Syndiotactic rich polyolefins

• US 20060020067A1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Brant, Patrick, Tse, Mun Fu, Jiang, Peijun, Gong, Caiguo, Wakabayashi, Hideaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/236
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2207/12 Syndiotactic polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/24 Graft or block copolymers according to groups C08L51/00, C08L53/00 or C08L55/02; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/06 grafted on to homopolymers or copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 123/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of propene

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a polymer comprising an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprising greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins and having about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer; a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less according to the procedure described in ASTM E 794-85; and an ash content of 1 wt % or less. A functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is also disclosed, along with methods to produce and a method to use the inventive polymer.

Claims

1. An amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprising greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins and having:

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

2. The polymer of claim 1 having at least about 55% r dyads.

3. The polymer of claim 1 having at least about 6.25% r pentads to about 31.6% r-pentads, based on the total number of r and m-pentads present in the polymer.

4. The polymer of claim 1, comprising greater than about 60 wt % propylene.

5. The polymer of claim 1, further comprising at least 0.5 wt % ethylene, based on the total weight of the polymer.

6. The polymer of claim 1, wherein the heat of fusion is not detectable.

7. The polymer of claim 1 having an ash content of 0.1 wt % or less.

8. The polymer of claim 1, having a density of about 0.85 to about 0.88 g/ml.

9. The polymer of claim 1 having a melt flow rate of 0.2 g/10 min or greater.

10. The polymer of claim 1, wherein at least about 95 wt % of the polymer is soluble in hexane, cyclohexane, xylene or toluene at 25°

C., based on the total weight of the polymer present.

11. The polymer of claim 1, having a weight average molecular weight of about 5000 to about 5,000,000 g/mole.

12. The polymer of claim 1, having a number average molecular weight of about 5000 to about 3,000,000 g/mole.

13. The polymer of claim 1, having a z average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 10,000,000 g/mole.

14. The polymer of claim 1, having g′

index of about 1.2 to about 1.5, as determined at Mw of the polymer.

15. The polymer of claim 1, having no discernable crystallization temperature (Tc).

97. A consumer good, an article of manufacture, a packaging adhesive, a package, a disposable article, a film, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a laminate article, a fiber product, a hot melt adhesive, a carpet, a tape, a shingle, a roofing element, a reflective article, a woodworking article, a consumer article, a label, a bookbinding article, a roadmarking composition, a sealant composition, a paving composition, a glue stick, a pipe wrapping article, an article having a transparent pane, or a combination thereof, comprising the adhesive composition of claim 1.

16. A polymer blend comprising:

an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin having greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefms, about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer, a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less, and an ash content of 1 wt % or less; and

at least one additive comprising a C2-C40 polymer, a C2-C40 copolymer, an elastomer, a random copolymer, an impact copolymer, a fluctional polymer, a tackifier, a crosslinking agent, an antioxidant, a neutralizing agent, a nucleating agent, a filler, an adhesion promoter, an oil, a plasticizer, a wax, an ester polymer, a rubber toughened composition, a recycled polymer, a block, an antiblock, a pigment, a dye, a processing aid, a UV stabilizer, a lubricant, an adjuvant, a surfactant, a color masterbatch, a flow improver, a crystallization aid, a polyalphaolefin, a Group III basestock, or a combination thereof.

17. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of a homopolypropylene, a propylene copolymerized with up to 50 wt % of ethylene or a C4 to C20 alpha-olefin, an isotactic polypropylene, a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, a random copolymer of polypropylene and butene or hexene, a polybutene, an ethylene vinyl acetate, a polyethylene having a density of 0.915 to less than 0.935 g/cm3, a linear polyethylene, a polyethylene having a density of 0.86 to less than 0.90 g/cm3, a polyethylene having a density of 0.90 to less than 0.915 g/cm3, a polyethylene having a density of 0.935 to less than 0.945 g/cm3, a polyethylene having a density of 0.945 to 0.98 g/cm3, an ethylene methyl acrylate, a copolymers of acrylic acid, a polymethylmethacrylate, a polyvinylchloride, a polybutene-1, an isotactic polybutene, an ABS resins, an ethylene-propylene rubber, a vulcanized EPR, an EPDM, a SBS elastomer, a polyamide, a polycarbonate, a PET resin, a crosslinked polyethylene, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, a polystyrene, a poly-1 ester, a polyacrylonitrile homopolymer, a polyacrylonitrile copolymer, a thermoplastic polyamide, a polyacetal, a polyvinylidine fluoride, a polyethylene glycol a polyisobutylene, and a combination thereof.

18. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises an elastomer prepared by polymerizing propylene with ethylene in the presence of a chiral metallocene catalyst with an activator and optionally a scavenger, the elastomer having an average propylene content on a molar basis of from about 68% to about 92%.

19. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a semi-crystalline propylene copolymers having:

A. a heat of fusion from about 0.5 J/g to about 25 J/g,

B. a crystallinity of about 0.25% to about 15%,

C. a single broad melting point from about 25°

C. to about 75°

C.,

D. a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 5,000,000 g/cc,

E. a MWD (Mw/Mn) between 1.5 to 40.0, and/or

F. a Mooney viscosity ML (1+4)@125°

C. of less than 100.

20. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a rubber toughened composition, wherein the rubber is an ethylene propylene rubber, an ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, a neoprene rubber, and/or a styrenic block copolymer rubber, and wherein the rubber is a discontinuous phase within a continuous phase comprising the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin.

21. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a random copolymer produced by copolymerizing propylene in a single reactor process with ethylene, such that the random copolymer comprises about 3 to about 17 mole % ethylene.

22. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a random copolymer having a narrow compositional distribution, such that 75 wt % of the random copolymer is isolated as one or two adjacent, soluble fractions with the balance of the polymer in immediately preceding or succeeding fractions as determined by thermal fractionation in a saturated hydrocarbon.

23. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a fluctional polymer comprising a linear isotactic polymer comprising C2 to C20 olefins, of which the isotacticity due to statistic distribution of stereoscopic errors in the polymer chain has a 25 to 60% [mmmm] pentad concentration, a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 800,000 g/mol, a glass transition temperature of from −

50 to 30°

C., an [rmrm] pentad concentration having a maximum of 2.5% of the entire pentad area, a [rrrr] and a [rrrm] pentad concentration that when combined, have a pentad concentration which is greater than the concentration of [rmrm] pentad, and is essentially soluble in toluene at a 20 to 80°

C.

24. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a tackifier selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, polycyclopentadiene resins, gum rosins, gum rosin esters, wood rosins, wood rosin esters, tall oil rosins, tall oil rosin esters, polyterpenes, aromatic modified polyterpenes, terpene phenolics, aromatic modified hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, hydrogenated aliphatic resin, hydrogenated aliphatic aromatic resins, hydrogenated terpenes and modified terpenes, hydrogenated rosin acids, and hydrogenated rosin esters.

25. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting, of alcohols, multiols, amines, diamines, and triamines.

26. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive comprises a polar wax, a non-polar wax, a polypropylene wax, a polyethylene wax, a Fischer-Tropsch wax, an oxidized Fischer-Tropsch wax, a hydroxystearamide wax, a functionalized wax, an amorphous wax, carnauba wax, castor oil wax, microcrystalline wax, beeswax, carnauba wax, castor wax, spermaceti wax, vegetable wax, candelilla wax, japan wax, ouricury wax, douglas-fir bark wax, rice-bran wax, jojoba wax, bayberry wax, montan wax, peat wax, ozokerite wax, ceresin wax, petroleum wax, paraffin wax, polyethylene wax, chemically modified hydrocarbon wax, substituted amide wax, and/or combinations and derivatives thereof.

27. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive includes a crystallization aid.

28. The polymer blend of claim 16, comprising from 10 to 90 wt % additive, based upon the weight of the polymer blend.

29. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the additive is an organo-clay present in the blend at from 0.1 to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the blend, and wherein the organo-clay selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, sodium montmorillonite, calcium montmorillonite, magnesium montmorillonite, nontronite, beidellite, volkonskoite, laponite, hectorite, saponite, sauconite, magadite, kenyaite, sobockite, svindordite, stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, aluminate oxides, hydrotalcite, illite, rectorite, tarosovite, ledikite, florine mica, and a combination thereof.

30. The polymer blend of claim 16, wherein the polymer blend is a mater batch melt blended under high shear conditions with at least one additive, to produce a concentrate containing from 10 to 90 wt.% of the polymer blend.

31. An amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin that has been functionalized with a functional group;

wherein prior to being functionalized, the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises;

greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less according to the procedure described in ASTM E 794-85; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

32. The polymer of claim 31 having at least about 6.25% r pentads to about 31.6% r-pentads, based on the total number of r and m-pentads present in the polymer.

33. The polymer of claim 31, comprising greater than about 50 wt % propylene.

34. The polymer of claim 31, further comprising at least 0.5 wt % ethylene, based on the total weight of the polymer.

35. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the heat of fusion is not detectable.

36. The polymer of claim 31 having an ash content of 0.1 wt % or less.

37. The polymer of claim 31 having a melt flow rate of 0.2 g/10 min or greater.

38. The polymer of claim 31, wherein at least about 95 wt % of the polymer is soluble in hexane, cyclohexane, xylene or toluene at 25°

C., based on the total weight of the polymer present.

39. The polymer of claim 31, having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 5000 to about 5,000,000 g/mole.

40. The polymer of claim 31, having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 5,000 to about 3,000,000 g/mole.

41. The polymer of claim 31, having a z average molecular weight (Mz) of about 5,000 to about 10,000,000 g/mole.

42. The polymer of claim 31, having no discernable crystallization temperature (Tc).

43. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the functional group comprises a compound having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 or less, and a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond, and/or a heteroatom.

44. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the functional group comprises B, N, O, Si, P, F, Cl, Br, I, S, or a combination thereof.

45. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the fluctional group is an aromatic compound, a vinyl compound, an organic acid, an organic amide, an organic amine, an organic ester, an organic di-ester, an organic imide, an organic anhydride, an organic alcohol, an organic acid halide, an organic peroxide, and/or salts thereof.

46. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the functional group is maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, 2-methyl maleic anhydride, 2-chloromaleic anhydride, 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride, bicyclo[2,2,1]-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, 4-methyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, crotonic acid, bicyclo(2.2.2)oct-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 1,2,3,4,5,&

6, octahydronaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 2-oxa-1,3-diketospiro(4.4)non-7-ene, bicyclo(2.2.1)hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, maleopimaric acid, tetrahydrophtalic anhydride, norborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, nadic anhydride, methyl nadic anhydride, himic anhydride, methyl himic anhydride, x-methyl-bicyclo(2.2.1)hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltris(beta-methoxyethoxy)silane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane monovinylsilane, monoallylsilane, vinyl chloride, or vinylidene chloride.

47. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the functional group is present in the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin at 1 to 5 wt %, based on the total weight of the functionalized polyolefin.

48. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is heat stable.

49. The polymer of claim 31, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride, and wherein maleic anhydride is present in the functionalized syndiotactic rich polypropylene at a concentration of about 0.005 to 10 wt % maleic anhydride, based upon the weight of the ftnctionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene.

50. The polymer of claim 49, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene comprises less than about 1000 ppm free acid groups, based on the total weight of the polypropylene, and wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene comprises less than about 100 ppm phosphite, based on the total weight of the polypropylene.

51. A polymer blend comprising:

an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin that has been functionalized with a functional group;

wherein prior to being functionalized, the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises;

greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins, about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer, a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less, and an ash content of 1 wt % or less; and

at least one additive comprising a C2-C40 polymer, a C2-C40 copolymer, an elastomer, a random copolymer, an impact copolymer, a fluctional polymer, a tackifier, a crosslinking agent, an antioxidant, a neutralizing agent, a nucleating agent, a filler, an adhesion promoter, an oil, a plasticizer, a wax, an ester polymer, a rubber toughened composition, a recycled polymer, a block, an antiblock, a pigment, a dye, a processing aid, a UV stabilizer, a lubricant, an adjuvant, a surfactant, a color masterbatch, a flow improver, a crystallization aid, or a combination thereof.

52. The polymer of claim 51, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride, and wherein maleic anhydride is present in the functionalized syndiotactic rich polypropylene at a concentration of about 0.005 to 10 wt % maleic anhydride, based upon the weight of the finctionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene.

53. The polymer blend of claim 51, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of a homopolypropylene, a propylene copolymerized with up to 50 wt % of ethylene or a C4 to C20 alpha-olefm, an isotactic polypropylene, a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, a random copolymer of polypropylene and butene or hexene, a polybutene, an ethylene vinyl acetate, a polyethylene having a density of 0.915 to less than 0.935 g/cm3, a linear polyethylene, a polyethylene having a density of 0.86 to less than 0.90 g/cm3, a polyethylene having a density of 0.90 to less than 0.915 g/cm3, a polyethylene having a density of 0.935 to less than 0.945 g/cm3, a polyethylene having a density of 0.945 to 0.98 g/cm3, an ethylene methyl acrylate, a copolymers of acrylic acid, a polymethylmethacrylate, a polyvinylchloride, a polybutene-1, an isotactic polybutene, an ABS resins, an ethylene-propylene rubber, a vulcanized EPR, an EPDM, a SBS elastomer, a polyamide, a polycarbonate, a PET resin, a crosslinked polyethylene, a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, a polystyrene, a poly-1 ester, a polyacrylonitrile homopolymer, a polyacrylonitrile copolymer, a thermoplastic polyamide, a polyacetal, a polyvinylidine fluoride, a polyethylene glycol a polyisobutylene, and a combination thereof.

54. The polymer blend of claim 51, wherein the additive comprises a semi-crystalline propylene copolymers having:

A. a heat of fusion from about 0.5 J/g to about 25 J/g,

B. a crystallinity of about 0.25% to about 15%,

C. a single broad melting point from about 25°

C. to about 75°

C.,

D. a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 5,000,000 g/cc,

E. a MWD (Mw/Mn) between 1.5 to 40.0, and/or

F. a Mooney viscosity ML (1+4)@125°

C. of less than 100.

55. The polymer blend of claim 51, wherein the additive comprises a random copolymer produced by copolymerizing propylene in a single reactor process with ethylene, such that the random copolymer comprises about 3 to about 17 mole % ethylene, and wherein the random copolymer has a narrow compositional distribution, such that 75 wt % of the random copolymer is isolated as one or two adjacent, soluble fractions with the balance of the polymer in immediately preceding or succeeding fractions as determined by thermal fractionation in a saturated hydrocarbon.

56. The polymer blend of claim 51, wherein the additive comprises a tackifier selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, polycyclopentadiene resins, gum rosins, gum rosin esters, wood rosins, wood rosin esters, tall oil rosins, tall oil rosin esters, polyterpenes, aromatic modified polyterpenes, terpene phenolics, aromatic modified hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, hydrogenated aliphatic resin, hydrogenated aliphatic aromatic resins, hydrogenated terpenes and modified terpenes, hydrogenated rosin acids, and hydrogenated rosin esters.

57. The polymer blend of claim 51, comprising from 10 to 90 wt % additive, based upon the weight of the polymer blend.

58. The contact product of an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin, a functional group, and a functionalization catalyst, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises:

greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

59. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functionalization catalyst is an organic peroxide.

60. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functionalization catalyst is selected from the group consisting of benzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide, t-butylperoxyisopropyl carbonate, di-ti-butyl perphthalate, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexene-3, di-t-butyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, dilauryl peroxide dicumyl peroxide, and a combination thereof.

61. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functional group comprises a compound having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 or less, and a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond, and/or a heteroatom.

62. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functional group comprises B, N, O, Si, P, F, Cl, Br, I, S, or a combination thereof.

63. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functional group is an aromatic compound, a vinyl compound, an organic acid, an organic amide, an organic amine, an organic ester, an organic di-ester, an organic imide, an organic anhydride, an organic alcohol, an organic acid halide, an organic peroxide, and/or salts thereof.

64. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functional group is maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, 2-methyl maleic anhydride, 2-chloromaleic anhydride, 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride, bicyclo[2,2,1]-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, 4-methyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, crotonic acid, bicyclo(2.2.2)oct-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 1,2,3,4,5,&

g, lo-octahydronaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 2-oxa-1,3-diketospiro(4.4)non-7-ene, bicyclo(2.2.1)hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, maleopimaric acid, tetrahydrophtalic anhydride, norborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, nadic anhydride, methyl nadic anhydride, himic anhydride, methyl himic anhydride, x-methyl-bicyclo(2.2.1)hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltris(beta-methoxyethoxy)silane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane monovinylsilane, monoallylsilane, vinyl chloride, or vinylidene chloride.

65. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functional group is present in the contact product at 0.005 to 99 wt %, based on the total weight of the contact product.

66. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functional group is present in the contact product at 1 to 5 wt %, based on the total weight of the contact product.

67. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the contact product is heat stale.

68. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene, wherein the functional group is maleic anhydride, and wherein maleic anhydride is present in the contact product at a concentration of about 0.005 to 10 wt % maleic anhydride, based upon the weight of the contact product.

69. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene, the functional group is maleic anhydride, and wherein the contact product comprises less than about 1000 ppm free acid groups, based on the total weight of the contact product.

70. The contact product of claim 58, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene, the functional group is maleic anhydride, and wherein the contact product comprises less than about 100 ppm phosphite, based on the total weight of the contact product.

71. A polymer comprising amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene functionalized with maleic anhydride, wherein the functionalized polypropylene comprises about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

72. The polymer of claim 71 having at least about 6.25% r pentads to about 31.6% r-pentads, based on the total number of r and m-pentads present in the polymer.

73. The polymer of claim 71, further comprising at least 0.5 wt % ethylene, based on the total weight of the polymer.

74. The polymer of claim 71, wherein the heat of fusion is not detectable.

75. The polymer of claim 71 having an ash content of 0.1 wt % or less.

76. The polymer of claim 71 having a melt flow rate of 0.2 g/10 min or greater.

77. The polymer of claim 71, wherein at least about 99 wt % of the polymer is soluble in hexane, cyclohexane, xylene or toluene at 25°

C., based on the total weight of the polymer present.

78. The polymer of claim 71, having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 5000 to about 5,000,000 g/mole.

79. The polymer of claim 71, having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 5,000 to about 3,000,000 g/mole.

80. The polymer of claim 71, having a z average molecular weight (Mz) of about 5,000 to about 10,000,000 g/mole.

81. The polymer of claim 71, having no discernable crystallization temperature (Tc).

82. The polymer of claim 71, wherein the maleic anhydride is present in the polymer at 0.005 to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer.

83. The polymer of claim 71, wherein the polymer is heat stable.

84. A polymer blend comprising amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene functionalized with maleic anhydride, and at least one additive, wherein the functionalized polypropylene comprises about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less, and wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of a C2-C40 polymer, an elastomer, a random copolymer, an impact copolymer, a fluctional polymer, a tackifier, a crosslinking agent, an antioxidant, a neutralizing agent, a nucleating agent, a filler, an adhesion promoter, an oil, a plasticizer, a wax, an ester polymer, a block, an antiblock, a pigment, a dye, a processing aid, a UV stabilizer, a lubricant an adjuvant, a surfactant, a color masterbatch, a flow improver, a crystallization aid, and a combination thereof.

85. The polymer blend of claim 84, comprising from 10 to 90 wt % additive, based upon the weight of the polymer blend.

86. An adhesive composition comprising an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin, an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin that has been functionalized with a functional group, or a combination thereof, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises:

greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins;

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less,

and wherein the functional group, when present, comprises a compound having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 or less, and a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond, and/or a heteroatom;

the adhesive composition having a peel strength to isotactic polypropylene of greater than about 3.5 lb/in, and a peel strength to polyester film of greater than about 0.5 lb/in.

87. The adhesive composition of claim 86 further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a C2-C40 polymer, a C2-C40 copolymer, an elastomer, a random copolymer, an impact copolymer, a fluctional polymer, a tackifier, a crosslinking agent, an antioxidant, a neutralizing agent, a nucleating agent, a filler, an adhesion promoter, an oil, a plasticizer, a wax, an ester polymer, a rubber toughened composition, a recycled polymer, a block, an antiblock, a pigment, a dye, a processing aid, a UV stabilizer, a lubricant, an adjuvant, a surfactant, a color masterbatch, a flow improver, a crystallization aid, and a combination thereof.

88. The adhesive composition of claim 86, wherein at least about 95 wt % of the adhesive is soluble in hexane, cyclohexane, xylene or toluene at 25°

C., based on the total weight of the adhesive present.

89. The adhesive composition of claim 86 wherein the polyolefin comprises greater than about 60 wt % propylene.

90. The adhesive composition of claim 86 wherein the polyolefin comprises at least 0.5 wt % ethylene, based on the total weight of the polyolefin.

91. The adhesive composition of claim 86 wherein a heat of fusion of the polyolefin is not detectable.

92. The adhesive composition of claim 86 wherein the polyolefin comprises an ash content of 0.1 wt % or less.

93. The adhesive composition of claim 86 further comprising one or more tackifiers selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, polycyclopentadiene resins, gum rosins, gum rosin esters, wood rosins, wood rosin esters, tall oil rosins, tall oil rosin esters, polyterpenes, aromatic modified polyterpenes, terpene phenolics, aromatic modified hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, hydrogenated aliphatic resin, hydrogenated aliphatic aromatic resins, hydrogenated terpenes and modified terpenes, hydrogenated rosin acids, hydrogenated rosin esters, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

94. The adhesive composition of claim 86, wherein the adhesive further comprises one or more waxes selected from the group consisting of polar waxes, non-polar waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, oxidized Fischer-Tropsch waxes, hydroxystearamide waxes, functionalized waxes, polypropylene waxes, polyethylene waxes, wax modifiers, and combinations thereof.

95. The adhesive composition of claim 86 wherein the adhesive further comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, oils, stabilizers, antioxidants, pigments, dyestuffs, polymeric additives, defoamers, preservatives, thickeners, rheology modifiers, humectants, fillers and water.

96. The adhesive composition of claim 86, having a set time of 30 seconds or less.

98. An amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin that has been functionalized with a functional group;

wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises;

greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polymer; and

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less.

99. A process to make a polymeric material comprising the steps of:

melt blending an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin and at least one additive under high shear conditions to produce a concentrate containing from 10 to 90 wt. % of the polyolefin, and

subsequently blending the concentrate with at least one additional material to produce a final product, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises;

greater than about 50 wt % C3-C40 alpha olefins;

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polyolefin;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less; and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

100. The process of claim 99, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin has been functionalized with a functional group, the functional group comprising a compound having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 or less, and a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond, and/or a heteroatom.

101. The process of claim 100, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene functionalized with maleic anhydride.

102. The process of claim 101, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is functionalized simultaneously with the formation of the concentrate.

103. A method to produce a functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprising the steps of:

A. providing an olefin monomer, metallocene catalyst, and an activator to a reactor in an aliphatic solvent;

B. catalytic solution polymerization of said olefin monomer in said reactor to produce an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin;

C. monomer stripping to remove unreacted olefin monomer;

D. solvent based functionalization;

comprising combining said amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin with a functional group and with a free radical initiator in said aliphatic solvent, at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce said functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin; and

optionally

E. removal of said aliphatic solvent,

wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins;

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polyolefin;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less, and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene functionalized with maleic anhydride.

105. The method of claim 103, further comprising the addition of an organo-clay after said solvent based functionalization step D.

106. A method to produce a functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprising the steps of:

A. providing a melt comprising an amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin, a functional group, and a free radical initiator to a mixing device;

B. contacting said melt within said mixing device at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce said functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin, wherein the amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin comprises greater than about 50 wt % C₃-C₄₀ alpha olefins;

about 50% to less than about 80% r dyads, based on the total number of r and m dyads present in the polyolefin;

a heat of fusion of 10 joules/g or less, and

an ash content of 1 wt % or less.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the functionalized amorphous syndiotactic rich polyolefin is amorphous syndiotactic rich polypropylene functionalized with maleic anhydride.

108. The method of claim 106, further comprising the addition of an organo-clay after said contacting step B.