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 relates to soft touch printed labels comprising a coextruded sheet of a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyolefin.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate prepared by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a vulcanizable rubber within a mixture that includes from about 15 to about 90 percent by weight of the rubber and from about 10 to about 85 percent by weight of a long-chain branched thermoplastic resin, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is (i) an &agr;-olefin polymer, (ii) a copolymer of an &agr;-olefin and an &agr;-&ohgr;-olefin diene, or (iii) a mixture thereof, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is characterized by a weight average molecular weight from about 100,000 to about 600,000, a number average molecular weight from about 40,000 to about 200,000, a z-average molecular weight from about 400,000 to about 2,000,000, a <g′>vis from about 0.2 to about 0.95, and a melt flow rate from about 0.3 to about 30 dg/min.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) from a blend of a first thermoplastic polyolefin, a second thermoplastic olefin and a rubber is described. The rubber is crosslinked with a hydrosilylation crosslinking agent. The second polyolefin includes at least one OR group pendant to a Si atom chemically attached via one or more intermediate molecules to said second polyolefin. R can be hydrogen or an alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The OR groups can react with the hydrosilylation catalyst to reduce the compression set of the TPV.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer formed by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a rubber within a mixture that includes the rubber, from about 10 to about 80 percent by weight of a thermoplastic resin based upon the total weight of the rubber and the thermoplastic combined, and from about 1 to about 25 percent by weight of a polymeric processing additive based upon the total weight of the rubber and the thermoplastic combined, where the polymeric processing additive is a linear polyolefin resin that has an melt flow rate that is greater than about 1,000 dg/min, a diene-modified polyolefin polymer that has an melt flow rate that is greater than about 1,000 dg/min, from about 0.005 to about 2.00 mole percent polymeric units deriving from dienes, and a viscosity average branching index that is from about 0.4 to about 0.

Abstract: A process for forming a thermoplastic vulcanizate compromising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a rubber within a blend that comprises the rubber and a thermoplastic polymer, where said step of vulcanizing is carried out by using a phenolic resin in the presence of a catalyst system formed by combining a metal halide and a metal carboxylate. Also, a thermoplastic vulcanizate having low moisture pick-up with a technologically useful cure.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate prepared by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a vulcanizable rubber within a mixture that includes from about 15 to about 90 percent by weight of the rubber and from about 10 to about 85 percent by weight of a long-chain branched thermoplastic resin, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is (i) an &agr;-olefin polymer, (ii) a copolymer of an &agr;-olefin and an &agr;-&ohgr;-olefin diene, or (iii) a mixture thereof, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is characterized by a weight average molecular weight from about 100,000 to about 600,000, a number average molecular weight from about 40,000 to about 200,000, a z-average molecular weight from about 400,000 to about 2,000,000, a <g′>vis from about 0.2 to about 0.95, and a melt flow rate from about 0.3 to about 30 dg/min.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer vulcanizate obtained from a thermoplastic propylene/ethylene/&agr;-olefin terpolymer, a rubber component and optional additives, by dynamic vulcanization of the rubber component with a non-peroxide curing system. The vulcanizate has both superior physical properties and excellent processability.

Abstract: Random thermoplastic ethylene copolymers can be used to increase the elongation to break and toughness of thermoplastic vulcanizates. Polypropylene is a preferred thermoplastic phase. The rubber can be olefinic rubbers. Random thermoplastic ethylene copolymers are different from Ziegler-Natta ethylene copolymers as the compositional heterogeneity of the copolymer is greater with Ziegler-Natta copolymers. This difference results in substantial differences in properties (elongation to break and toughness) between thermoplastic vulcanizates modified with random thermoplastic ethylene and those modified with Ziegler-Natta ethylene copolymers. An increase in elongation to break results in greater extensibility in the articles made from a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition of a blend of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer and a low to very low density ethylene/C4 to C20-&agr;-olefin random copolymer and its use as an impact modifier for polyolefin compositions. The invention further relates to polyolefin compositions, particularly polypropylene compositions, comprising said impact modifier composition.

Abstract: A method for the dynamic vulcanization of polymer blends made by solution polymerization in series reactors. The polymer blends are mixed under conditions of heat and shear, and a curing agent is added to at least partially cross-link one of the blend components.

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.

Abstract: A tapered stepped land having a choked funnel section which terminates in a lateral longitudinal section results in the formation of a foamed extrudate of a vulcanized blend of polyolefin and rubber which is a mass of closed cells having a specific gravity in the range from about 0.1 to 0.5 and the cells are sheathed in a dense non-porous, smoothly continuous skin which is formed integrally with the extrudate. The dense skin makes it possible to deposit a thin slip-coating of a low friction material longitudinally upon a chosen portion of the surface. An extruded weatherseal for the glass of an automobile's window has the slip-coating deposited as a thin film on a contacting strip of a surface which is in contact with the glass.

Abstract: A polar thermoplastic and acrylate or ethylene acrylate based polar rubbers form a useful thermoplastic vulcanizate when the rubber is selectively cured with curatives which do not affect the polar thermoplastic and do not generate volatile organics. Examples of thermoplastics include aromatic polyesters, polycarbonates, poly(phenylene oxide), or combinations thereof. Examples of curatives include compounds with a multifunctional oxazoline, oxazine or imidazoline, which can react with functional groups such as carboxylic acid groups on the rubber.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomers having improved low temperature properties are provided by incorporating suitable low molecular weight ester plasticizer into blends of crystalline polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer and olefinic rubber. The rubber component of the composition is at least partially cured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of high frequency welding of non-polar thermoplastic elastomers characterized in that said elastomers comprise a polar modifier. Furthermore, the invention relates to shaped articles obtainable by said method.

Abstract: Random propylene thermoplastic copolymers can be used to increase the elongation to break and toughness of thermoplastic vulcanizates. Semi-crystalline polypropylene is a preferred thermoplastic phase. The rubber can be olefinic rubbers. Random thermoplastic polypropylene copolymers are different from conventional Ziegler-Natta propylene copolymers as the compositional heterogeneity of the copolymer is greater with Ziegler-Natta copolymers. This difference results in substantial differences in properties (elongation to break and toughness) between thermoplastic vulcanizates modified with random thermoplastic propylene copolymers and those modified with conventional Ziegler-Natta propylene copolymers. An increase in elongation to break results in greater extensibility in the articles made from a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable composition comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin resin and a curable star-branched rubber, a thermoplastic elastomeric vulcanizate obtainable therefrom by dynamically vulcanizing said curable composition in the presence of a suitable curative and shaped articles comprising said vulcanizate.

Abstract: In the preparation of thermoplastic elastomers by hydrosilylation crosslinking of the elastomeric component, the use of an elastomer containing a non-conjugated diene and having a Mooney viscosity within the MST range of 45 to 100 provides products with a high level of crosslinking and an improved combination of physical properties. This improvement is obtained even at low concentrations of hydrosilylation catalyst.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate composition containing a thermoplastic and a functionalized copolymer of para-alkylstyrene-isoolefin is free radically cured, as for example, with a peroxide to yield a product having low impurities and good clarity. The thermoplastic typically can be a polyolefin.