Abstract: A resin composition comprising oligomers having a molar ratio of isocyanurate to oxazolidinone greater than 1:1, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the oligomers is less than or equal to 3000, as measured by gel permeation chromatography. Such resin compositions may be combined with a hardener to form a curable composition. Also disclosed is a process for forming a resin composition, including: reacting diisocyanates to form isocyanurates; reacting isocyanate groups in the isocyanurates and unreacted diisocyanates with an epoxy precursor to form a resin composition comprising oligomers having: a molar ratio of isocyanurate to oxazolidinone greater than 1:1; wherein the weight average molecular weight of the oligomers is less than or equal to 3000, as measured by gel permeation chromatography. Such compositions may be useful in prepregs and laminates.

Abstract: A fabricated article (e.g., jacketed or insulated wire or cable) is prepared by a process comprising the steps of: applying a coating of a moisture-curable composition onto a wire or cable; and reacting the moisture-curable composition with water, wherein the moisture-curable composition comprises at least one resin having hydrolysable reactive silane groups and a tin catalyst characterized by the tin having a +4 oxidation state and a bis(alkoxide) ligand. The product of the process includes a wire or cable comprising a jacket, wherein the jacket comprises at least one poly olefin resin having hydrolysable reactive silane groups and a tin catalyst, the tin catalyst having a bis(alkoxide) ligand and characterized by the tin having a +4 oxidation state.

Abstract: Silane crosslinkable polymer compositions comprise (i) at least one silane crosslinkable polymer, e.g., ethylene-silane copolymer, and (ii) a catalytic amount of at least one polysubstituted aromatic sulfonic acid (PASA). The PASA catalysts are of the formula: HSO3Ar—R1(Rx)m Where: m is 0 to 3; R1 is (CH2)nCH3, and n is 0 to 3 or greater than 20; Each Rx is the same or different than R1; and Ar is an aromatic moiety.

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: A process for polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers with a catalyst composition comprising a Group 4 or 5 metal bis(silane)amido complex corresponding to the formula: where the various substituents are as defined in claim 1.

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 present invention includes a molecular melt composition comprising an antioxidant and a modifying agent. The molecular melt is partially amorphous in nature. The invention also includes a method for making the molecular melt composition and a method for using the molecular melt to produce modified polymers. The invention further includes a method for using an antioxidant to phlagmatize a modifying agent.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making and inspecting a multi-component cigarettes, each cigarette including two or more different components arranged relative to one another, the apparatus includes a device for advancing a web in a first direction. The apparatus further includes a device for positioning at least two different components of a cigarette relative to one another on the web as the web advances in the first direction. The apparatus further includes a garniture device for wrapping the web around the at least two different components by moving opposite edges of the web transversely to the first direction such that, at a closure point in the garniture device, the opposite edges overlap each other. The apparatus further includes an imaging device disposed upstream of the closure point for generating an image of the at least two different components.

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 preparing a coupled polymer characterized by heating an admixture containing (1) at least one ethylene polymer or blend of ethylene polymers having a density of at least about 0.89 g/mL and less than about 0.935 g/mL and a comonomer content between about 0.5 and 50 weight percent of an alpha olefin having greater than 2 and less than 20 carbon atoms per molecule and (2) a coupling amount of 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. The amount of poly(sulfonyl azide) is preferably from about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent of polymers in the admixture. The invention also includes any composition which is the product of any of the processes of the invention and articles made from those compositions, particularly any film of any composition of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one elastomer comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof 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 having a gel content of less than 2 weight percent. The invention includes compositions comprising the reaction product formed by the inventive process. The invention additionally includes articles which comprise a composition of the invention particularly when the article is formed from a melt of the composition.

Abstract: A process for polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers with a catalyst composition comprising a Group 4 or 5 metal bis(silane)amido complex corresponding to the formula: 1

Abstract: Polymers coupled by reaction with coupling agents according to the practice of the invention advantageously have at least one of these desirable properties and preferably have desirable combinations of these properties. The present invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one elastomer comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof 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 having a gel content of less than about 2 weight percent.

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: The invention includes a process for inhibiting deterioration in an olefin polymer by adding a phenolic free radical inhibitor during or before polymerization with a metallocene type transition metal catalyst without inactivating the free radical inhibitor because does not inhibit the transition metal catalyst activity. Preferably the free radical inhibitor is first to remove compounds which inhibit catalyst activity. The invention also includes a composition comprising at least one olefin monomer, a polymer of the monomer, a metallocene type transition metal catalyst and at least one free radical inhibitor having sufficient substituents to hinder the active inhibiting group such that it does not undesirably inhibit the transition metal catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one elastomer comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof 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 having a gel content of less than about 2 weight percent.

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: The invention includes a process comprising (a) forming a polymeric admixture including at least one polyolefin which has been prepared using a single site catalyst and at least a crosslinking amount of at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) crosslinking agent; (b) shaping the resulting admixture; and (c) heating the resulting shaped admixture to a temperature at least the decomposition temperature of the crosslinking agent. The steps take place in any sequence and optionally include substeps. The single site catalyst is preferably a constrained geometry or metallocene catalyst, but optionally another transition metal catalyst which is not a traditional Ziegler Natta Ti/MgCl2 catalyst such as a vanadium catalyst. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by the process of the invention as well as all articles formed from these compositions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and process for inspecting polymeric film seals and folds. Incident light is applied to the package to cause either reflected or transmitted light to reflect a pass through the poly wrap. The wrap affects the transmitted or reflected image in a manner which can be analyzed to determine the quality of the poly film application.