Abstract: Disclosed is a selected type of copolymer composition comprising copolymers having units derived from ethylene and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) co-monomers. Such copolymer compositions: a) have a DCPD-derived comonomer unit content of from about 25 mole % to about 45 mole %; b) have a Weight Average Molecular Weight, Mw, of greater than about 170,000; c) comprise amorphous material and have glass transition temperatures, Tg, of from about 8° C. to about 129° C., which also fit the equation Tg (in ° C.)?[(mole % DCPD×3.142)?4.67]; and d) comprise no significant amount of crystalline polyethylene homopolymer or crystallizable polyethylene segments within the ethylene-dicyclopentadiene copolymers. Such copolymers can be readily derivatized by hydrogenation and/or epoxidation to provide polymeric materials suitable for use as engineering thermoplastics.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprises (a) least 40 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of a cyclic olefin polymer comprising at least one acyclic olefin and at least 20 wt % of one or more cyclic olefins (based upon the weight of the cyclic olefin polymer), wherein at least a portion of the cyclic olefin polymer has a glass transition temperature of greater than 100° C.; (b) an acyclic olefin polymer modifier in an amount up to 40 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition); and (c) at least 10 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of one of more fillers. The polymer composition has a notched Izod impact resistance measured at 23° C. of greater than 100 J/m and a flexural modulus (1% secant method) of greater than 1400 MPa.

Abstract: An in-reactor polymer blend comprises (a) a propylene-containing first polymer; and (b) an ethylene-containing second polymer such that the polymer blend comprises between about 50 wt % and about 80 wt % units derived from ethylene and between about 50 wt % and about 20 wt % units derived from propylene. The blend is substantially free of dienes and the content of ethylene in the second polymer in the form of ethylene-ethylene-ethylene triads is at least 40%. The second polymer contains at least 0.1 branch having 8 or more carbon atoms per 10,000 carbons. In addition, the blend has a strain hardening index of at least 1.8, a shear thinning slope in the plot of log(dynamic viscosity) versus log(frequency) of less than ?0.2 and exhibits at least two peaks when subjected to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (first melt) corresponding to a first melting point of at least 150° C. and a second melting point of at least 40° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to nanocomposites comprising organo-clay and at least one stabilization functionalized thermoplastic polyolefin. Preferably the stabilization functionalized thermoplastic polyolefin is represented by the formula: T-(R1G)n wherein T represents the thermoplastic polyolefin Each R1 is a bridging group, preferably independently selected from the group consisting of C1 to C20 aliphatic; C1 to C20 aromatic; substituted C1 to C20 aliphatic; substituted C1 to C20 aromatic; C1 to C20 aliphatic ester; C1 to C20 aliphatic ether; C1 to C20 aliphatic amide; C1 to C20 aliphatic imide; n is the number of stabilization functional/bridging groups bound to T and may be from 1-300; and G is selected from one or more of phenols, ketones, hindered amines, substituted phenols, substituted ketones, substituted hindered amines, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified layered fillers made from layered fillers and modifying agents and processes to produce the same. The invention also relates to nanocomposite compositions made from these modified layered fillers and elastomers, and processes to produce the same, and their use in articles.

Abstract: An in-reactor polymer blend comprises (a) a propylene-containing first polymer; and (b) an ethylene-containing second polymer such that the polymer blend comprises between about 50 wt % and about 80 wt % units derived from ethylene and between about 50 wt % and about 20 wt % units derived from propylene. The blend is substantially free of dienes and the content of ethylene in the second polymer in the form of ethylene-ethylene-ethylene triads is at least 40%. The second polymer contains at least 0.1 branch having 8 or more carbon atoms per 10,000 carbons. In addition, the blend has a strain hardening index of at least 1.8, a shear thinning slope in the plot of log(dynamic viscosity) versus log(frequency) of less than ?0.2 and exhibits at least two peaks when subjected to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (first melt) corresponding to a first melting point of at least 150° C. and a second melting point of at least 40° C.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprises (a) least 40 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of a cyclic olefin polymer comprising at least one acyclic olefin and at least 20 wt % of one or more cyclic olefins (based upon the weight of the cyclic olefin polymer), wherein at least a portion of the cyclic olefin polymer has a glass transition temperature of greater than 100° C.; (b) an acyclic olefin polymer modifier in an amount up to 40 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition); and (c) at least 10 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of one of more fillers. The polymer composition has a notched Izod impact resistance measured at 23° C. of greater than 100 J/m and a flexural modulus (1% secant method) of greater than 1400 MPa.

Abstract: Provided are selected types of terpolymer components comprising terpolymers having monomer units derived from ethylene (E), dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and norbornene-based (NB) co-monomers. Such terpolymer components have certain specified amounts of each co-monomer as well as certain specified molecular weight and glass transition temperature characteristics. Terpolymer components which are derivatized by hydrogenation and/or by epoxidation and/or hydroxylation are also disclosed, as well as thermoplastic polyolefin compositions which contain the terpolymer components and which have especially desirable structural and thermal properties. Also provided are processes for preparing and derivatizing the terpolymer components herein.

Abstract: This invention relates to nanocomposites comprising organo-clay and at least one stabilization functionalized thermoplastic polyolefin. Preferably the stabilization functionalized thermoplastic polyolefin is represented by the formula: T-(R1G)n wherein T represents the thermoplastic polyolefin Each R1 is a bridging group, preferably independently selected from the group consisting of C1 to C20 aliphatic; C1 to C20 aromatic; substituted C1 to C20 aliphatic; substituted C1 to C20 aromatic; C1 to C20 aliphatic ester; C1 to C20 aliphatic ether; C1 to C20 aliphatic amide; C1 to C20 aliphatic imide; n is the number of stabilization functional/bridging groups bound to T and may be from 1-300; and G is selected from one or more of phenols, ketones, hindered amines, substituted phenols, substituted ketones, substituted hindered amines, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to nanocomposites comprising organo-clay and at least one stabilization functionalized thermoplastic polyolefin. Preferably the stabilization functionalized thermoplastic polyolefin is represented by the formula: T-(R1G)n Wherein T represents the thermoplastic polyolefin Each R1 is a bridging group, preferably independently selected from the group consisting of C1 to C20 aliphatic; C1 to C20 aromatic; substituted C1 to C20 aliphatic; substituted C1 to C20 aromatic; C1 to C20 aliphatic ester; C1 to C20 aliphatic ether; C1 to C20 aliphatic amide; C1 to C20 aliphatic imide; n is the number of stabilization functional/bridging groups bound to T and may be from 1-300; and G is selected from one or more of phenols, ketones, hindered amines, substituted phenols, substituted ketones, substituted hindered amines, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprises (a) greater than 50 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of a cyclic olefin copolymer comprising at least one acyclic olefin and at least 20 weight % of one or more cyclic olefins (based upon the weight of the cyclic olefin copolymer), wherein at least a portion of the cyclic olefin copolymer has a glass transition temperature of greater than 150° C.; and (b) less than 50 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of an acyclic olefin polymer modifier, at least a portion of the modifier having a glass transition temperature of less than ?30° C.; and no portion of the modifier having a softening point greater than +30° C., wherein the Bicerano solubility parameter of the modifier being no more than 0.6 J0.5/cm1.5 less than the Bicerano solubility parameter of the cyclic olefin copolymer. The polymer composition has a notched Izod impact resistance measured at 23° C. of greater than 500 J/m and a heat distortion temperature measured using a 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a selected type of copolymer composition comprising copolymers having units derived from ethylene and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) co-monomers. Such copolymer compositions: a) have a DCPD-derived comonomer unit content of from about 25 mole % to about 45 mole %; b) have a Weight Average Molecular Weight, Mw, of greater than about 170,000; c) comprise amorphous material and have glass transition temperatures, Tg, of from about 8° C. to about 129° C., which also fit the equation Tg (in ° C.)?[(mole % DCPD×3.142)?4.67]; and d) comprise no significant amount of crystalline polyethylene homopolymer or crystallizable polyethylene segments within the ethylene-dicylopentadiene copolymers. Such copolymers can be readily derivatized by hydrogention and/or epoxidation to provide polymeric materials suitable for use as engineering thermoplastics. Also disclosed are processes for preparing and optionally further derivatizing ethylene/dicyclopentadiene copolymers having the characteristics hereinbefore described.