Abstract: A thermotropic main-chain liquid crystalline homo- or copolymer forming a liquid crystalline phase and containing an aromatic monomer with functional groups in ortho- or meta-position. The polymer exhibits both isotropic and anisotropic properties. The present invention also provides a method for the preparation of the present polymers as well as a method of increasing the melt-processibility of polyester-based liquid crystalline polymers comprising the step of incorporating into the polymers 1 to 30 mol-% of, e.g., a ortho-substituted monomer with hydroxyl and/or carboxylic groups.

Abstract: A side-chain of a substituted aromatic compound is alkylated by reacting the aromatic compound with an alkylating agent in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises a restructured smectite clay to which basic ions are incorporated by ion-exchange. The restructuring of the smectite clay is carried out by acid-treating the clay prior to ion-exchange.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sealable and peelable polymer blend, in which method polystyrene and an ethylene copolymer are first melt blended and the obtained blend is further mixed with the same ethylene copolymer either by melt blending or dry blending so that the final polymer blend contains 1-50% by weight polystyrene and 99-50% by weight ethylene copolymer. Ethylene copolymer is preferably ethylene/methyl(meth)acrylate, ethylene/ethyl(meth)acrylate, ethylene/butyl(meth)acrylate or ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer.

Abstract: A process for producing an unsaturated cyclic compound, comprising the steps of hydrochlorinating a terpene to produce a hydrochlorinated terpene, and subjecting the hydrochlorinate terpene to elimination of hydrogen chloride to form an unsaturated cyclic compound. The terpene is preferably &agr;-pinene, &bgr;-pinene, camphene or suitable turpentine fraction. The cyclic compounds can be used as monomers and by means of the invention it is thus possible to produce plastics from renewable raw material sources.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sealable and peelable polymer blend, in which method polystyrene and an ethylene copolymer are first melt blended and the obtained blend is further mixed with the same ethylene copolymer either by melt blending or dry blending so that the final polymer blend contains 1-50% by weight polystyrene and 99-50% by weight ethylene copolymer. Ethylene copolymer is preferably ethylene/methyl(meth)acrylate, ethylene/ethyl(meth)acrylate, ethylenelbutyl(meth)acrylate or ethylene/vinylacetate copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel thermoplastic elastomer composition with superior oil resistance along with elastomeric flexibility, creep resistance at high temperature, superior mechanical strength and moldability. The composition comprises (a) 100 parts by weight of a hydrogenated block copolymer obtained by hydrogenating a block copolymer comprising at least two A polymer blocks comprised mainly of a vinyl aromatic compound and at least one B polymer block comprised mainly of a conjugated diene compound; and (b) 30-300 parts by weight of a partially crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer obtained by polymerizing an acrylate monomer absorbed in a polyolefin. The novel composition can be applied as a material for various molded parts.

Abstract: A process for producing 2,6-dimethylnapthalene from 1-(p-tolyl)-2-methylbutane, 1-(p-tolyl)-2-methylbutene or a mixture thereof by dehydrocyclization in the presence of a catalyst, comprising using non-acidic activated carbon as a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a multilayered polymer film structure, which comprises at least one first layer (1) containing a thermoplastic polymer and at least one second layer (2), arranged adjacent to said first layer, containing a liquid crystalline polymer. According to the invention, the second layer (2) consists essentially of a compounded polymer blend formed by the liquid crystalline polymer and a thermoplastic polymer, the liquid crystalline polymer of the second layer forms a continuous phase, and the first and the second layers (1, 2) contain the same thermoplastic polymer. The oxygen transmission rate of the second layer is less than about 150 cm3/(m2·d·bar), determined according to the standard ASTM D 3985-81, and the water vapour transmission rate of the integral film structure is less than 10 g/(m2·24·h) at RH 80% 23° C., determined according to ASTM F 1249-90. The present structure can be used as a barrier layer in packages.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a polymer blend wherein a first phase containing a polyacrylate polymer prepared by radical polymerization and a source of radicals, and a second phase containing a polyolefin polymer are compounded by melt processing.

Abstract: Amorphous and impact resistant co/ter-polymer made from olefins and aryl-substituted cyclic monomers by polymerizing using a catalyst, wherein the substituent is a phenyl- or indanyl-group and the catalyst is a metallocene-catalyst. Preferably said aryl-substituted cyclic monomer is phenyl-norbomene (5-phenyl-bicylo-2,2,1-hept-2-ene) or indanyl-norbomene (1,4-methano-1,4,4a,9a-tetrahydrofluorence).

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer is achieved by absorbing an acrylate monomer, an initiator and eventually a diacrylate into polyolefin particles, after which the temperature is raised and the acrylate polymerises into the polyolefin and forms a dispersed phase, which has been functionalized by copolymerising a functional monomer together with the acrylate. As a compatibiliser a grafter polyolefin is used, which is melt-blended after the polymerisation into the thermoplastic elastomer or before the polymerisation into the polyolefin.

Abstract: The present invention concerns polymer blends and processes for the preparation thereof. The present blends contain a) 5 to 95 parts by weight of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)ether, b) 95 to 5 parts by weight of a second polymer which is immiscible therewith, and c) a component (a compatibilizer) which enhances the compatibility of the polymers. According to the invention the component enhancing the compatibility of the polymers comprises 0.1 to 10%, preferably about 1.5 to 10%, calculated on basis of the total weight of components a and b, of at least one compound C, which has the formulaA.sub.i --B.sub.j IwhereinA stands for a group which contains at least one ring with 3 to 7 members, capable of forming ring-to-ring interactions with the phenyl rings of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)ether,B is a polar group,i is an integer 1 to 20, andj is an integer 0 to 20,whereati+j is greater than or equal to 2,the melting point of compound C is above 50.degree. C. and the boiling point thereof above 200.degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid crystalline copoly(ester-imides) and a process for the preparation thereof. In particular, the invention relates to liquid crystalline copoly(esteri-imides) comprising structural units derived from N-(3'-hydroxyphenyl)-trimellitic acid imide or N-(4'-carboxyphenyl)trimellitic acid imides optionally in combination with aromatic dicarboxylic acids, dioles or hydroxy acids. The invention also concerns the use of these copolymers in polymer blends, in moulded articles, in fibres, filaments and sheets.