Abstract: Prepare a laminated assembly by providing an insulating member comprising a polymeric foam having opposing surfaces and a structural member by positioning the structural member so as to extend over at least one of the opposing surfaces of the insulating member and providing a moisture-curable hot-melt polyurethane or silicone adhesive having an open time and an application temperature range and disposing the adhesive between the insulating and structural members at a coating weight of 16 grams per square meter or less and three grams per square meter or more while at an application temperature and then pressing the structural and insulating members together during the open time of the adhesive.

Abstract: Coupled polymers are prepared by a process comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one polyolefin comprising ethylene and optionally at least one comonomer and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer; particularly where the polyolefin is the product of polymerization of ethylene and optionally at least one other alpha-olefin in the presence of a single site catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a film-fabric composite (includinng a film-fabric laminate) wherein the fabric is characterized as having improved tensile elongation (without rupture). In particular, the invention pertains to a method of making a film-fabric laminate having structual elastic-like behavior wherein the fabric is a nonwoven thermally bonded fabric characterized as having improved high strain rate tensile elongation and comprises a plurality of fibers comprised of at least one polypropylene polymer and at least one ethylene polymer, wherein the method comprises stretching the laminate at a high strain rate. The improved farbic is characterized by higher high strain rate tensile properties and a broader bond window which is also shifted to substantially lower temperatures with regard to maximum tensile properties.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a rheology-modified ethylene polymer having less than 0.5 weight percent gel, a composition distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than 50 percent, and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of less than 4.0, which is characterized as having improved rheological performance and/or melt strength attributes relative to the unmodified polymer. The subject invention is further directed to polymer blends which comprise the rheology-modified polymers, and to a process for preparing the rheology-modified polymers.

Abstract: A graft polymer according to the invention contains a backbone of one or more substantially random interpolymers, comprising: (1) polymer units derived from: (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or (c) a combination of at least one aromatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, and (2) polymer units derived from at least one of ethylene and/or a C3-20 &agr;-olefin; and (3) optionally polymer units derived from one or more of ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers other than those derived from (1) and (2); said backbone being grafted with one or more olefinically unsaturated organic monomer(s). In a preferred embodiment such graft polymers were prepared using a reactive extrusion process.

Abstract: Coupled polymers are prepared by a process comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one polyolefin comprising ethylene and optionally at least one comonomer and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer; particularly where the polyolefin is the product of polymerization of ethylene and optionally at least one other alpha-olefin in the presence of a single site catalyst.

Abstract: The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer; and (c) heating the second admixture at least to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by processes of the invention as well as blends of those compositions with one or more polymers of compositions different from the first or second polymer or the product of a process of the invention.

Abstract: The invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one polyolefin comprising ethylene and optionally at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof said polyolefin having a molecular weight distribution of less than or equal to about 3 and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least about 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer; particularly where the polyolefin is the product of polymerization of ethylene and optionally at least one other alpha-olefin in the presence of a single site catalyst (transition metal like Va or Cr, metallocene or constrained geometry). The amount of poly(sulfonyl azide) is preferably from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of the polyolefin.

Abstract: The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture, hereinafter referred to as a concentrate, of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer, hereinafter diluent, and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer, hereinafter second polymer composition; and (c) heating the second admixture at least to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The diluent is preferably a non-volatile, non-polar compound such as mineral oil in which the poly(sulfonyl azide) is sufficiently miscible to disperse the poly(sulfonyl azide) in the second polymer, more preferably a liquid at room temperature or low melting solid at room temperature, that is has a melting point below about 50° C.

Abstract: A process for improving the green strength of ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymers is described comprising (A) selecting an ethylene/&agr;olefin/diene polymer having a Mooney viscosity at 125 C up to about 80 and a percent gel (% gel) up to about 30 percent and (B) partially crosslinking the ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer selected in step (A) to make a modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer satisfying the equations MV≦100 and MV ≤   ⁢ 100 W ≤   ⁢ ( MS 2 - MS 1 MS 1 ) wherein MV is the Mooney viscosity of the modified polymer, MS1 is the melt strength in centiNewtons of the polymer selected in step (A) at 110 C, when formulated according to AS

Abstract: The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer; and (c) heating the second admixture at lest to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by processes of the invention as well as blends of those compositions with one or more polymers of compositions different from the first or second polymer or the product of a process of the invention.

Abstract: A process for improving the green strength of ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymers is described comprising (A) selecting an ethylene/(&agr;olefin/diene polymer having a Mooney viscosity at 125 C up to about 80 and a percent gel (% gel) up to about 30 percent and (B) partially crosslinking the ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer selected in step (A) to make a modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer satisfying the equations MV≦100 and 1 W ≤ ( MS 2 - MS 1 MS 1 )

Abstract: A process for improving the green strength of ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymers is described comprising (A) selecting an ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer having a Mooney viscosity at 125 C up to about 80 and a percent gel (% gel) up to about 30 percent and (B) partially crosslinking the ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer selected in step (A) to make a modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer satisfying the equations MV≦100 and W ≤ ( MS 2 - MS 1 MS 1 ) wherein MV is the Mooney viscosity of the modified polymer, MS1 is the melt strength in centiNewtons of the polymer selected in step (A) at 110 C, when formulated according to ASTM D3568#2, MS2 is the melt strength in centiNewtons of the modified polymer produced by step (B) measured under the same conditions, and W is 0.3.

Abstract: Methods for devolatilizing polymer solutions have been invented which include, in certain aspects, dissolving a viscous polymer in a solvent forming a polymer-solvent solution, introducing the polymer-solvent solution into a thermal dryer, heating or cooling the polymer-solvent solution in the thermal dryer forming product polymer with solvent removed and separated solvent (which may include other residuals), the separated solvent with other residuals if present vaporizing in the thermal dryer forming a vapor, removing the vapor from the thermal dryer, and discharging product polymer from the thermal dryer.

Abstract: The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture, hereinafter referred to as a concentrate, of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer, hereinafter diluent, and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer, hereinafter second polymer composition; and (c) heating the second admixture at least to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The diluent is preferably a non-volatile, non-polar compound such as mineral oil in which the poly(sulfonyl azide) is sufficiently miscible to disperse the poly(sulfonyl azide) in the second polymer.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a rheology-modified ethylene polymer having less than 0.5 weight percent gel, a composition distribution breadth index (CDBI) greater than 50 percent, and a molecular weight distribution (M.sub.w /M.sub.n) of less than 4.0, which is characterized as having improved rheological performance and/or melt strength attributes relative to the unmodified polymer. The subject invention is further directed to polymer blends which comprise the rheology-modified polymers, and to a process for preparing the rheology-modified polymers.

Abstract: A method of improving the oxidative thermal stability of ethylene polymers is disclosed. The method comprises removing residual unreacted monomer(s), solvent and thermally unstable species from the molten polymer. The resulting polymer is characterized by having an oxidative exotherm of not more than about 50 percent of the original polymer, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry.

Abstract: Substantially linear ethylene polymers, e.g., polyethylenes prepared by constrained geometry catalysis (substantially linear ethylene), which are grafted with one or more unsaturated organic compounds containing both ethylenic unsaturation and a carbonyl group, e.g., maleic anhydride, exhibit desirable adhesive properties. These graft-modified substantially linear ethylene polymers also impart desirable compatibility and impact properties to various thermoplastic polymer blends.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of ethylene/.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid interpolymers (e.g., random ethylene/acrylic acid interpolymers) are formed using a mixture of bases at a concentration of at least 0.2 equivalents of base per mole of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid. The dispersions have at least 10 weight percent dispersed solids and not more than 1 weight percent of the initial polymer in non-dispersed form. Preferred bases for use in forming the dispersions are ammonium hydroxide and/or alkali metal hydroxides. A mixture of ammonium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide is especially preferred for forming the dispersions with ethylene/acrylic acid interpolymers at an ammonium hydroxide:acrylic acid molar ratio of 1:1 and a potassium hydroxide:acrylic acid molar ratio in the range of 0.6-0.8:1. The dispersions are particularly useful in forming thin coatings of adhesive on substrates, such as paper and metal foil, using conventional techniques.

Abstract: A homogeneous, random interpolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester having a melt flow rate in the range of about 0.1 to about 300 g/10 minutes, as determined by ASTM D-1238 (190.degree. C./2160 g), is improved during its manufacture when made in a substantially constant environment in a stirred autoclave under substantially steady-state conditions of temperature, pressure, and flow rates, said temperature and pressure being sufficient to produce a single phase reaction, using a free-radical initiator, said improvement being obtained by the use of a minor amount of a telogenic modifier in the reaction mixture, the process being further characterized by the use of either, or both, of (a) a temperature which is lower than that which would be required without the presence of the telogen, or (b) a pressure which is higher than that which would be required without the presence of the modifier.