cycling kettle contents, during at least the initial stage of soap-forming or other thickening, round a processing loop comprising (i) agitation and heating and (ii) shearing. Lithium complex greases are referred to which have lower noise properties than a polyurea type grease.

Abstract: The invention is directed to organometallic catalysts prepared by a process comprising a) combining nucleophilic group-containing particulate support material with an arylboron or arylaluminum Lewis acid compound in the presence of a Lewis base compound; b) contacting the product of a) with a trialkylaluminum compound before combining said product with a metal precursor compound capable of activation for olefin polymerization by said product a); and, c) combining the product of b) with said metal precursor compound. These catalyst compositions are suitable for addition reactions of ethylenically and acetylenically unsaturated monomers. The invention includes a polymerization process of combining or contacting olefinically unsaturated monomers with the invention catalyst composition. Use of the invention catalyst to polymerize &agr;-olefins is exemplified.

Abstract: At least two techniques can be used separately or together to achieve higher clarity in multilayer blown coextruded films. In a first technique, the core layer is extruded at a higher temperature than the skin layer or layers. In the second technique, the core layer has a higher density than the skin layer or layers. Combinations of these techniques are also contemplated. Either one or both techniques may be used to a sufficient degree to improve clarity (generally lower haze).