IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,106,139
Granted Patent B2
US 8,106,139 · App. 12/864,178 · Granted Jan 31, 2012

Propylene/alpha-olefin block interpolymers

Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,106,139
App. No.
12/864,178
Granted
Jan 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a class of mesophase separated propylene/α-olefin block interpolymers with controlled block sequences. The propylene/α-olefin interpolymers are characterized by an average block index, ABI, which is greater than zero and up to about 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , greater than about 1.4. Preferably, the block index is from about 0.2 to about 1. In addition or alternatively, the block propylene/α-olefin interpolymer is characterized by having at least one fraction obtained by Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (“TREF”), wherein the fraction has a block index greater than about 0.3 and up to about 1.0 and the propylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , greater than about 1.4.

Claims (22)

1. A composition comprising at least one propylene/ethylene block interpolymer comprising two or more substantially homogeneous intramolecular blocks comprising differing chemical or physical properties and having a difference in mole percent ethylene content, said intramolecular blocks characterized by possessing a most probable molecular weight distribution, wherein the propylene/ethylene block interpolymer is characterized by a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , in the range of from about 1.4 to about 2.8 and by an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0; wherein the propylene/ethylene block interpolymer is mesophase separated; and,

wherein the difference in mole percent ethylene content between the intramolecular blocks, Δ(percent comonomer), is calculated according to the following equation:

Δ(percent comonomer)≧ A /( Mn ) 0.5

wherein Mn is the number average molecular weight of all molecules in units of g/mole and A is greater than or equal to about 9187.

2. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 wherein the propylene/ethylene block copolymer comprises domains wherein the domains have a smallest dimension in the range of from about 40 nm to about 300 nm.

3. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 wherein the propylene/ethylene block interpolymer has been compression molded.

4. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer claim 1 wherein the propylene/ethylene block interpolymer comprises domains wherein the domains have a smallest dimension that is greater than about 60 nm.

5. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 wherein the propylene/ethylene block interpolymer has a molecular weight greater than about 250 g/mol.

6. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein the interpolymer has a density in the range from about 0.86 g/cc to about 0.91 g/cc.

7. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein the Mw/Mn is greater than about 1.5.

8. The propylene/ethylene interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein the propylene/ethylene interpolymer is characterized by at least one melting point, Tm, in degrees Celsius, and a comonomer content, in weight %, wherein the numerical values of Tm and α-olefin correspond to the relationship:

T m >−2.909 (wt % α-olefin)+141.57.

9. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 characterized by having at least one fraction obtained by Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (“TREF”), wherein the fraction has a block index greater than about 0.3 and up to about 1.0 and the propylene/ethylene block interpolymer has a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , greater than about 1.4.

10. The propylene/ethylene block interpolymer of claim 1 , wherein the propylene content is greater than about 50 mole percent.

11. An article comprising the block interpolymer of claim 1 .

12. The article of claim 11 wherein the article comprises a film, a molded article, jewelry, a toy, an optical article, a decorative article or a combination thereof.

13. A composition comprising at least one propylene/octene block interpolymer comprising two or more substantially homogeneous intramolecular blocks comprising differing chemical or physical properties and having a difference in mole percent octene content, said intramolecular blocks characterized by possessing a most probable molecular weight distribution, wherein the propylene/octene block interpolymer is characterized by a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , in the range of from about 1.4 to about 2.8 and by an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0; wherein the propylene/octene block interpolymer is mesophase separated; and,

wherein the difference in mole percent octene content between the intramolecular blocks, Δ(percent comonomer), is calculated according to the following equation:

Δ(percent comonomer)≧ A /( Mn ) 0.5

wherein Mn is the number average molecular weight of all molecules in units of g/mole and A is greater than or equal to about 8915.

14. A composition comprising at least one propylene/α-olefin block interpolymer comprising two or more substantially homogeneous intramolecular blocks comprising differing chemical or physical properties and having a difference in mole percent α-olefin content, said intramolecular blocks characterized by possessing a most probable molecular weight distribution, wherein the propylene/α-olefin block interpolymer is characterized by a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , in the range of from about 1.4 to about 2.8 and by an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0; the propylene/α-olefin block interpolymer is mesophase separated wherein the α-olefin is octene and the difference in mole percent α-olefin content between the intramolecular blocks is greater than or equal to about 17.2 mole percent.

15. A composition comprising at least one propylene/α-olefin block interpolymer comprising two or more substantially homogeneous intramolecular blocks comprising differing chemical or physical properties and having a difference in mole percent α-olefin content, said intramolecular blocks characterized by possessing a most probable molecular weight distribution, wherein the propylene/α-olefin block interpolymer is characterized by a molecular weight distribution, M w /M n , in the range of from about 1.4 to about 2.8 and by an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0; wherein the propylene/α-olefin block interpolymer is mesophase separated; and, wherein the α-olefin is ethylene and the difference in mole percent α-olefin content between the intramolecular blocks is greater than or equal to about 17.7 mole percent.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2011
From: MARCHAND, GARY R; POON, BENJAMIN C; WEINHOLD, JEFFREY D; CHEUNG, YUNWA W; WALTON, KIM L; LI PI SHAN, COLIN; HUSTAD, PHILLIP D; KUHLMAN, ROGER L; CARNAHAN, EDMUND M; GARCIA-MEITIN, EDDY I; ROBERTS, PATRICIA L; GUPTA, PANKAJ
To: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 026438/0393 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61024696 · Jan 30, 2008
Related Publication 20110015354A1 · Jan 20, 2011