Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ionomers containing ethylenically-unsaturated structural units comprising contacting:(a) a terpolymer containing structural units produced from (i) at least one .alpha.-olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) at least one ester of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids; and (iii) at least one carboxylic acid with;(b) an inorganic metal-containing base under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of acid functionalities to inorganic metal salts thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: An improved oxygen scavenging system is provided. The system involves an oxygen scavenging phase containing at least one oxygen-scavenger and a second phase comprising at least one catalyst effective in catalyzing a scavenging reaction. The oxygen scavenging phase is substantially devoid of any catalyst of the scavenging reaction and the second phase is effectively separate from the oxygen scavenging phase. Nevertheless, the oxygen scavenging system provides excellent scavenging capabilities while avoiding many of the prior art problems, such as undesired oxidation during high temperature processing when the system is incorporated into a multi-layer film.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for esterifying and/or transesterifying a polymer having a polyethylenic backbone and pendant acid and/or ester moieties comprising contacting a melt of the polymer with a transesterifying compound so that the polymer undergoes esterification and/or transesterification but not alcoholysis. The esterified or transesterified polymer also has pendant ester moieties which differ in kind and/or number from the unreacted polymer. In one embodiment, the process also comprises adding an amount of a transition metal salt that is effective to promote oxygen scavenging. Also in a further embodiment, the process comprises irradiating the transesterified polymer with actinic radiation to reduce the induction period before oxygen scavenging commences.Also disclosed are compositions comprising a component which comprises an ethylenic or polyethylenic backbone and a pendant or terminal moiety comprising a benzylic, allylic, or ether-containing radical.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: Ionomer compositions which have improved optical properties are disclosed. These compositions comprise ionomers which can be represented as the polymerization product of alpha-olefins having from two to eight carbon atoms, esters of alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids, metal salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and optional alpha, beta-ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers which impart some desired polymer property or properties, such as acidity and/or solvent resistivity. Also disclosed are methods of making these ionomer compositions in a reactive extruder and treating the compositions with acid to impart acidity to the compositions or to only the surface of the compositions.

Abstract: A continuous process for the aminolysis of polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated structural units comprising contacting, in a reaction vessel,(a) a molten polymer containing structural units produced from alpha-olefins having from 2 to 8 carbons atoms, and esters of of .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically-unsaturated carboxylic acids in a reaction vessel; and(b) a liquid phase comprising an amine-containing compound, e.g., an alkylamine having an alkyl group containing 1-30 carbon atoms, ammonia, or derivatives thereof, in the presence of(c) a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst, which is preferably a metal-containing solution, for a period of time effective to produce a polymer containing acrylamide structural units, wherein the period of time is less than about 1 hour.This process is performed continuously in a reaction vessel, preferably in at least one reactive extruder, under conditions effective to provide an ethylene co-polymer containing acrylamide structural units.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for saponifying an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer comprising mixing together an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer and an aqueous solution of an inorganic alkali metal base at a temperature sufficient for saponification to take place and at which the ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer undergoes a phase change.

Abstract: A polyanhydride copolymer is made having styrene grafted onto the linear backbone chain of a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer or a 1-alkene-maleic anhydride copolymer. This graft copolymer is also prepared in the presence of an epoxy compound such as monoepoxide or an epoxy resin for subsequent curing.

Abstract: A homogeneous mixture of polyanhydride molecules and epoxide molecules is prepared by the copolymerization of an olefinically unsaturated monomer capable of polymerization by free-radical means with an olefinically unsaturated monoanhydride in the presence of an olefinically saturated polyanhydride, an epoxy composition, and an anhydride accelerator without substantial anhydride-epoxide cross-linking. As an example, reinforcing glass fibers are impregnated with a solution of 1-hexene, maleic anhydride, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 1-methylimidazole and the resin is thickened in situ by copolymerization of the 1-hexene and maleic anhydride to form a moldable, homogeneous mixture of 1-hexene-maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 1-methylimidazole and reinforcing glass fibers.

Abstract: A homogeneous mixture of a polyanhydride and an epoxy compound is prepared by the copolymerization of an olefinically unsaturated monomer capable of polymerization by free-radical means with an olefinically unsaturated monoanhydride and an olefinically saturated polyanhydride in the presence of a saturated epoxy compound and an anhydride accelerator without substantial anhydride-epoxide cross-linking. As an example, reinforcing glass fibers are impregnated with a solution of styrene, maleic anhydride, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, phenyl glycidyl ether and 1-methylimidazole and the resin is thickened in situ by copolymerization of the styrene, maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer to form a moldable, homogeneous mixture of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, phenyl glycidyl ether, 1-methylimidazole and reinforcing glass fibers.

Abstract: A homogeneous mixture of a polyanhydride and a polyepoxide is prepared by the copolymerization of an olefinically unsaturated monomer capable of polymerization by free-radical means with an olefinically unsaturated monoanhydride and an olefinically saturated polyanhydride in the presence of a polyepoxide and an anhydride accelerator without substantial anhydride-epoxide cross-linking. As an example, reinforcing glass fibers are impregnated with a solution of styrene, maleic anhydride, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 1-methylimidazole and the resin is thickened in situ by copolymerization of the styrene, maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer to form a moldable, homogeneous mixture of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 1-methylimidazole and reinforcing glass fibers.

Abstract: A homogeneous mixture of a polyanhydride and a polyepoxide is prepared by the copolymerization of an olefinically unsaturated monomer capable of polymerization by free-radical means with an olefinically unsaturated monoanhydride and an olefinically saturated polyanhydride in the presence of a polyepoxide and an anhydride accelerator without substantial anhydride-epoxide cross-linking. As an example, reinforcing glass fibers are impregnated with a solution of styrene, maleic anhydride, stryene-maleic anhydride copolymer, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 1-methylimidazole and the resin is thickened in situ by copolymerization of the styrene, maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer to form a moldable, homogeneous mixture of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 1-methylimidazole and reinforcing glass fibers.