Abstract: The present invention is directed to an annular gasket for providing a fluid-tight seal between an inner pipe and an outer pipe, when the pipes are in a relative surrounded and surrounding relationship. The gasket includes a gasket portion configured to sealingly engage the inner and outer pipes when the pipes are in a relative surrounded and surrounding relationship. The gasket includes a low coefficient of friction surface which is applied to the gasket portion. The gasket may be formed by a method in which a low coefficient of friction film is inserted into a mold before injection of compounds used to form the gasket.

Abstract: The compression set [(70° C., 22 hr), (100° C., 22 hr)] of TPVs can be improved by substituting, within their respective constituent plastic phase, all or portions of polyolefins having a high melting point, with polyolefins having lower melting point (Tm from between 115° C. to 140° C.). Exemplary polyolefins having melting points in this range include homopolyethylene, syndiotactic polypropylene, and isotactic poly(1-butene). Composition and methods of formulating thermoplastic vulcanizates to achieve an improved high temperature (between 70° C. 100° C.) compression set by selecting between suitable polyolefins on the basis of melting point temperature and substituting from 30% to 100% of high melting point polyolefins with low melting point polyolefins in the plastic phase are taught.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a shaped article such as tubes, and hoses comprising processing a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer in an extruder apparatus.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising a) a dynamically vulcanized rubber, b) a thermoplastic resin, and c) optionally a synthetic oil, where the thermoplastic vulcanizate is substantially devoid of mineral oils.

Abstract: A composition comprising (i) a dynamically-cured rubber, (ii) from about 20 to about 300 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin per 100 parts by weight rubber, (iii) from 0.2 to 0.9 parts by weight stannous chloride per 100 parts by weight rubber, and (iv) from 0.25 to 4.0 parts by weight metal oxide per 100 parts by weight rubber.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising a dynamically-cured rubber, a thermoplastic polymer, and at least 2 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic vulcanizate, of a polyalphaolefin oligomer, where the polyalphaolefin oligomer is characterized by a kinematic viscosity per ASTM D445 at 100° C. of at least 35 cSt.

Abstract: Microspherical fillers are used to increase the scratch resistance of thermoplastic vulcanizates in extruded profiles while providing aesthetically attractive surface effects. The thermoplastic vulcanizates comprise a thermoplastic phase and a rubber that is at least partially cross-linked by dynamic vulcanization. The fillers can be added by melt blending with the pre-formed thermoplastic vulcanizate. An attractive, granite-like appearance can be achieved with enhanced scratch resistance that is particularly suitable as automotive interior or exterior trim parts.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and a block copolymer with rigid vinyl aromatic blocks and non-rigid blocks of dienes and vinyl aromatic monomers.

Abstract: An automotive sealant composite structure is provided. The composite structure includes a first piece comprising a first elastomeric component that includes an at least partially crosslinked rubber, a first olefinic thermoplastic resin component, and a second olefinic thermoplastic resin component. The second olefinic thermoplastic resin component includes a propylene copolymer that has (i) 60 wt % or more units derived from propylene, (ii) isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences and (iii) a heat of fusion less than 45 J/g. The composite structure also includes a second piece at least partially adhered to the first piece. Preferably, the second piece includes one or more thermoset ethylene copolymer rubbers. Preferably, the first piece is a corner piece and the second piece is a straight piece at least partially adhered to the corner piece, together constituting a vehicular window seal structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are low Shore A Hardness thermoplastic vulcanizate compositions having high Rebound values. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the compositions include a dispersed at least partially vulcanized rubber component; a thermoplastic component; and process oil; wherein the weight ratio of the thermoplastic component to the rubber component ranges from 80:20 to 15:85; and the thermoplastic component comprises more than 80 wt % of a polypropylene (preferably a random propylene copolymer) having a melting point less than about 105° C. The compositions can be used in molded products, consumer goods and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a soft thermoplastic vulcanizate composition comprising: a) from about 2-10 wt %, based upon total polymer content weight a)+b)+c), of a thermoplastic polyethylene or polypropylene homopolymer, or ethylene-propylene copolymer, or copolymer that includes ethylene or propylene together with one or more C4 to C20 ?-olefins, said thermoplastic having at least 25% crystallinity by DSC; b) from about 15 to about 36 wt. %, based upon total polymer content weight a)+b)+c), of an ethylene-?-olefin random or block copolymer thermoplastic having less than 5% crystallinity by DSC; c) from about 60 to about 80 wt. %, based upon total polymer content weight a)+b)+c), of a cross-linked elastomer; and d) from about 50 to about 65 wt %, based upon total composition weight a)+b)+c)+d), of a process oil; wherein said thermoplastic vulcanizate composition has a Shore A Hardness of less than 35. The invention compositions may also comprise from about 0 to about 40 wt.

Abstract: A polymeric laminate comprising (A) a substrate, and (B) a slip layer covering at least a portion of said substrate, where the slip layer consists essentially of (i) a polyethylene blend, where said blend includes (a) from about 3 to about 97 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of said blend, of a first polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight from 110,000 to about 140,000 and a polydispersity of less than about 12, (b) from about 3 to about 97 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of said blend, of a second polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight from 50,000 up to 109,999 and a polydispersity of less than about 12, and (c) from about 0 to about 40 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of said blend, of a third polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight from about 20,000 up to 49,999 and polydispersity of less than about 12, with the proviso that said blend includes at least 60 percent, based upon the total weight of said ble

Abstract: Process for forming an annular member by extruding a thermoplastic profiled strip at an elevated temperature. Prior to cooling the strip, the still-molten ends undergo in-line compression molding to form an annular member having a joint section. The cross-section of the annular member is continuous in the joint section and the remainder of the body. Preferably, the extrudate may contain a thermoplastic elastomer, more preferably a thermoplastic vulcanizate formed by a dynamic vulcanization process. During the extrusion and compression molding processes, the extrudate may be supported on a rotatable turntable, or alternately on a rotatable molding cylinder.

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: 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: An olefinic thermoplastic vulcanizate is blended with a rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic monomer, utilizing a flexible block copolymer as compatabilizing agent. The resulting composition demonstrates improved miscibility and bonding characteristics and increased hardness not previously achievable using unmodified thermoplastic vulcanizates.

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: 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.