Abstract: The present invention is a blend of an halogenated elastomer and a clay, desirably an exfoliated clay, to form a nanocomposite suitable for an air barrier. In one embodiment, the halogenated elastomer is a polymer comprising C4 to C7 isoolefin derived units, a para-methylstyrene derived units, and para-(halomethylstyrene) derived units. In another embodiment, the halogenated elastomer is a butyl-type rubber. The clay may or may not have an additional exfoliating treatment present prior to blending with the interpolymer. The interpolymer/clay mixture forms a distinct phase in the nanocomposite blend of the invention. The blend of the invention has improved air barrier properties and is suitable as an innerliner or innertube.

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: In a process for functionalizing an ?-olefin/diene copolymer, a copolymer comprising units derived from at least one ?-olefin and units derived from at least one diene, which copolymer contains at least one double bond, is contacted in a reaction medium with an alkyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal of Group 5 or 6 of the Periodic Table or a compound thereof, under reaction conditions which promote formation of an oxirane ring or hydroxyl groups at the site of the double bond.

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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocomposite of a star branched elastomer and a clay. The nanocomposite can be a mixture of a halogenated star branched elastomer and a clay, desirably an exfoliated clay, suitable for use as an air barrier. The halogenated star-branched elastomer can be the primary halogenated elastomer in the blend, and a ratio of the star-branched elastomer to clay can be from 2:1 to 500:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes to produce nanocomposites. In particular, the invention relates to solution processes using organic solvents and mixtures of solvents to produce polymeric nanocomposites.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocomposite of an elastomer, a polymer or oligomer functionalized with a polar group, and a clay. The nanocomposite can be a mixture of a halogenated elastomer, an acid or acid anhydride modified polymer, and a clay, desirably an exfoliated clay, suitable for use as an air barrier. Also disclosed is a nanocomposite that can be a mixture of a halogenated elastomer, a polymer modified with a carboxylic acid, and an organoclay.

Abstract: The invention provides for processes for preparing a nanocomposite compositions including the steps of: contacting a multifunctional intercalant including a cationic moiety separated from an anionic moiety by at least 1 carbon, with a clay at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce an at least partially intercalated clay; and contacting the at least partially intercalated clay with a functionalized interpolymer including one or more functional groups, at a temperature, and for a period of time sufficient to produce the nanocomposite compositions. Cured nanocomposite compositions, and articles including such nanocomposite compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay, suitable for use as an air barrier, is disclosed. The halogenated elastomer can be a polymer comprising C4 to C7 isoolefin derived units, para-methylstyrene derived units, and para(halomethylstyrene) derived units, or can be a butyl-type rubber. The nanocomposite can be formed by contacting an aqueous slurry of inorganic clay with a polymer cement while agitating vigorously to form emulsions or micro-emulsions to intimately mix the inorganic clay and the elastomer. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as an innerliner or innertube.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a nanocomposite comprising a clay and an elastomer comprising at least C2 to C10 olefin derived units; wherein the elastomer also comprises functionalized monomer units pendant to the elastomer. Desirable embodiments of the elastomer include poly(isobutylene-co-p-alkylstyrene) elastomers and poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) elastomers, which are functionalized by reacting free radical generating agents and unsaturated carboxylic acids, unsaturated esters, unsaturated imides, and the like, with the elastomer. The clay is exfoliated in one embodiment by the addition of exfoliating agents such as alkyl amines and silanes to the clay. The composition can include secondary rubbers such as general purpose rubbers, and curatives, fillers, and the like. The nanocomposites of the invention have improved air barrier properties such as are useful for tire innerliners and innertubes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer comprising an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprising greater than about 50 wt % C3-C40 alpha olefins and having about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer; a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less according to the procedure described in ASTM E 794-85; and an ash content of 1 wt % or less. A functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is also disclosed, along with methods to produce and a method to use the inventive polymer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a nanocomposite comprising a clay and an elastomer comprising at least C2 to C10 olefin derived units; wherein the elastomer also comprises functionalized monomer units pendant to the elastomer. Desirable embodiments of the elastomer include poly(isobutylene-co-p-alkylstyrene) elastomers and poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) elastomers, which are functionalized via Friedel-Crafts reaction with a Lewis acid and a functionalizing agent such as acid anhydrides and/or acylhalides. The clay is exfoliated in one embodiment by the addition of exfoliating agents such as alkyl amines and silanes to the clay. The composition can include secondary rubbers such as general purpose rubbers, and curatives, fillers, and the like. The nanocomposites of the invention have improved air barrier properties such as are useful for tire innerliners and innertubes.

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 is a blend of an halogenated elastomer and a clay, desirably an exfoliated clay, to form a nanocomposite suitable for an air barrier. In one embodiment, the halogenated elastomer, is a polymer comprising C4 to C7 isoolefin derived units, a para-methylstyrene derived units, and para-(halomethylstyrene) derived units. In another embodiment, the halogenated elastomer is a butyl-type rubber. The clay may or may not have an additional exfoliating treatment present prior to blending with the interpolymer. The interpolymer/clay mixture forms a distinct phase in the nanocomposite blend of the invention. The blend of the invention has improved air barrier properties and is suitable as an innerliner or innertube.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to article comprising 1) a functionalized component, 2) tackifier, and 3) an olefin polymer comprising one or more C3 to C40 olefins, optionally one or more diolefins, and less than 5 mole % of ethylene having a Dot T-Peel of 1 Newton or more, a branching index (g′) of 0.95 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer; and an Mw of 100,000 or less; where the functional component is selcted from the group consisting of functionalized polymers, functionalized oligomers and beta nucleating agents; and where the Gardner color of the adheisve does not change by more than 7 Gardner units when the adhesive has been heat aged at 180° C. for 48 hours as compared to the Gardner color of the unaged composition.

Abstract: Polymeric structure involving a first polymer having a linear segment and a second polymer having a macrocyle which is threaded onto said linear segment to form a rotaxane complex. The rotaxane complex is capable of reversibly dissociating back into the individual polymers under the influence of an external factor, such as temperature and/or solvent exposure.