Abstract: A blown film composition including an impact copolymer polypropylene component and a nucleating agent, wherein the blown film has improved processing and physical properties.

Abstract: A method for making a polystyrene ionomer comprises: preparing a metallic comonomer within styrene monomer to form a reaction mixture; and placing the reaction mixture under conditions suitable for the formation of a polymer composition. The metallic comonomer can be a metal acrylate, formed by contacting a metal complex and an acrylate precursor.

Abstract: A process for producing rubber modified polymers having an increased rubber phase volume, including feeding a vinyl aromatic monomer and an elastomer to a polymerization reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture, combining a copolymer to the polymerized reaction mixture to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to further polymerization, and obtaining a rubber modified polymer product from the further polymerization.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polystyrene blend that includes combining a first polystyrene composition having a first melt flow index with a second polystyrene composition having a second melt flow index and forming a polystyrene blend, the second melt flow index being at least 2 dg/min higher that the first melt flow index. The polystyrene blend has an observed tensile strength value greater than 3% above the expected tensile strength value. The second polystyrene composition can include a recycled polystyrene material, which can include expanded polystyrene. An alternate method of preparing the polystyrene blend includes combining a polystyrene composition with a styrene monomer to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture and obtaining a polystyrene blend, where the polystyrene containing composition has a melt flow index at least 2 dg/min higher than the melt flow index of the styrene monomer after it has been polymerized.

Abstract: A method of producing an alkylaromatic by the alkylation of an aromatic with an alkylating agent, such as producing ethylbenzene by an alkylation reaction of benzene, is disclosed. The method includes using an H-beta catalyst to minimize process upsets due to alkylation catalyst deactivation and the resulting catalyst regeneration or replacement. The H-beta catalyst can be used in a preliminary alkylation reactor that is located upstream of the primary alkylation reactor. The H-beta catalyst used in a preliminary alkylation reactor can reduce the deactivation of the catalyst in the primary alkylation reactor.

Abstract: Films (or a cap layer of co-extruded films) and methods of forming the same are described herein. The films generally include a modified olefin based polymer including polypropylene and from 1 wt. % to 30 wt. % polylactic acid (PLA), wherein the modified olefin based polymer exhibits a seal initiation temperature (SIT) that is at least 5° C. less than a seal initiation temperature of the polypropylene absent the PLA and a hot tack range of at least 20° C.

Abstract: A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane to toluene, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making styrene by converting methanol to formaldehyde in a reactor then reacting the formaldehyde with toluene to form styrene in a separate reactor.

Abstract: A method of making a catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material is disclosed. A process for making styrene or ethylbenzene by reacting toluene with a C1 source over a catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for making styrene including providing toluene, a co-feed, and a C1 source to a reactor containing a catalyst having acid sites and reacting toluene with the C1 source in the presence of the catalyst and the co-feed to form a product stream containing ethylbenzene and styrene, wherein the C1 source is selected from methanol, formaldehyde, formalin, trioxane, methylformcel, paraformaldehyde, methylal, dimethyl ether, and wherein the co-feed removes at least a portion of the acid sites on the catalyst. The co-feed can be selected from the group of aniline, amines, cresol, anisol, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A process for making styrene is disclosed that includes providing toluene, a co-feed, and a C1 source to a reactor containing a catalyst, reacting toluene with the C1 source in the presence of the catalyst and the co-feed to form a product stream containing ethylbenzene and styrene. The co-feed can be selected from the group of water, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composition comprising a blend of a polyolefin, polylactic acid, and a reactive modifier. A method of producing an oriented film comprising reactive extrusion compounding a mixture comprising polypropylene, polylactic acid, a reactive modifier to form a compatibilized polymeric blend, casting the compatibilized polymeric blend into a film, and orienting the film. A method of preparing a reactive modifier comprising contacting a polyolefin, a multifunctional acrylate comonomer, and an initiator under conditions suitable for the formation of an epoxy-functionalized polyolefin wherein the epoxy-functionalized polyolefin has a grafting yield of from 0.2 wt. % to 15 wt. %.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally include multi-component catalyst systems, polymerization processes and heterophasic copolymers formed by the processes. The multi-component catalyst system generally includes a first catalyst component selected from Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems including a diether internal electron donor and a metallocene catalyst represented by the general formula XCpACpBMAn, wherein X is a structural bridge, CpA and CpB each denote a cyclopentadienyl group or derivatives thereof, each being the same or different and which may be either substituted or unsubstituted, M is a transition metal and A is an alkyl, hydrocarbyl or halogen group and n is an integer between 0 and 4.

Abstract: Methods of forming ethylbenzene are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes contacting dilute ethylene with benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene, wherein such contact occurs in a liquid phase reaction zone and recovering ethylbenzene from the reaction zone.

Abstract: Methods of forming ethylbenzene are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes contacting dilute ethylene with benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene, wherein such contact occurs in a reaction zone containing a gaseous phase and recovering ethylbenzene from the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing plastic materials by providing a biology based feedstock and reacting the biology based feedstock to form a feedstock capable of reaction to form the plastic material, wherein the plastic material is selected from polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a metallocene catalyst system and a process for preparing the system. The metallocene catalyst system comprises a support and metallocene bound substantially throughout the support. The selection of certain supports facilitates the production of metallocene catalyst systems having increased catalytic activity than previously recognized.

Abstract: A process for making ethylbenzene and/or styrene by reacting toluene with methane is disclosed. In one embodiment the process can include reacting toluene with methane to form a product stream comprising ethylbenzene and further processing the ethylbenzene to form styrene in an existing styrene production facility.

Abstract: A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane to toluene, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.

Abstract: A process for the coupling of hydrocarbons and utilizing the heat energy produced by the reaction is disclosed. In one embodiment the process can include reacting methane with oxygen to form a product stream containing ethane and further processing the ethane to ethylene in an existing ethylene production facility while using the heat energy produced by the reaction within the facility.