Abstract: A co-extruded polyolefin laminate having a hard, high modulus top layer includes at least one layer of a graft copolymer made from a propylene polymer material onto which is graft polymerized acrylic and/or styrenic monomers and at least one other layer made from a propylene homopolymer, a random propylene copolymer, a random propylene terpolymer, an olefin polymer composition, a thermoplastic olefin, a heterophasic olefin composition, or combinations of two or more of these polymers or polymer compositions, optionally blended with a high melt strength propylene polymer material. Composite materials including at least one layer of the co-extruded laminate and, for example, a low density polyolefin foam layer, can be used to make large structural parts by conventional means such as thermoforming.

Abstract: A class of bridged or unbridged metallocene compounds is disclosed, wherein the cyclopentadienyl ligands have two or four adjacent substituents forming one or two alkylenic cycles of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. These metallocenes are useful as catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins, particularly for the (co)polymerization of ethylene and for the polymerization of propylene.

Abstract: Polyolefin compositions comprising: A) a heterogeneous polyolefin composition itself comprising a fraction (A1) which is insoluble in xylene at room temperature and a fraction (A2) which is soluble in xylene at room temperature; and B) a branched propylene polymer. The said compositions are particularly processable when used in the process for the preparation of blown films. The films obtained by the said process are moreover characterized by excellent mechanical properties.

Abstract: A mixture of elastomeric thermoplastic compositions which includes, on a weight percentage basis, (A) from 40 to 90% of a heterophasic polyolefin composition having a melt flow rate measured according to ASTM-D 1238, condition L, ranging from 20 to 100 g/10 min; and (B) from 10 to 60% of a heterophasic polyolefin composition that is partially dynamically crosslinked. The powders of this mixture are used in slush molding process for the production of laminated products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to supported catalysts for the polymerization of alpha-olefins which comprise the reaction product of: (a) an Al-alkyl compound; (b) a silicon compound containing at least one Si—OR or Si—OCOR or Si—NR2 bond, R being a hydrocarbyl radical; (c) a solid comprising, as essential support, a Mg dihalide in active form and, supported thereon, a Ti halide or a halo-Ti-alcoholate and a particular type of electron donor compound. The present invention also relates to supported catalyst components.

Abstract: Catalysts for the polymerization of olefins comprise the product of the reaction between: (A) a titanium, zirconium or hafnium product with substituted cyclopentadiene ligands, (B) a mixture of two organometallic aluminium compounds, with at least one of the groups bound to the aluminium being other than a linear alkyl, and (C) water. When used in the polymerization of olefins, these catalysts show higher activities, at short residence times, than corresponding catalysts obtained from the individual components of the above-mentioned mixtures of aluminium compounds.

Abstract: A new process is disclosed, particularly simple, convenient and practical, for the direct synthesis of metallocenes of formula (I): (CP)(ZR1m)n(A)rMLpL′q wherein (ZR1m)n is a divalent group bridging Cp and A; Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadieryl group; A is —O—, —S—, —N(R2)—, wherein R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl, or A has the same meaning of Cp; M is a transition metal belonging to group 3, 4, 5, 6 or to the lanthanide or actinide groups; L is a monoanionic sigma ligand, such as alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl, optionally containing Si or Ge; L′ is halogen or —OR5, R5 being a hydrocarbon radical; m is 1 or 2; n is 0-4; r is 0 or 1; p is 1-3; q is 0-2.

Abstract: Injection-moulded refrigerator liners of a thermoplastic polymer characterized by the presence of means for mechanical bonding on the insulating foam.

Abstract: Metallocene compounds having two fluorenyl ligands bridged with a single silicon or germanium atom, said atom having two substituent groups containing a total of at least four carbon atoms, are useful as catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins. Particularly, it is possible to prepare high molecular weight atactic polypropylene with improved yields with respect to the known catalysts.

Abstract: Thermoplastic and elastomeric polyolefin mixture including from 3 to 25% by weight of crystalline or partially crystalline isotactic poly(1-butene), and from 75 to 97% by weight of a heterophasic polyolefin composition; the latter containing a crystalline propylene polymer and an elastomeric copolymer of ethylene with propylene and/or an &agr;-olefin.

Abstract: A polymer composition with improved scratch and mar resistance contains (1) a graft copolymer comprising a backbone of a propylene polymer material having graft polymerized thereto at least one vinyl monomer capable of being polymerized by free radicals, and (2) an additive selected from the group consisting of (a) about 0.5% to about 10% of at least one low molecular weight ethylene polymer or a functionalized derivative thereof, and (b) a combination of (i) about 0.5% to about 10% of at least one of the low molecular weight ethylene polymers in (a) and (ii) about 0.5% to about 10% of inorganic microspheres, based on the total weight of the composition. Optionally the composition can also contain a compatibilizing agent such as an unsaturated carboxylic acid-functionalized propylene polymer material.

Abstract: A polymer composition and fiber, film and fabric prepared therefrom. The composition contains (i) an acid neutralizing agent other than a metallic salt of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, (ii) a processing aid comprising a metallic salt of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, the metallic salt of a saturated or unsaturated being present in a maximum amount of 200 ppm, a stabilizer system containing (a) a phosphite selected from the group consisting of 2,2′,2″-nitrilo[triethyl-tris(3,3′,5,5′-tetra-tert.butyl-1, 1-biphenyl-2,2′-diyl)phosphite] and tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite; and (b) a N,N-dialkylhydroxylamine. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a polyolefin fiber, film or fabric which includes (A) incorporating the above additives into an olefin polymer, thereby producing a stabilized polyolefin polymer; and (B) extruding the stabilized olefin polymer through a die, thereby producing a olefin polymer fiber or film.

Abstract: Polyolefin compositions obtained by mixing: (A) A heterogeneous polyolefin composition itself comprising a fraction (A1) which is insoluble in xylene and a fraction (A2) which is soluble in xylene; (B) a polyolefin composition comprising a low density ethylene copolymer (B1) and a propylene copolymer (B2) of relatively high insolubility in xylene; and, optionally, (C) a branched propylene polymer. The films obtained with the said compositions show improved mechanical properties and impact strength when compared with polyethylene-based films.

Abstract: Process for repairing plastic coatings of metal pipes, that allows the repairs to be done in a very short time, by applying, in specific operating phases, a polyolefin adhesive in powder form and polyolefin tapes, and then applying heat using an inert gas-shielded flame.

Abstract: Organosilane compounds having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is a linear or branched C.sub.1-4 alkyl, 4-methylpiperidyl, C.sub.6-12 aryl or C.sub.5-7 cycloalkyl; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, R.sup.2 is methyl or ethyl and; n is 4 to 7.These organosilane compounds are useful as electron donors in Ziegler-Natta type catalyst systems.

Abstract: Directly paintable polymer compositions contain (1) a thermoplastic olefin, (2) a maleic anhydride-grafted propylene homopolymer or random copolymer, (3) a maleic anhydride-grafted olefin polymer material, (4) a functionalized polymer that reacts with the maleic anhydride groups of the grafted polymers, and, optionally, (5) a maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene polymer. The amount of (2)+(3) or (2)+(3)+(5) is at least 16 parts but less than 27 parts per hundred parts of the thermoplastic olefin.

Abstract: Embossed sheets having improved grain retention can be made from a polyolefin composition containing a propylene polymer material, a partially crosslinked thermoplastic olefin elastomer composition, and optionally, crystalline polyethylene. Large parts such as automobile door and instrument panels can be formed from these sheets.

Abstract: A process for preparing bis-cyclopentadienyl compounds bridged by a methylene group is reported, said process comprising reacting formaldehyde with a cyclopentadienyl compound in the presence of a base and of a solvent having a dielectric constant (.epsilon.), measured at 25.degree. C., higher than 7. The bridged compounds, obtainable in high yields with this simple single-step process, can be used to prepare ansa-metallocenes, active as catalyst components in the polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: Stretchable multilayer films in which at least one outer layer (A) comprises a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), at least one intermediate layer (B) comprises a polyolefin composition containing LLDPE and a propylene polymer having an insolubility in xylene higher than 70%, and at least another layer (C) comprises a very low density polyethylene (VLDPE). bSaid films show an excellent balance between mechanical properties, represented as tear resistance and strength at break, and optical properties represented as gloss and haze.

Abstract: Amorphous copolymers of ethylene with .alpha.-olefins and optionally minor amounts of polyenes are disclosed, having the following characteristics:(A) the % by mole content of .alpha.-olefin in the copolymer (%.alpha.) and the ratio between the molar amount of .alpha.-olefin diads and the molar content of .alpha.-olefin in the copolymer (.alpha..alpha./.alpha.) satisfy the following relationship:(%.alpha.)-250(.alpha..alpha./.alpha.).gtoreq.10(B) less than 2% of the CH.sub.2 groups in the polymeric chain are in sequences (CH.sub.2).sub.n, wherein n is an even number.These copolymers are obtainable by operating in the presence of particular metallocene-based catalysts having two fluorenyl groups joined together through a bridging group.