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 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: 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.

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: A foam profile prepared by a process comprising the steps of foaming a thermoplastic vulcanizate, where the thermoplastic vulcanizate is prepared by a process comprising the step of dynamically vulcanizing a rubber within a mixture that includes from about 15 to about 95 percent by weight of the rubber and from about 5 to about 85 percent by weight of a thermoplastic component based upon the total weight the rubber and thermoplastic component combined, where the thermoplastic component includes from about 65 to about 90 percent by weight of a conventional thermoplastic resin and from about 10 to about 35 percent by weight of a random propylene copolymer based upon the total weight of the thermoplastic component.

Abstract: A weatherseal or belt-line seal for a vehicle is formed by extrusion of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer or vulcanizate (first TPV) as an elongate body of arbitrary length and cross-section. The cross-section is adapted for use in a particular location in the opening of a structure to be protected against wind and rain, for example around the glass of a window in a vehicle's door, or around the opening (at the periphery) in which the door is closed, so as to present at least one sealing surface against which the glass or door may be abutted to provide a seal against the elements. A slip-coating is co-extruded onto one or more longitudinal sealing surfaces of the body; the slip-coating contains a novel compatibilizer which allows thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to be chemically bonded to a graft copolymer of polypropylene (PP) and a compound having two anhydride groups. The reaction product of the grafted PP and the TPU effects a thermal bond with the sealing surface of the body.