Polyolefin thermoplastic elastomer

Kresge E.N., Polyolefin thermoplastic elastomer blends. Rubber Chem. TechnoL, 64, 469, 1991. 

Suetsugu, M. Sezaki, E. Nakazato, T. Isono, M. Water-absorbing compositions containing polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho 1994, June 07, 06-157, 839. Shimomura, T. Namba, T. Superabsorbent Polymers. In Superasorbent Polymers, Science and Technology, Symposium Series 573 Buchholz, F.L., Peppas, N.A., Eds. American Chemical Society Washington, DC, 1994 112-115. Moriyoshi, A. Fukai, L Takeuchi, M. A composite material that solidifies in water. Nature 1990, 344, 230-232. 

Chemlok . [Lrad] Bonding agent, adhesive for rubber, urethanes, polyolefins, thermoplastic elastomers. 

There have been extensive applications of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/EPM blends. These were used to produce rubber toughened polypropylene blends and subsequently polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers (88,89). Most commercial EPMs contain more than 50 mol% of ethylene, and these are elastomers. The solubility parameter of EPM should be intermediate to those of polyethylene and polypropylene dependent on ethylene content. Thus, it is often used to compatibilize PE/PP blends (90,91). 

Chem. Descrip. Highly refined wh. mineral oil USP CAS 8020-83-5 EINECS/ELINCS 232-455-8 Uses Melt flow control agent tor crystal PS, HIPS, polyolefins, thermoplastic elastomers, other polymers internal and external lubricant in PS, PVC, PP, PE, TPE, other polymers carrier in pharmaceuticals protective coating on foods... 

Cross-Linking of Polyolefin/Elastomer or Polyolefin/Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)... 

Rubber matrices have commonly been used as a second phase to improve the toughness of brittle thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene and polyethylene. These systems, commonly referred to as polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers (TPOs), are a special class of thermoplastic elastomers that combine the processing characteristic of plastics at elevated temperatures with the physical properties of conventional elastomers at service temperature, playing an increasingly important role in the polymer material industry. Polyolefin blends attract additional interest due to the possibility of recycling plastic wastes, avoiding the complex and expensive processes of separation of the different components. 

The fourth type of materials are blends of propylene with up to 65% ethylene-propylene rubber and are commonly referred to as polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers. These materials are considered in section 2.9... 

Polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers are generally blends of polypropylene with up to 65% ethylene-propylene rubber and it is supposed that short propylene blocks in the latter co-crystallize with segments of the polypropylene chains to give microcrystalline regions which act as cross-links. A recent development in this field has been the use of highly cross-linked ethylene-propylene rubbers (and other rubbers) in the blends to give so-called thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). In these blends the rubber is present as finely dispersed particles in a polypropylene matrix. Compared to the simple blends, these materials have generally enhanced properties. 

Polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers are characterized by low cost, good mechanical properties and excellent resistance to oxygen, ozone and polar solvents they are attacked by non-polar and chlorinated solvents, especially... 

Antony P, Puskas J E and Paulo C (2002) Arborescent polyolefinic thermoplastic elastomers and products therefrom, PCX Int WO 2002 096 967, to the authors and the Uni Western Ontario, Canada. 

Polyolefins. In these thermoplastic elastomers the hard component is a crystalline polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and the soft portion is composed of ethylene-propylene rubber. Attractive forces between the rubber and resin phases serve as labile cross-links. Some contain a chemically cross-linked rubber phase that imparts a higher degree of elasticity. 

Blends of isobutylene polymers with thermoplastic resins are used for toughening these compounds. High density polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene are often modified with 5 to 30 wt % polyisobutylene. At higher elastomer concentration the blends of butyl-type polymers with polyolefins become more mbbery in nature, and these compositions are used as thermoplastic elastomers (98). In some cases, a halobutyl phase is cross-linked as it is dispersed in the polyolefin to produce a highly elastic compound that is processible in thermoplastic mol ding equipment (99) (see Elastomers, synthetic-thermoplastic). ... 

Other thermoplastic elastomer combiaations, ia which the elastomer phase may or may not be cross-linked, include blends of polypropylene with nitrile (30,31), butyl (33), and natural (34) mbbers, blends of PVC with nitrile mbber (35,36), and blends of halogenated polyolefins with ethylene interpolymers (29). Collectively, thermoplastic elastomers of this type ate referred to herein as hard polymer/elastomer combinations. Some of the more important examples of the various types are shown in Table 3. 

In addition to the somewhat sophisticated triblock thermoplastic elastomers described above, mention should be made of another group of thermoplastic diene rubbers. These are physical blends of polypropylene with a diene rubber such as natural rubber. These may be considered as being an extension to the concept of thermoplastic polyolefin rubbers discussed in Section 11.9.1 and although extensive experimental work has been carried out with these materials they do not yet appear to have established themselves commercially. 

A manufacturer considering using a thermoplastic elastomer would probably first consider one of the thermoplastic polyolefin rubbers or TPOs, since these tend to have the lowest raw polymer price. These are mainly based on blends of polypropylene and an ethylene-propylene rubber (either EPM or EPDM) although some of the polypropylene may be replaeed by polyethylene. A wide range of blends are possible which may also contain some filler, oil and flame retardant in addition to the polymers. The blends are usually subject to dynamic vulcanisation as described in Section 11.9.1. 

If polypropylene is too hard for the purpose envisaged, then the user should consider, progressively, polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate and plasticised PVC. If more rubberiness is required, then a vulcanising rubber such as natural rubber or SBR or a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer may be considered. If the material requires to be rubbery and oil and/or heat resistant, vulcanising rubbers such as the polychloroprenes, nitrile rubbers, acrylic rubbers or hydrin rubbers or a thermoplastic elastomer such as a thermoplastic polyester elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer or thermoplastic polyamide elastomer may be considered. Where it is important that the elastomer remain rubbery at very low temperatures, then NR, SBR, BR or TPO rubbers may be considered where oil resistance is not a consideration. If, however, oil resistance is important, a polypropylene oxide or hydrin rubber may be preferred. Where a wide temperature service range is paramount, a silicone rubber may be indicated. The selection of rubbery materials has been dealt with by the author elsewhere. ... 

Currently, important TPE s include blends of semicrystalline thermoplastic polyolefins such as propylene copolymers, with ethylene-propylene terepolymer elastomer. Block copolymers of styrene with other monomers such as butadiene, isoprene, and ethylene or ethylene/propy-lene are the most widely used TPE s. Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) accounted for 70% of global styrene block copolymers (SBC). Currently, global capacity of SBC is approximately 1.1 million tons. Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers are relatively more expensive then other TPE s. However, they are noted for their flexibility, strength, toughness, and abrasion and chemical resistance. Blends of polyvinyl chloride with elastomers such as butyl are widely used in Japan. ... 

Random block copolymers of polyesters (hard segments) and amorphous glycol soft segments, alloys of ethylene interpolymers, and chlorinated polyolefins are among the evolving thermoplastic elastomers. 

Roy Choudhury N., De P.P., and Bhowmick A.K., Thermoplastic elastomeric natural rubber-polyolefin blends. Thermoplastic Elastomers from Rubber Plastic Blend (De S.K. and Bhowmick A.K., eds.), Ellis Horwood, London, 1990, 11. 

Roy Choudhury N. and Bhowmick A.K., Strength of thermoplastic elastomers from rubber-polyolefin blend, J. Mat. Sci., 25, 161, 1990. 

Obviously, there exists severe interplastics competition, e.g. PP vs. ABS, clarified PP vs. PS, PA, PVC, HDPE and PS (Table 10.7). A wide range of cross-linked and thermoplastic elastomer applications, from footware to automotive parts and toothbrushes, are adopting new metallocene-catalysed polyolefin elastomers (POEs). These low-density copolymers of ethylene and octene were first accepted as impact modifiers for TPOs, but now displace EPDM, (foamed) EVA, flexible PVC, and olefinic thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs). Interpolymer competition may also result from... 

This comprises a thermoplastic elastomer based on a polyolefin and a rubber. The polyolefin is a PP homo- or copolymer having a specified weight-average molec.wt. and elongational viscosity (measured at a temperature of 170C, a rate of elongation of 0.03 1/s and at a time of 10 s). 

An integrally monlded composite article comprised of (I) a nonfoam layer formed from a thermoplastic elastomer powder composition (A) and (II) a foam layer formed from a foamable composition comprised of (i) (B) a thermoplastic synthetic resin powder, and (C) a heat decomposable foaming agent and (D) a liquid coating agent, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer powder (A) is comprised of a composition of an ethylene-alpha-olefm copolymer mbber and a polyolefin resin or thermoplastic elastomer powder comprised of a partially crosslinked composition of an ethylene-alpha-olefm copolymer mbber and a polyolefin resin, the thermoplastic elastomer powder having a complex dynamic viscosity at 250 deg C and a freqnency of 1 radian/sec of not more than 1.5x1,000,000 poise and having a Newtonian viscosity index n, calculated by a specific formula. 

Thermoplastic elastomers based on polyolefins (TPO) are blends of PE or PP wifh EPDM elastomers wherein the elastomer is often cross-linked using thermochemical systems. TPOs more suitable for medical producfs with no chemical residuals can be made using EB processing to cross-link the elastomer portion in such an elastomer-plastic blend. The thermoplastic governs the melt transition, and thus the extrusion properties of TPOs. The radiahon response of these materials is also governed by the choice of fhe thermoplastic. An example of an EB cured blend of EPDM and polyefhylene used is for fluid transmission tubing and electrical insulation. ... 

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