Abstract: A rubber composition comprising: a cured rubber; and thermoplastic resin, where the thermoplastic resin is in the form of discrete domains dispersed within a continuous phase of the cured rubber, and where the cured rubber includes silicon-containing crosslinks.

Abstract: In a process for producing a heterogeneous polymer blend, at least one first monomer is polymerized in a first reaction zone in the presence of a supported catalyst to produce a thermoplastic first polymer having a crystallinity of at least 30%. At least part of said first polymer is then contacted with at least one second monomer and at least one polyene in a second reaction zone under conditions sufficient to polymerize said second monomer to produce a second polymer having a crystallinity of less than 20%. The second polymer is at least partially cross-linked in the second reaction zone such that at least a fraction of the second polymer is insoluble in xylene and such that the first and second polymers form different phases of the blend.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) comprising: contacting a thermoplastic polymer, a cross-linkable elastomer, at least one curative, and at least one cure activator in a solvent to form Composition A. The solvent is then removed, and thereafter the cross-linkable elastomer is at least partially cured. The average particle size of the cross-linkable elastomer is 10 microns or less after the solvent is removed.

Abstract: A homogeneous polymer blend comprises a thermoplastic first polymer having a crystallinity of at least 30%; and a second polymer having a crystallinity of more than 5% and being at least partially cross-linked.

Abstract: Methods for making a crosslinked elastomeric composition and articles made of the same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, an elastomeric composition comprising at least one propylene-based polymer is blended with at least one component selected from the group consisting of multifunctional acrylates, multifunctional methacrylates, functionalized polybutadiene resins, functionalized cyanurate, and allyl isocyanurate; and blended with at least one component selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, phosphites, and hindered amines. The propylene-based polymer can include propylene derived units and one or more dienes, and have a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g. The blended composition can then be extruded and crosslinked. The extruded polymer can be crosslinked using electron beam radiation having an e-beam dose of about 100 KGy or less. The crosslinked polymers are particularly useful for making fibers and films.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with unique morphological features, more specifically, this invention relates to a method for preparing TPV compositions wherein the mixing of plastomers and elastomers are carried out in solvent with curatives to induce cross-linking.

Abstract: An article for sealing the contents of a container, the article comprising a member adapted for sealing the container, where the member includes a thermoplastic vulcanizate including a dynamically cured butyl rubber, a thermoplastic polyurethane having a glass transition temperature of less than about 60° C., and a synthetic oil.

Abstract: A copolymer is formed from an isoolefin having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms and an alkylstyrene. The copolymer has a substantially homogeneous compositional distribution. The copolymer has from about 8 to about 12 wt % of alkylstyrene and at least 85 wt % of isoolefin. The copolymer is preferably halogenated with about 1.1 to about 1.5 wt % of a halogen. The copolymer may in elastomeric nanocomposites. To obtain a good dispersion of the nanoclay in a formulated compound, at least one cure accelerator is selected from the group consisting of mercaptobenzothiazole disulfide, mercaptobenzothiazole, cyclohexyl benzothiazole disulfide, dibutyl thiourea, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, 4-4-dithiodimropholine, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, and zinc dibutylphosphorodithiate.

Abstract: Provided are crosslinkable propylene-based copolymers, methods for making the same, elastomeric compositions including the same, and articles made therefrom, e.g., films and fibers. Exemplary elastomeric compositions are composed of at least one propylene-based polymer comprising propylene derived units and one or more dienes, the propylene-based polymer having a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g; about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % vinyl siloxane; and about 0.1 wt % to about 1.0 wt % peroxide. The elastomeric compositions can be extruded and crosslinked at a temperature of at least about 50° C. and a relative humidity of at least about 90% to provide a crosslinked elastomeric composition. The crosslinked elastomeric compositions are particularly useful for making fibers and films.

Abstract: Methods for making a crosslinked elastomeric composition and articles made of the same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, an elastomeric composition comprising at least one propylene-based polymer is blended with at least one component selected from the group consisting of multifunctional acrylates, multifunctional methacrylates, functionalized polybutadiene resins, functionalized cyanurate, and allyl isocyanurate; and blended with at least one component selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, phosphites, and hindered amines. The propylene-based polymer can include propylene derived units and one or more dienes, and have a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g. The blended composition can then be extruded and crosslinked. The extruded polymer can be crosslinked using electron beam radiation having an e-beam dose of about 100 KGy or less. The crosslinked polymers are particularly useful for making fibers and films.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method of curing a rubber composition comprising providing a rubber; intimately contacting a curative agent with the rubber; wherein the curative agent consists essentially of a phenol formaldehyde resin, a metal oxide and a carboxylic acid metal salt. Another aspect of the present invention is to a method of curing a rubber composition comprising providing a rubber; intimately contacting a curative agent with the rubber; wherein the curative agent comprises a phenol formaldehyde resin and carboxylic acid metal salt; and wherein halogen-donating species are absent from the rubber and curative agent.

Abstract: Methods for making a crosslinked elastomeric composition and articles made of the same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, an elastomeric composition comprising at least one propylene-based polymer is blended with at least one component selected from the group consisting of multifunctional acrylates, multifunctional methacrylates, functionalized polybutadiene resins, functionalized cyanurate, and allyl isocyanurate; and blended with at least one component selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, phosphites, and hindered amines. The propylene-based polymer can include propylene derived units and one or more dienes, and have a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g. The blended composition can then be extruded and crosslinked. The extruded polymer can be crosslinked using electron beam radiation having an e-beam dose of about 100 KGy or less. The crosslinked polymers are particularly useful for making fibers and films.

Abstract: A composition is described in one aspect as comprising one or more propylene-?-olefin terpolymers; wherein the propylene-?-olefin terpolymer(s) possess a melting temperature (Tm) within the range of from less than 105° C., and a heat of fusion (Hf) within the range of from less than 75 J/g; one or more polyolefin(s); and oil; wherein fillers are present, if at all, at a level that maintains a Haze value of 65% or less for the composition. The terpolymer in one embodiment is a polymer comprising at least 65 wt %, by weight of the terpolymer, of propylene-derived units, within the range of from 5 to 35 wt % of ethylene or other ?-olefin and a diene such as ethylidiene norbornene, and in certain embodiments having a Mooney Viscosity (ML(1+4)@125° C.) within the range of from 10 to 50 (ASTM D1646). The compositions can be cured to form transparent or translucent articles such as sheets that are also flexible.

Abstract: A closed cell foam material contains a propylene based polymer comprising from about 5% to about 32% by weight ?-olefin units. The propylene based polymer has a heat of fusion, as determined by DSC, of less than 80 J/g. The material also contains 0.5 to 5 phr peroxide, 1.0 to 5.0 phr blowing agent, and 0.1 to 10 phr co-agent. The cells of closed cell foam material have a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer having isotactic polypropylene crystallinity compounded with a blend rubber wherein the terpolymer can be present in an amount effective to improve tack, aged tensile strength retention, fatigue resistance, ozone cracking resistance, and reversion resistance. Also disclosed is an elastomer composition wherein the terpolymer can have at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units, at least 6 wt % ethylene-derived units and from 0.3 to 10 wt % diene-derived units, and a tire sidewall composition comprising from 10 to 30 phr terpolymer, from 20 to 60 phr natural rubber, from 20 to 60 phr polybutadiene rubber, and an optional secondary blend rubber. Also disclosed is a vulcanizate of the elastomer composition, and articles, tire sidewalls, tires, retreaded tires, bias truck tires, off-road tires, and passenger automobile tires made with the vulcanizate. Further disclosed are processes for making molded articles and tires, and for retreading tires.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method of curing a rubber composition comprising providing a rubber; intimately contacting a curative agent with the rubber; wherein the curative agent consists essentially of a phenol formaldehyde resin, a metal oxide and a carboxylic acid metal salt. Another aspect of the present invention is to a method of curing a rubber composition comprising providing a rubber; intimately contacting a curative agent with the rubber; wherein the curative agent comprises a phenol formaldehyde resin and carboxylic acid metal salt; and wherein halogen-donating species are absent from the rubber and curative agent.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising a) a dynamically vulcanized rubber, b) a thermoplastic resin, and c) optionally a synthetic oil, where the thermoplastic vulcanizate is substantially devoid of mineral oils.

Abstract: A method for extruding transparent and/or translucent article is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a propylene-based polymer comprising propylene derived units and one or more dienes, the propylene-based polymer having a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g, extruding the propylene-based polymer in the absence of processing oil into an article; and then crosslinking the extruded article.

Abstract: The invention described relates to formed profiles comprising microcellular TPE foam compositions, and articles therefrom, wherein the TPE are thermoplastic vulcanizates. The foamed thermoplastic elastomer profile comprises a foamable thermoplastic elastomer composition having a) a cross-linkable hydrocarbon rubber in the presence of b) a thermoplastic polyolefin resin having a Tm greater than 120° C. wherein said composition further comprising: a) 25 to 30 wt % of a partially or fully vulcanized reaction product of said cross-linkable hydrocarbon rubber with a cross-linking agent, said reaction product being present as a dispersed phase; b) 7 to 12 wt % of said thermoplastic resin as a continuous phase; c) 8-22 wt % of an elastomeric thermoplastic modifier comprising 1) 3-7 wt. % copolymers of propylene with one or more of ethylene and C4-C10 alpha-olefins, said copolymers having a Tm greater than 20° C. and less than 120° C., and, 2) 5-15 wt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) comprising: contacting a thermoplastic polymer, a cross-linkable elastomer, at least one curative, and at least one cure activator in a solvent to form Composition A. The solvent is then removed, and thereafter the cross-linkable elastomer is at least partially cured. The average particle size of the cross-linkable elastomer is 10 microns or less after the solvent is removed.