Abstract: Nucleating agent compounds are used in polymers, such as polypropylene, to improve both the properties and processing characteristics of the polymer. Some nucleating agents may be used also as clarifiers to reduce the visual haze in finished polymeric articles, thereby increasing clarity of finished polymeric articles. Compounds of a carboxylate salt which employ a combination of an amide group and a metal cation salt perform well as nucleating agents, and provide substantial clarity benefits in a polymer. Other compounds of the invention may employ metal carboxylate salts in combination with an ester group. In other embodiments of the invention a dimer of such compounds may be employed.

Abstract: Employment of cycloaliphatic salt nucleating agent additives in thermoplastics or polyolefins such as polypropylene may improve the properties of a manufactured film. Furthermore, co-additives used with the cycloaliphatic salts, such as fatty acid salts, also may improve the film properties in terms of physical properties and haze of the resulting film. Fatty acid salts may include stearates with metal ion salts, such as zinc, calcium, lithium, magnesium or sodium.

Abstract: Diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols are employed in polyolefins as nucleating agents. Diacetals of sorbitols and xylitol nucleating agents may be provided in granular or powder form from hoppers or mixing equipment into polyolefins during the formation of polymeric compositions and polymeric articles. Flow of diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols is improved by the use of certain silicas, in certain defined weight percentages. Submicron size range silica compounds may provide excellent flow enhancement properties when blended and used with diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols powder compounds. A hydrophobic silica mixed with diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols compounds also may provide enhanced flow properties for such mixture, as compared to mixtures using hydrophilic silica. Loading ranges of silica may be important in improving the flow of diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols compounds.

Abstract: Diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols are employed in polyolefins as nucleating agents. Diacetals of sorbitols and xylitol nucleating agents may be provided in granular or powder form from hoppers or mixing equipment into polyolefins during the formation of polymeric compositions and polymeric articles. Flow of diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols is improved by the use of certain silicas, in certain defined weight percentages. Submicron size range silica compounds may provide excellent flow enhancement properties when blended and used with diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols powder compounds. A hydrophobic silica mixed with diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols compounds also may provide enhanced flow properties for such mixture, as compared to mixtures using hydrophilic silica. Loading ranges of silica may be important in improving the flow of diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols compounds.

Abstract: Clarified polyolefins such as polypropylene are used widely to make polymer articles, containers, and the like. Such articles may be manufactured by the injection of molten polymer into a mold or forming device in manufacturing processes at high rates. A clarified composition is provided to achieve optimized clarity and organoleptic performance at lower processing temperatures and/or within a polypropylene resin having a higher melt flow rate.

Abstract: Specific methods of inducing high nucleation rates in thermoplastics, such as polyolefins, and particularly, though not necessarily, polypropylenes, through the introduction of two different compounds that are substantially soluble within the target molten thermoplastic resin (such as, as one non-limiting example, an added compound including at least one acid group and an added organic salt) are provided. Such introduced components react to form a nucleating agent in situ within such a target molten thermoplastic resin which is then allowed to cool. Preferably, one compound is an acid, preferably bicyclic (i.e., two cyclic systems sharing at least three carbon atoms) or monocycloaliphatic (i.e., a single, saturated ring system) in nature, such as, without limitation, bicyclo[2.2.

Abstract: It is possible to improve significantly the optical performance of diacetal or DBS-based nucleating or clarifying agents using a co-additive. Haze is a measure of the lack of clarity in a thermoplastic or plastic material. A low level of haze is usually quite desirable, and nucleating/clarifying agents are designed to reduce the degree of haze in a plastic or thermoplastic material. A co-additive may be used in connection with a nucleating/clarifying agents in a polymer or copolymer to achieve even greater results in terms of improved clarity (reduced haze), or in terms of a higher crystallization temperature (Tc) of the polymer. A method for reducing haze in polymer articles using a co-additive composition in addition to nucleating and clarifying agents is disclosed.

Abstract: Chemical additives disclosed for reducing “plate-out” which have applications in polymers, such as polyolefins. It is possible to provide for a composition and a process for producing parts, sheet and film from polyolefin extrusion applications wherein the polyolefins are processed with a minimal quantity of “plate-out.” A polyolefin composition may contain a sorbitol-based clarifying system of a derivative of Dibenzylidene, along with one or more co-additives to achieve a reduction in undesirable plate-out.

Abstract: A thermoplastic is disclosed providing: a polyolefin, a nucleating agent, and stearate-containing compounds having fatty acid anionic portions selected from calcium, zinc, sodium, lithium, aluminum, and magnesium. In some applications, calcium stearate and zinc stearate may be combined synergistically in such a thermoplastic. The nucleating agent may be of many forms, including for example a dicarboxylate salt, such as a metal salt of bicyclic[2.2.1]heptane dicarboxylate salt, as one example.

Abstract: The two stage production of clear, low-haze, injection stretch blow molded polypropylene container articles with advantageous free shrink characteristics is disclosed. In the first processing stage, a preform article is manufactured on an injection molding machine. In a second and subsequent step, which may occur remotely from apparatus used in the first step, the preform article is heated and stretch blown into a container. The process may employ the selection of processing parameters to produce preform articles that facilitate stretch blow molding at relatively high rates of speed, while still maintaining an appropriate polypropylene polymer morphology that results in clear, low haze containers. Free shrink may be improved and measured. Furthermore, a haze, MFI, and wall thickness of containers subjected to a free shrinkage test following manufacture may be used to estimate or predict the processing parameters used to manufacture the container.

Abstract: Specific methods of inducing high nucleation rates in thermoplastics, such as polyolefins, and particularly, though not necessarily, polypropylenes, through the introduction of two different compounds that are substantially soluble within the target molten thermoplastic resin (such as, as one non-limiting example, an added compound including at least one acid group and an added organic salt) are provided. Such introduced components react to form a nucleating agent in situ within such a target molten thermoplastic resin which is then allowed to cool. Preferably, one compound is an acid, preferably bicyclic (i.e., two cyclic systems sharing at least three carbon atoms) or monocycloaliphatic (i.e., a single, saturated ring system) in nature, such as, without limitation, bicyclo[2.2.

Abstract: Specific methods of inducing high nucleation rates in thermoplastics, such as polyolefins, and particularly, though not necessarily, polypropylenes, through the introduction of two different compounds that are substantially soluble within the target molten thermoplastic resin (such as, as one non-limiting example, an added compound including at least one acid group and an added organic salt) are provided. Such introduced components react to form a nucleating agent in situ within such a target molten thermoplastic resin which is then allowed to cool. Preferably, one compound is an acid, preferably bicyclic (i.e., two cyclic systems sharing at least three carbon atoms) or monocycloaliphatic (i.e., a single, saturated ring system) in nature, such as, without limitation, bicyclo[2.2.