Coupled Nucleating Agents

Coupled nucleating agents include coupled semi-crystalline homo-polymers or copolymers of ethylene, propylene, or other a-olefins. These polymers are coupled together by one or more coupling agents, such as carbenes (18), nitrenes (19), or azide coupling agents (9). 

Coupled nucleating agents can be used in the same manner and imder the same conditions as conventional nucleating agents. It has been claimed that for PP polymers, the nucleation by coupled or branched polymeric additives is much better than the nucleation by the conventional inorganic nucleators or organic clarifiers. 

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J.C. Stevens, D.D. Vanderlende, and P. Ansems, Crystallization of polypropylene using a semi-crystalline, branched or coupled nucleating agent, US Patent 7250470, assigned to Dow Global Technologies Inc. (Midland, MI), July 31,2007. 

Polybond . [BP Performance Polymers] Polypropylene or polyethylene compounds thermr lastic fa- use as chemical coupling agent, conqratibilizing agent, metal adhesive and nucleating agent impact modifier additive in polymer aUoys, for adhesion to metals and polar polymers. 

Finally, if one considers that, with a few exceptions, the study was executed on a set of materials of industrial interest, a conclusion can be drawn about the fact that crystallization kinetics are mainly influenced only by the presence of nucleating agents. The influence of copolymerization on crystallization kinetics being relevant only if coupled with nucleation. 

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