Abstract: A compatible blend of an engineering thermoplastic such as a polyamide and an olefin polymer material is prepared by (1) making an oxidized olefin polymer material containing carboxylic acid groups or derivatives thereof, (2) extruding a mixture of (a) the oxidized olefin polymer material from step (1), (b) an engineering thermoplastic, (c) optionally, an inorganic base, and (d) optionally, a non-oxidized olefin polymer material, and (3) recovering a blend of the engineering thermoplastic, the oxidized olefin polymer material or an ionomer thereof, which acts as a compatibilizer, and, optionally, the non-oxidized olefin polymer material. The oxidized olefin polymer material can be made by treating the olefin polymer material with an organic peroxide initiator while adding a controlled amount of oxygen.

Abstract: Irradiated, oxidized olefin polymer coupling agents for use in the manufacture of non-halogenated flame retardant-containing and filler-containing olefin polymer compositions and coupling agent-containing olefin polymer concentrates.

Abstract: A compatible blend of an engineering thermoplastic such as a polyamide and an olefin polymer material is prepared by (1) making an oxidized olefin polymer material containing carboxylic acid groups or derivatives thereof, (2) extruding a mixture of (a) the oxidized olefin polymer material from step (1), (b) an engineering thermoplastic, (c) optionally, an inorganic base, and (d) optionally, a non-oxidized olefin polymer material, and (3) recovering a blend of the engineering thermoplastic, the oxidized olefin polymer material or an ionomer thereof, which acts as a compatibilizer, and, optionally, the non-oxidized olefin polymer material.

Abstract: Irradiated, oxidized olefin polymer dispersing aids for use in the manufacture of additive concentrates and additive-containing olefin polymer compositions.

Abstract: Irradiated, oxidized olefin polymer coupling agents for use in the manufacture of non-halogenated flame retardant-containing and filler-containing olefin polymer compositions and coupling agent-containing olefin polymer concentrates.

Abstract: Irradiated, oxidized olefin polymer dispersing aids for use in the manufacture of additive concentrates and additive-containing olefin polymer compositions.

Abstract: Graft copolymers are prepared, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, by (1) irradiating a particulate olefin polymer material with high energy ionizing radiation, (2) treating the irradiated olefin polymer material with at least one grafting monomer that is capable of forming side chains on the olefin polymer material, in the presence of at least one additive to control the molecular weight of the side chains of the polymerized grafting monomer selected from (a) at least one hydroxylamine derivative polymerization inhibitor, and (b) at least one thio-, nitro-, or halogen-substituted aliphatic or aromatic compound or an aliphatic or aromatic phosphine derivative, and (3) deactivating the residual free radicals in the resulting grafted olefin polymer material and removing any unreacted vinyl monomer from the material. Graft copolymers with low molecular weight side chains are produced that are easier to process and have improved internal and surface morphology.

Abstract: The molecular weight of a graft copolymer is reduced by carrying out the following steps in a non-oxidizing atmosphere: (1) treating a propylene polymer material with an organic compound that is a free radical polymerization initiator, (2) treating the propylene polymer material with about 2 to about 240 parts per hundred parts of the propylene polymer material, of at least one vinyl-substituted grafting monomer in the presence of about 0.5% to about 5% of a polymerizable chain transfer agent that is a derivative of allyl alcohol, and (3) removing any unreacted monomer, decomposing any unreacted initiator, and deactivating any residual free radicals in the material.

Abstract: Graft copolymers with low molecular weight side chains are prepared by (1) irradiating a propylene polymer material in the absence of oxygen, (2) adding a controlled amount of oxygen to the irradiated polymer material so that the polymer is exposed to an amount of oxygen greater than 0.004% but less than 15% by volume at a temperature of 40° C. to 140° C., to produce an oxidized propylene polymer material containing greater than 1 mmol total peroxide per kilogram of propylene polymer material, (3) optionally, heating the oxidized propylene polymer material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature of at least 80° C.

Abstract: A graft copolymer comprising a backbone of a propylene polymer material having a vinyl monomer graft polymerized thereto is produced by (1) treating a propylene polymer material with a free radical polymerization initiator, (2) treating the propylene polymer material with at least one grafting monomer capable of being polymerized by free radicals, in the presence of a polymerization rate modifier, and (3) removing any unreacted grafting monomer from the graft copolymerized propylene polymer material, decomposing any unreacted initiator, and deactivating any residual free radicals in the material. Use of the polymerization rate modifier increases the polymerization induction time on the polymer surface, consequently facilitating monomer diffusion into the interior of the polymer particles so that surface polymerization of the monomer is inhibited.

Abstract: A graft copolymer comprising a backbone of a propylene polymer material having a vinyl monomer graft polymerized thereto is produced by (1) treating a propylene polymer material with a free radical polymerization initiator, (2) treating the propylene polymer material with at least one grafting monomer capable of being polymerized by free radicals, and (3) removing any unreacted grafting monomer from the graft copolymerized propylene polymer material, decomposing any unreacted initiator, and deactivating any residual free radicals in the material, wherein (1) and (2) are carried out in the presence of a continuous feed of nitric oxide. The nitric oxide reduces the build-up of polymer deposits on reactor walls and gas circulation loops while having almost no effect on the graft copolymerization reaction.

Abstract: Ion exchange resins are prepared by a process comprising functionalizing styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers, or other crosslinked vinyl copolymers, by sulfonation or chloromethylation and amination, and achieving high ion exchange capacity and a low degree of resin bead fragmentation, in the presence of hydrocarbon liquids, such as cyclohexane.