Structures and fabricated articles having shape memory made from .alpha.-olefin/vinyl or vinylidene aromatic and/or hindered aliphatic vinyl or vinylidene interpolymers

• US 6,156,842 A
• Filed: 03/10/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diehl, Charles F., Hoenig, Stephen M., Turley, Robert R., Cheung, Yunwa W., Guest, Martin J., Stewart, Kenneth B., Sneddon, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nutter, Nathan M.
• Application Number:
  US09/265,794
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 525/191, 525/214, 525/217, 525/220, 525/221, 525/222, 525/232, 525/233, 525/235, 525/240, 525/241, 428/373
• US Class Current: 525/171
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2203/12 used for fibers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/08 Copolymers of ethene C08L23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0838 Copolymers of ethene with aromatic monomers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/16 Elastomeric ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers, e.g. EPR and EPDM rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2314/06 Metallocene or single site catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 25/06 Polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 27/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/02 of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 55/02 ABS [Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene] polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/00 Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 77/00 Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 123/08 Copolymers of ethene C09J123/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/06 with at least one polyolefin as constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]

Abstract

The present invention pertains to structures and fabricated articles having shape/reshape behavior (and processes for their preparation) comprising;

(A) from about 1 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.1 to about 1,000 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.5 to about 20, which comprises;

(1) from about 38 to about 65 mol % of 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) from about 35 to about 62 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene and/or at least one C_3-20 α-olefin; and

(B) from 0 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one polymer other than that of Component A; and

(C) from 0 to about 50 % by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one tackifier; and

(D) from 0 to about 80% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one filler.

Claims

1. A structure or fabricated article having shape memory behavior comprising;

(A) from about 1 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.1 to about 1,000 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.5 to about 20, which comprises;

(1) from about 38 to about 65 mol % of 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) from about 35 to about 62 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene and/or at least one C_3-20 α

-olefin; and

(B) from 0 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one polymer other than that of Component A; and

(C) from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one tackifier; and

(D) from 0 to about 80% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one filler.

2. The structure or fabricated article of claim 1 wherein;

(i) Component (A) is present in an amount of from about 10 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.5 to about 200 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.8 to about 10;

comprising

(1) from about 45 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from;

(a) said vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer represented by the following formula;

##STR7## wherein R¹ is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing three carbons or less, and Ar is a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C_1-4 -alkyl, and C_1-4 -haloalkyl;

or

(b) said hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer is represented by the following general formula;

##STR8## wherein A¹ is a sterically bulky, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic substituent of up to 20 carbons, R¹ is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably hydrogen or methyl;

each R² is independently selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably hydrogen or methyl;

or alternatively R¹ and A¹ together form a ring system;

or

(C) A combination of at least one aromatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidenc monomer, and (2) from about 45 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene, or ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1; and

ii) Component B is present in amount of from 0 to about 90 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises one or more of

1) a homogeneous interpolymer,

2) a heterogeneous interpolymer;

3) a thermoplastic olefin,

4) a styrenic block copolymer,

5) a styrenic copolymer,

6) an elastomer,

7) a thermoset polymer,

8) a vinyl halide polymer, or

9) an engineering thermoplastic; and

iii) said tackifier, Component C, is present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises wood rosin, tall oil derivatives, cyclopentadiene derivatives, natural and synthetic terpenes, terpenephenolics, styrene/α

-methyl styrene resins, and mixed aliphatic-aromatic tackifying resins or any combination thereof; and

iv) said filler, Component D, is present in an amount from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises talc, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, carbon black, glass fibers, clay, feldspar, silica or glass, fumed silica, alumina, magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, antimony oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, titanium dioxide, glass microspheres, chalk or any combination thereof.

3. The structure or fabricated article of claim 1 wherein;

(i) Component (A) is present in an amount of from about 50 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B)) and comprises at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.5 to about 100 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 2 to about 5;

(1) from about 48 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from;

a) said vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer which comprises styrene, α

-methyl styrene, ortho-, meta-, and para-methylstyrene, and the ring halogenated styrenes, or

b) said hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinyl or vinylidene monomers which comprises 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene or 1-vinylcyclo-hexene, 3-vinylcyclo-hexene, and 4-vinylcyclohexene;

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) from about 45 to about 52 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene, or ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1;

or

ii) Component B is present in amount of from 0 to about 50 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises one or more of;

1) a substantially linear ethylene/α

-olefin interpolymer;

2) a heterogeneous ethylene/C₃ -C₈ (α

-olefin interpolymer;

3) an ethylene/propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene;

4) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer,

5) the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene,

6) polyisoprene, polybutadiene, natural rubbers, ethylene/propylene rubbers, ethylene/propylene diene (EPDM) rubbers, styrene/butadiene rubbers, thermoplastic polyurethanes,

7) epoxies, vinyl ester resins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins,

8) homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride,

9) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester,nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);

poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates, and

iii) said tackifier, Component C, is present in an amount from about 10 to about 40% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) and comprises, styrene/α

-methyl styrene resins, and mixed aliphatic-aromatic tackifying resins or any combination thereof; and

iv) said filler, Component D, is present in an amount from 0 to about 20% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises talc, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, or any combination thereof.

4. The structure or fabricated article of claim 3 wherein Component A1 is styrene, Component A2 is ethylene, Component B is poly(methylmethacrylate), and Component C is a styrene/α

-methyl styrene resin.

5. The structure or fabricated article of claim 3 wherein Component A1 is styrene;

and Component A2 is ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1;

Component B is poly(methylmethacrylate), and Component C is a styrene/α

-methyl styrene resin.

6. The fabricated article of claim 4 in the form of doll hair.

7. The fabricated article of claim 5 in the form of doll hair.

8. The fabricated article of claim 4 in the form of a toy.

9. The fabricated article of claim 5 in the form of a toy.

10. A process for shaping and reshaping a structure or fabricated article from a polymer having an original modulus, wherein said process comprises;

I) one or more applications of an energy source to said polymer which causes its modulus to decrease below said original modulus,

II) shaping or conforming said structure or fabricated article into a prescribed position,

III) removing said energy source which caused it to assume said prescribed position so as to regain said original modulus;

and wherein said polymer comprises;

(A) from about 1 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.1 to about 1,000 g/l 0 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.5 to about 20 which comprises;

(1) from about 38 to about 65 mol % of 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) from about 35 to about 62 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene and/or at least one C_3-20 α

-olefin; and

(B) from 0 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one polymer other than that of Component A; and

(C) from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one tackifier; and

(D) from 0 to about 80% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one filler.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein;

(i) Component (A) is present in an amount of from about 10 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.5 to about 200 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.8 to about 10;

comprising

(1) from about 45 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from;

(a) said vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer represented by the following formula;

##STR9## wherein R¹ is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing three carbons or less, and Ar is a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C_1-4 -alkyl, and C_1-4 -haloalkyl;

or

(b) said hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer is represented by the following general formula;

##STR10## wherein A¹ is a sterically bulky, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic substituent of up to 20 carbons, R¹ is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably hydrogen or methyl;

each R² is independently selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably hydrogen or methyl;

or alternatively R¹ and A¹ together form a ring system;

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) from about 45 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene, or ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1; and

ii) Component B is present in amount from 0 to about 90 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises one or more of

1) a homogeneous interpolymer,

2) a heterogeneous interpolymer;

3) a thermoplastic olefin,

4) a styrenic block copolymer,

5) a styrenic copolymer,

6) an elastomer,

7) a thermoset polymer,

8) a vinyl halide polymer, or

(9 an engineering thermoplastic; and

iii) said tackifier, Component C, is present in an amount from 5 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises wood rosin, tall oil derivatives, cyclopentadiene derivatives, natural and synthetic terpenes, terpene-phenolics, styrene/α

-methyl styrene resins, and mixed aliphatic-aromatic tackifying resins or any combination thereof; and

iv) said filler, Component D, is present in an amount from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises talc, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, carbon black, glass fibers, clay, feldspar, silica or glass, fumed silica, alumina, magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, antimony oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, titanium dioxide, glass microspheres, chalk or any combination thereof.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein;

(i) Component (A) is present in an amount from about 50 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B)) and comprises at least one substantially random interpolymer having, an I₂ of 0.5 to about 100 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 2 to about 5 comprising;

(1) from about 48 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from;

a) said vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer which comprises styrene, α

-methyl styrene, ortho-, meta-, and para-methylstyrene, and the ring halogenated styrenes, or

b) said hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers which comprises 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene or 1-vinylcyclo-hexene, 3-vinylcyclo-hexene, and 4-vinylcyclohexene;

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) from about 45 to about 52 mol % VINYLIDENE MONOMER, AND

     2) from about 45 to about 52 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene, or ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1;

or

ii) Component B is present in amount from 0 to about 50 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises one or more of;

1) a substantially linear ethylene/α

-olefin interpolymer;

2) a heterogeneous ethylene/C₃ -C₈ α

-olefin interpolymer;

3) an ethylene/propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene;

4) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer,

5) the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene,

6) polyisoprene, polybutadiene, natural rubbers, ethylene/propylene rubbers, ethylene/propylene diene (EPDM) rubbers, styrene/butadiene rubbers, thermoplastic polyurethanes,

7) epoxies, vinyl ester resins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins,

8) homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride,

9) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester, nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);

poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates, and

iii) said tackifier, Component C, is present in an amount from 10 to about 40% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) and comprises, styrene/α

-methyl styrene resins, and mixed aliphatic-aromatic tackifying resins or any combination thereof, and

iv) said filler, Component D, is present in an amount from 0 to about 20% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises talc, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, or any combination thereof.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein said energy source is heat and wherein Component A1 is styrene, and Component A2 is ethylene, Component B is poly(methylmethacrylate), and Component C is a styrene/α

-methyl styrene resin.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein said energy source is heat and wherein Component A1 is styrene;

and Component A2 is ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1, Component B is poly(methylmethacrylate), and Component C is a styrene/α

-methyl styrene resin.

15. A bicomponent fiber having shape memory behavior comprising;

(I) a first component comprising from about 5 to 95 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II) of

(A) from about 1 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.1 to about 1,000 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.5 to about 20, which comprises;

(1) from about 38 to about 65 mol % of 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) from about 35 to about 62 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene and/or at least one C_3-20 α

-olefin; and

(B) from 0 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) of at least one polymer other than that of Component A; and

(C) from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one tackifier; and

(D) from 0 to about 80% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) of at least one filler; and

(II) a second component, present in amount of from 5 to about 95 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II) which comprises one or more of;

A) an ethylene or α

-olefin homopolymer or interpolymer;

B) an ethylene/propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene;

C) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer,

D) the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene,

E) polyisoprene, polybutadiene, natural rubbers, ethylene/propylene rubbers, ethylene/propylene diene (EPDM) rubbers, styrene/butadiene rubbers, thermoplastic polyurethanes,

F) epoxies, vinyl ester resins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins,

G) homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride,

H) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester,nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);

poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates.

16. The bicomponent fiber of claim 15 which is of the sheath/core type, segmented pie type, side-by-side or "islands in the sea" type;

and wherein;

(i) said first component I comprises from about 25 to 95 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II);

(ii) Component (A) is present in an amount of from about 10 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.5 to about 200 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 1.8 to about 10;

comprising

(1) from about 45 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from;

(a) said vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer represented by the following formula;

##STR11## wherein R¹ is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing three carbons or less, and Ar is a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with from 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of halo, C_1-4 -alkyl, and C_1-4 -haloalkyl;

or

(b) said hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer is represented by the following general formula;

##STR12## wherein A is a sterically bulky, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic substituent of up to 20 carbons, R¹ is selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably hydrogen or methyl;

each R² is independently selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably hydrogen or methyl;

or alternatively R¹ and A¹ together form a ring system;

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) from about 45 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene, or ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1; and

iii) Component B is present in amount of from 0 to about 90 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises one or more of

1) a homogeneous interpolymer,

2) a heterogeneous interpolymer;

3) a thermoplastic olefin,

4) a styrenic block copolymer,

5) a styrenic copolymer,

6) an elastomer,

7) a thermoset polymer,

8) a vinyl halide polymer, or

9) an engineering thermoplastic; and

iv) said tackifier, Component C, is present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises wood rosin, tall oil derivatives, cyclopentadiene derivatives, natural and synthetic terpenes, terpene-phenolics, styrene/α

-methyl styrene resins, and mixed aliphatic-aromatic tackifying resins or any combination thereof; and

v) said filler, Component D, is present in an amount from 0 to about 50% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises talc, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, carbon black, glass fibers, clay, feldspar, silica or glass, fumed silica, alumina, magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, antimony oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, titanium dioxide, glass microspheres, chalk or any combination thereof; and

(vi) said second component, II, is present in amount of from 5 to about 75 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II) which comprises one or more of,

A) an ethylene or α

-olefin homopolymer or interpolymer;

B) an ethylene/propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene;

C) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer,

D)the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene,

E) epoxies, vinyl ester resins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins,

F) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester,nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);

poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates.

17. The bicomponent fiber of claim 16 wherein;

(i) said first component I comprises from about 50 to 95 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II);

(ii) Component (A) is present in an amount of from about 50 to 100 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B)) and comprises at least one substantially random interpolymer having an I₂ of 0.5 to about 100 g/10 min and an M_w /M_n of from about 2 to about 5;

(1) from about 48 to about 55 mol % of polymer units derived from;

a) said vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer which comprises styrene, α

-methyl styrene, ortho-, meta-, and para-methylstyrene, and the ring halogenated styrenes, or

b) said hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers which comprises 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene or 1-vinylcyclo-hexene, 3-vinylcyclo-hexene, and 4-vinylcyclohexene;

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 (I₂) from about 45 to about 52 mol % of polymer units derived from ethylene, or ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1;

or

iii) Component B is present in amount of from 0 to about 50 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components A and B) and comprises one or more of;

1) a substantially linear ethylene/α

-olefin interpolymer;

2) a heterogeneous ethylene/C₃ -C₈ α

-olefin interpolymer;

3) an ethylene/propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene;

4) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer,

5) the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), high impact polystyrene,

6) polyisoprene, polybutadiene, natural rubbers, ethylene/propylene rubbers, ethylene/propylene diene (EPDM) rubbers, styrene/butadiene rubbers, thermoplastic polyurethanes,

7) epoxies, vinyl ester resins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins,

8) homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride,

9) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester,nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);

poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates, and

iv) said tackifier, Component C, is present in an amount from about 10 to about 40% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C and D) and comprises , styrene/u-methyl styrene resins, and mixed aliphatic-aromatic tackifying resins or any combination thereof, and

v) said filler, Component D, is present in an amount from 0 to about 20% by weight (based on the combined weights of components A, B, C, and D) and comprises talc, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, or any combination thereof, and

(vi) said second component, II, is present in amount of from 5 to about 50 wt % (based on the combined weights of Components I and II) which comprises one or more of,

A) an ethylene or α

-olefin homopolymer or interpolymer;

B) a styrene/ethylene-butene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene (SEBS) copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-propylene/styrene (SEPS) copolymer, high impact polystyrene,

C) poly(methylmethacrylate), polyester,nylon-6, nylon-6,6, poly(acetal);

poly(amide), poly(arylate), poly(carbonate), poly(butylene) and polybutylene, polyethylene terephthalates.

18. The bicomponent fiber of claim 17 wherein said fiber is of the core/sheath type and wherein Component I is the core and Component II is the sheath and wherein Component A1 is styrene;

and Component A2 is ethylene;

Component B is not present and Component II is polypropylene, polyethylene, an ethylene/octene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, nylon-6, nylon-6,6, or combinations thereof.

19. The bicomponent fiber of claim 17 wherein said fiber is of the core/sheath type and wherein Component I is the core and Component II is the sheath and wherein Component A1 is styrene;

and Component A2 is ethylene and at least one of propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1;

Component B is not present and Component II polypropylene, polyethylene, an ethylene/octene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, nylon-6, nylon-6,6, or combinations thereof.

20. A fabric comprising the fiber of claim 15.

21. The fabric of claim 20, comprising a woven fabric.

22. The fabric of claim 20, comprising a non-woven fabric.

23. A fabricated article prepared from the fiber of claim 15, comprising carpets, doll hair, a wig, a tampon, a diaper, athletic sportswear, wrinkle free and form-fitting apparel, upholstery, a, bandages, and a gamma sterilizable non-woven articles.

24. A plurality of the fibers of claim 15 in the form of doll hair.

25. A plurality of the fibers of claim 18 in the form of doll hair.

26. A plurality of the fibers of claim 19 in the form of doll hair.