Polymer composition

1. Polymer composition comprising:

a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin,

b) up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin,

c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives,

d) a fat-soluble iron compound prepared by allowing an iron salt to react with an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation means ensures that all iron in the final product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions; and

(e) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure characterized in that the particulate polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer is prepared by a sol-gel process, said sol-gel process comprising at least the following steps in chronological sequence;

A) the core is made by controlled hydrolysis and condensation of a silane of the structure:

X—B—Si(—Y) 3

where X═NR1R2, wherein R1, and R2 are chosen among hydrogen, saturated or unsaturated C1-C18 alkyl, substituted or non-substituted aryl, in which the carbon chains of said compounds optionally include one or more of the elements oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, silicon, and boron and/or optionally containing one or more hydrolysable silane units, or where R1, and R2 are chosen from condensation products or addition products of one or more type of chemical compounds such as acids, alcohols, phenols, amines, aldehydes or epoxides, B is a linkage group chosen among saturated and unsaturated C1-C18 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted arylene in which the carbon chains of said compounds optionally include one or more branches and/or one or more of the elements oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, silicon, and boron, Y is chosen among hydrolysable residues such as alkoxy, carboxyl, halogen,

B) the organic branches are developed by

i) when at least one of R1, and R2 is H, adding at least one reactant that causes N—H hydrogen atoms of the X—B group of the core to be substituted through reactions typical for primary and secondary amines, and/or

ii) adding an acid that causes an addition to the N atoms of the X—B group of the core so that the N atoms are wholly or partially converted to quaternary nitronium ions.

2. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that component d) and component e) together constitute from 0.01 to 90% by weight of the polymer composition.

3. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin;

b) up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin;

c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives;

d) a fat-soluble iron compound prepared by allowing an iron salt to react with an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation means ensures that all iron in the final product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions; and

(e) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure;

characterized in that the particulate, polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer is manufactured by a sol-gel process based on at least partially hydrolysed organic amino-functional silanes prepared by controlled hydrolysis and condensation of a silane of the structure:

X—B—Si(—Y) 3

where X═NR 1 R 2 , wherein R 1 , and R 2 are chosen among hydrogen, saturated or unsaturated C 1 -C 18 alkyl, substituted or non-substituted aryl, in which the carbon chains of said compounds optionally includes one or more of the elements oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, silicon, and boron and/or optionally containing one or more hydrolysable silane units, or where R 1 , and R 2 are chosen from condensation products or addition products of one or more type of chemical compounds such as acids, alcohols, phenols, amines, aldehydes or epoxides, B is a linkage group chosen among saturated and unsaturated C 1 -C 18 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted arylene in which the carbon chains of said compounds optionally include one or more branches and/or one or more of the elements of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, silicon, and boron, Y is chosen among hydrolysable residues such as alkoxy, carboxyl, halogen, while N—H hydrogen atoms of the hybrid polymer subsequent to hydrolysis and condensation may be replaced by organic residues, characterized in that the organic branches are prepared by:

i) when at least one of R 1 , and R 2 is H, adding at least one reactant that causes N—H hydrogen atoms of the X—B group of the core to be substituted through reactions typical for primary and secondary amines, and/or

ii) adding an acid that causes an addition to the N atoms of the X—B group of the core so that the N atoms are wholly or partially converted to quaternary nitronium ions.

4. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that substitution of N—H hydrogen atoms in the branches organic/inorganic hybrid polymer in step Bi) is conducted by means of an addition reaction.

5. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that substitution of N—H hydrogen atoms in the branches organic/inorganic hybrid polymer in step Bii) is conducted by means of a substitution reaction.

6. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the addition reaction comprises substitution of N—H hydrogen atoms by an A=B double bond where A and B are chosen among the elements C, O, N, S and P.

7. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the addition reaction comprises ring opening of an epoxy group.

8. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the ring opening of an epoxy group is followed by the reaction with a ketone or an aldehyde.

9. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the addition reaction comprises substitution of N—H hydrogen atoms by an isocyanate.

10. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the addition reaction comprises ring opening by a cyclic acid anhydride or ring opening by a cyclic acid derivative.

11. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that the cyclic acid derivative is a derivative of carbonic acid.

12. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the substitution reaction comprises a reaction with at least one derivative of a linear or cyclic mono functional carboxylic acid.

13. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the substitution reaction comprises a reaction with at least one derivative of a linear or cyclic mono functional carboxylic acid.

14. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the acid being added in step Bii) is a Lewis acid or a Broensted acid.

15. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the substitution of N—H hydrogen atoms in step i) can be conducted in an aqueous medium and/or that the substitution in step ii) is conducted in an aqueous medium.

16. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the fat-soluble metal compound is the reaction product of a metal salt and a C 8 -C 24 fatty acid or a C 8 -C 24 fatty acid derivative in a process in which a suitable oxidation agent ensures that the metal is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions.

17. Polymer composition comprising;

a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin;

b) up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin;

c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives;

d) a fat-soluble iron compound prepared by allowing an iron salt to react with an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation means ensures that all iron in the final product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions; and

(e) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure;

characterized in that the C 8 -C 24 fatty acid or a C 8 -C 24 fatty acid derivative is completely or partially halogenated.

18. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 16 , characterized in the C 8 -C 24 fatty acid or a C 8 -C 24 fatty acid derivative is completely or partially unsaturated.

19. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 16 , characterized in that the oxidation agent is hydrogen peroxide or an organic peroxide.

20. Polymer composition comprising:

a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin;

b) up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin;

c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives;

d) a fat-soluble iron compound prepared by allowing an iron salt to react with an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation means ensures that all iron in the final product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions; and

(e) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure;

characterized in that the developed branches in the organic/inorganic hybrid polymer include groups that are derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine.

21. Polymer composition comprising:

a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin;

b) up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin;

c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives;

d) a fat-soluble iron compound prepared by allowing an iron salt to react with an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation means ensures that all iron in the final product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions; and

(e) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure;

characterized in the developed branches in the organic/inorganic hybrid polymer include groups that are derivates of phenol.

22. Polymer compositions as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer composition has a substantially homogenous structure (compound).

23. Polymer compositions as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer composition has at least a partially heterogeneous structure.

24. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 23 , characterized in that the heterogeneous structure comprises a laminate.

25. Polymer composition as claimed in claim 23 , characterized in that the heterogeneous structure comprises at least two layers that separately can be homogenous or heterogeneous.

26. A molecular barrier layer for use with gases and liquids comprising the polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is effective for molecules such as water, CO 2 , oxygen and hydrocarbons.

27. A flame retardant composition, the composition comprising the polymer composition of claim 1 .

28. A barrier layer, the barrier layer comprising a polymer composition positioned between a first layer comprising a polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer and a thermoplastic, wherein the polymer composition comprises;

a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin;

b) up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin;

c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives;

d) a fat-soluble iron compound prepared by allowing an iron salt to react with an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation means ensures that all iron in the final product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions; and

(e) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure.

29. The polymer composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer comprising an inorganic core carrying organic branches that constitute a particle structure.