Abstract: A propylene-?-olefin-diene (PEDM) terpolymer may comprise 75 to 95 wt % propylene, 5 to 20 wt % ?-olefin, and 0.5 to 5 wt % diene, said wt % based on the weight of the PEDM terpolymer. The propylene-?-olefin-diene terpolymer may be blended with an ethylene-based copolymer and optionally a variety of additives to form an elastomeric composition. An exemplary elastomeric composition includes 5 to 40 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight rubber (phr) of the PEDM terpolymer, 60 to 95 phr of the ethylene-based copolymer, and optionally additives like carbon black, zinc dimethacrylate, paraffinic oil, zinc oxide, and/or zinc stearate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising the product of a catalyst compound capable of making crystalline material (such as isotactic PP) and a second catalyst compound capable of making non-diene-containing-amorphous material and diene-containing-elastomeric material. The catalyst system of the present disclosure may further comprise a support material (or product thereof) having one or more of: a surface area of from 400 m2/g to 800 m2/g; an average pore diameter of 90 Angstroms or greater; an average particle size of 60 ?m or greater; 40% or greater of the incremental pore volume comprising pores having a pore diameter larger than 100 Angstroms or greater; and sub-particles having an average particle size in the range of 0.01 ?m to 5 ?m. In another embodiment, a propylene polymer composition includes: isotactic polypropylene; 5 wt % or greater of atactic polypropylene, based on the weight of the composition; and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are graft polymers having a copolymer backbone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon branches for use as a nanofiller dispersant and methods for making the same. Also disclosed are elastomeric nanocomposite compositions comprising a halobutyl rubber matrix, nanoparticles of graphite or grapheme, and the graft polymer. Such elastomeric nanocomposite compositions are suitable as tire innerliners or innertubes.

Abstract: Pellet-stable olefinic copolymer bimodal rubber is made using parallel reactors, with one reactor synthesizing higher molecular weight (MW) rubber with dual catalysts, with an improved molecular weight split ratio and an improved composition distribution of the moderate and ultra-high MW components, while another reactor synthesizes random isotactic polypropylene copolymer (RCP). The effluents are reactor-blended and result in pellet-stable bimodal rubber (P-SBR), which may be pelletized. When making thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with P-SBR, the need to granulate rubber bales and subsequently use talc, clay, or other anti-agglomeration agents to prevent granulated rubber crumbs from agglomerating are eliminated. TPVs made with P-SBR have vulcanized rubber particles that are smaller and more uniform in size, resulting in TPVs with higher particle counts and more thermoplastic “ligaments” between the particles, with such ligaments being made stronger by the added RCP.

Abstract: A compound suitable for use in producing articles including foamed articles can include 100 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of a branched ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer comprising 35 wt % to 70 wt % ethylene derived units, 20 wt % to 64 wt % propylene derived units, and 1 wt % to 10 wt % diene derived units, wherein the EPDM elastomer has a Mooney viscosity (ML) (1+4) at 125° C. of 30 MU to 120 MU, a corrected Mooney relaxation area (cMLRA) at 80 ML of 300 MU·sec to 1000 MU·sec, and long chain branching (LCB) g? (vis) of 0.80 to 1.0; 75 phr to 200 phr of a filler; 25 phr to 125 phr of a processing oil; 5 phr to 50 phr of a curative, and optionally 0.1 phr to 25 phr of a foaming agent.

Abstract: This application relates to copolymer compositions and copolymerization processes, as well as to lubricating oil compositions comprising such copolymer compositions as viscosity index improvers, and base oil. The copolymer compositions may be made using two different metallocene catalysts: one capable of producing high molecular weight copolymers; and one suitable for producing lower molecular weight copolymers having at least a portion of vinyl terminations, and the copolymer compositions produced thereby. Copolymer compositions may comprise (1) a first ethylene copolymer fraction having high molecular weight, exhibiting branching topology, and having relatively lower ethylene content (based on the weight of the first ethylene copolymer fraction); and (2) a second ethylene copolymer fraction having low molecular weight, exhibiting linear rheology, and having relatively higher ethylene content (based on the weight of the second ethylene copolymer fraction).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to poly(alpha-olefin)s and methods for making poly(alpha-olefin)s. A poly(alpha-olefin) may include about 95 wt % or greater C10-C18 alpha-olefin content and have a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000,000 g/mol to about 10,000,000 g/mol. A method for forming a poly(alpha-olefin) may include introducing one or more C10-C18 alpha-olefins to a catalyst system comprising a catalyst compound and an activator. The method may include obtaining poly(alpha-olefin)s comprising about 95 wt % or greater C10-C18 alpha-olefin content and having a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000,000 g/mol to about 10,000,000 g/mol.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermoplastic vulcanizate having excellent elongation comprising an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which a cross-linked ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) is dispersed, the vulcanizate comprising the reaction product of: a) 35 to 55 wt % of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM); b) 10 to 40 wt % of isotactic polypropylene (iPP); c) 0.5 to 25 wt % of a propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) compatibilizer, said compatibilizer having a heat of fusion of less than 2 J/g; and d) 0.015 to 0.03 wt % of curatives; wherein the percentages of components (a) to (d) are based on the total weight of the mixture.

Abstract: A functionalized polyolefin and a tire tread composition comprising the functionalized polyolefin is described. The functionalized polyolefin comprises a vinyl/vinylidene-terminated polyolefin in which the vinyl/vinylidene terminus is functionalized with an alkoxysilane or an alkylsilane and optionally having ether, hydroxyl and/or amine functionality. The invention is also directed to the synthesis of vinyl/vinylidene-terminated polyolefins, functionalization at the vinyl/vinylidene terminus with an alkoxysilane or an alkylsilane and optionally having ether, hydroxyl and/or amine functionality.

Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of compatibilized thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. A cross-linkable ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer with majority propylene (PEDM) is used to compatibilize a plastic and rubber blend of a polypropylene (PP) and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, where the propylene content is less than 50 wt % (EPDM), in dynamic vulcanization and preparation of PP/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates. The resulting PP/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates typically exhibit a weight average equivalent dispersion diameter of less than 3 microns and a particle size polydispersity index (PSDI), or weight average over number average dispersion diameter, of less than 5. This reduction in crosslinked rubber dispersion size in a PP/EPDM TPV by using PEDM compatibilizers enhances the toughness of the vulcanizate product by raising both elongation to break and break stress.

Abstract: Elastomeric compositions comprising propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer based polyolefin additives useful in tire tread compositions. The elastomeric compositions comprise 100 phr (parts by weight per hundred parts of total elastomer) diene elastomers; about 0 to about 80 phr of processing oil; 0 to about 80 phr of a hydrocarbon resin; about 60 to about 140 phr of filler; a curative agent; and about 5 to about 30 phr of a silane functionalized propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer. The silane functionalized propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer comprises from about 2 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of ethylene and/or C4-C20 ?-olefins derived units, from 0.5 to 10 wt % of diene derived units, and a silane coupling agent. The present elastomeric compositions are useful as tire tread compositions for improved tire performance.

Abstract: Stable star-structured functional polyolefins and methods of making them, the functional polyolefins comprising a polyolefin bound at any position along its chain length to at least one nucleophile-containing silane of the following formula: wherein Y is a di- or trivalent linker group selected from heteroatoms, C1 to C10 alkylenes, and other groups disclosed herein; Nu is a nucleophilic atom or unsaturation group; R5 is selected from hydrogen, and C1 to C10 alkyls, and other groups as disclosed herein; X is a divalent group selected from linear and branched alkylenes and heteroatom-alkylenes, and other groups as disclosed herein; and PO is a polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight of at least 400 g/mole; with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is selected from the same or different functional polyolefin moieties. Star-structured functional polyolefins are useful as filler dispersive additives in tire formulations and processing aids.

Abstract: Disclosed are self-assembled propylene-based bi-layer compositions having a skin layer comprising a propylene-based elastomer-toughened composition and a core layer comprising a propylene-based fiber-reinforced composition, wherein the propylene-based elastomer-toughened composition and propylene-based fiber-reinforced composition self-assemble upon mixing into the skin layer and the core layer. Processes for producing these self-assembled propylene-based compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition comprising vinyl-terminated polyethylene having an Mn from about 200 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol; and a comb polyolefin having polyethylene arms attached to a random copolymer backbone, said backbone including units derived from an alpha-olefin having 3 or more carbon atoms, where the polyethylene arms have an Mn from about 200 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol, and where the comb polyolefin has an Mp from about 7,500 to about 400,000 g/mol.

Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include a polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include the reaction product of a mixture that includes at least 10 wt % of isotactic polypropylene at least 30 wt % of an amorphous propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units; at least 10 wt % of a diluent and at least 0.015 wt % of at least one curative. The mixture is preferably formed without adding an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides catalyst systems having a bridged metallocene compound and a transition metal pyridyldiamide compound for use in alkene polymerization to produce multimodal polyolefins, such as multimodal ethylene, propylene, diene monomer copolymers. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides for polyolefins and processes for producing a polyolefin composition including contacting at least one olefin with a catalyst system of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Use of twin screw extrusion to further enhance the uniformity of crosslinked rubber dispersion in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) to improve elastic properties of TPVs is disclosed. Most specifically, this invention employs intermeshing twin screw extruders to further homogenize dynamically vulcanized rubber dispersions in TPVs so that their particle size dispersion index (PSDI), or the ratio of weight average equivalent dispersion particle diameter to number average equivalent dispersion particle diameter, can be lowered to less than 1.6 or 1.57 with corresponding elastic property improvements by having lower hysteresis, higher elongation to break, and higher retractive force. TPV products having lower PSDI and improved elastic properties, and apparatus for conducting the disclosed method, are also provided.

Abstract: Bottlebrush poly(alpha olefin)s of high carbon number, greater than 12 such as poly(octadecene), are used as a thickener for a synthetic base oil grease lubricant that is based on oligomerized alpha olefin with carbon number from 7 to 12, such as oligo(decene). Dispersion aids are not required in the present lubricants because poly(octadecene) can be dissolved in oligo(decene). The lubricant is a solid grease formed by percolation/network of the poly(octadecene) crystals, at a sufficient concentration, after the crystallization of poly(octadecene), and water resistant having oxidation/high temperature stability.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed, the rubber particles comprising an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) containing at least 40 wt % of ethylene-derived units. A propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units and having a heat of fusion (Hf) of 2 to 10 J/g is added to compatibilize the propylene/EPDM blend.

Abstract: A propylene-?-olefin-diene (PEDM) terpolymer may comprise 75 to 95 wt % propylene, 5 to 20 wt % ?-olefin, and 0.5 to 5 wt % diene, said wt % based on the weight of the PEDM terpolymer. The propylene-?-olefin-diene terpolymer may be blended with an ethylene-based copolymer and optionally a variety of additives to form an elastomeric composition. An exemplary elastomeric composition includes 5 to 40 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight rubber (phr) of the PEDM terpolymer, 60 to 95 phr of the ethylene-based copolymer, and optionally additives like carbon black, zinc dimethacrylate, paraffinic oil, zinc oxide, and/or zinc stearate.