SEMI-CRYSTALLINE POLYOLEFIN COMPOSITION, METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, AND ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM

• US 20130030100A1
• Filed: 06/30/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.), Rohm and Haas Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.), Rohm and Haas Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cho, Jian-Yang, Van Heeringen, Mark J.M., Tottle van't Westeinde, Marlies C., Klasen, Dorothy, Saint-Gerard, Yannick
• Granted Patent: US 8,680,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/226
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0083 Nucleating agents promoting the crystallisation of the polymer matrix
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/20 Carboxylic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/142 at least partially crystalline copolymers of propene with other olefins

Abstract

A semi-crystalline polyolefin composition comprising: a thermoplastic crystallizable polyolefin; and one or more di-alkyl bis-oxalamide compounds having the formula:

wherein R₁ is a spacer group and each R₂ is a peripheral group and wherein each of R₁ and R₂^a and R₂^b is an independently selected hydrocarbyl group is provided. Also provided are a method for producing the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition and articles made therefrom.

Claims

1. A semi-crystalline polyolefin composition comprising:

a thermoplastic crystallizable polyolefin; and

one or more di-alkyl bis-oxalamide compounds having the formula;

3. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms and aryls, and each R₂ is selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and aryls, and wherein the R₂^a and R₂^b may be the same or different hydrocarbyl groups.

4. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more bis-oxalamide compounds are present in a total amount from 0.001 to 5 percent by weight.

6. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein each R₂ is selected from the group consisting of 1-dodecyl, 2-ethylhexyl, cyclohexyl, 4-methylphenyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl.

7. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition exhibits a reduction in haze of at least 15% in comparison to the haze of the thermoplastic semi-crystalline polyolefin in the absence of a clarifier.

8. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition exhibits an increase of the crystallization temperature of at least 4°

C. in comparison to the crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic crystallizable polyolefin in the absence of a clarifier.

9. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic crystallizable polyolefin is a crystallizable polypropylene.

10. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic crystallizable polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of propylene/α

-olefin random copolymer, propylene/α

-olefin segmented copolymer, and propylene/α

-olefin block copolymer.

12. The semi-crystalline polyolefin composition according to claim 1, wherein the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition further comprises one or more β

-nucleating agents selected from the group consisting of;

(1) aromatic sorbitol acetals;

(2) nucleating agents based upon salts of phosphoric acid;

(3) nucleating agents based upon salts of carboxylic acids;

(4) nucleating agents based upon carboxy aluminum-hydroxide;

(5) nucleating agents based upon salts of rosin/adiabatic acid;

(6) Zinc (II) monoglycerolate;

(7) nucleating agents based upon diamide compounds; and

(8) nucleating agents based upon trimesic acid derivatives.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13. A method of making a semi-crystalline polyolefin composition comprising:

providing a crystallizable polyolefin;

adding to the polyolefin one or more di-alkyl bis-oxalamide compounds having the formula;

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of adding one or more di-alkyl-bis-oxalamide compounds to the polyolefin is effected by twin screw extrusion.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

processing the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition with one or more processes selected from the group consisting of injection molding, blow molding, compression molding, roto-molding, and slush molding.

16. A method of making a semi-crystalline polyolefin composition comprising:

providing a crystallizable polyolefin;

adding to the polyolefin one or more di-alkyl bis-oxalamide compounds having the formula;

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms and aryls, and each R₂ is selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms and aryls.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more bis-oxalamide compounds are added in a total amount from 0.001 to 5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the polyolefin composition.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of hexyl, cyclohexyl and phenyl.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein each R₂ is selected from the group consisting of 1-dodecyl, 2-ethylhexyl, cyclohexyl, 4-methylphenyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition exhibits an increase of the crystallization temperature of at least 5°

C. in comparison to the crystallization temperature of the polyolefin in the absence of the clarifier.

17. (canceled)

23-29. -29. (canceled)