TPV MADE FROM SILANE GRAFTED PE OR SILANE GRAFTED POE AND A POLYPROPYLENE

1 . A thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) composition comprising:

a dispersed crosslinked phase comprising residues of a first polymer component that includes a first silane grafted polyolefin;

a continuous thermoplastic phase comprising residues of a second polymer component selected from the group consisting of polypropylene resin, polypropylene copolymers, and combinations thereof and/or residues thereof, wherein the dispersed crosslinked phase is dispersed in the continuous thermoplastic phase; and

residues of an inorganic hydrate.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic hydrate is calcium sulfate hemihydrate or calcium sulfate dihydrate.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising residues of a condensation catalyst.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the condensation catalyst is bismuth carboxylate.

5 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the condensation catalyst is a hydrolytically stabilized bismuth carboxylate.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer component further includes one or more additional elastomers or resins.

7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional elastomers or resins include a component selected from the group consisting of polyolefin elastomers, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubbers, and mixtures thereof.

8 . The composition of claim 1 further comprising an oil, a filler, crosslinking additives, coagents, antioxidants, and/or residues thereof.

9 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the coagents are selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, trimethyl, propane triacrylate, N,N-m-phenylene dimaleimide, m-phenylene dimaleimide, and combinations thereof.

10 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the crosslinking additives include a component selected from the group consisting of water, a peroxide, boric acid, sulfonic acid, and combinations thereof.

11 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the antioxidants are selected from the group consisting of phenols, organic phosphates, thioethers, and blends thereof.

12 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer component is a silane grafted polyolefin.

13 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dispersed crosslinked phase is present in an amount of about 20 to 85 wt % and the continuous thermoplastic phase is present in an amount of about 80 to 15 wt % of the combined weight of the dispersed crosslinked phase and the continuous thermoplastic phase.

14 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dispersed crosslinked phase is present in an amount of about 30 to 70 wt % and the continuous thermoplastic phase is present in an amount of about 70 to 30 wt % of the combined weight of the dispersed crosslinked phase and the continuous thermoplastic phase.

15 . A method for making a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition, the method comprising:

a) providing a first polymer component that includes a silane-grafted polyolefin;

b) providing a second polymer component selected from the group consisting of polypropylene resin, polypropylene copolymers, and combinations thereof,

c) combining the first polymer component, the second polymer component, and crosslinking additives to form a reactive mixture, the crosslinking agents including an inorganic hydrate as a source of water for crosslinking; and

d) heating the reactive mixture to form the thermoplastic vulcanizate composition, wherein a crosslinked phase including residues of the first polymer component is dispersed in a continuous thermoplastic phase including residues of the second polymer component.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first polymer component further includes one or more additional elastomers or resins.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more additional elastomers or resins include a component selected from the group consisting of polyolefin elastomers, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubbers, and mixtures thereof.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the crosslinking additives include a component selected from the group consisting of water, a peroxide, a condensation catalyst, and combinations thereof.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the condensation catalyst is bismuth carboxylate.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the condensation catalyst is a hydrolytically stabilized bismuth carboxylate.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the crosslinking additives include calcium sulfate dihydrate or calcium sulfate hemihydrate as a source of water for cross-linking.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the condensation catalyst is boric acid, sulfonic acid, dioctyl tin dilaurate, or mixtures thereof.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the reactive mixture further includes a component selected from the group consisting of an oil, a filler, coagents, antioxidants, and combinations thereof.

24 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the silane-grafted polyolefin is prepared by combining a base polyolefin, a silane composition, a catalyst, and a grafting initiator to form a grafting composition.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the silane composition, includes a vinyl alkoxy silane having the following formula:

wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently H or C 1-8 alkyl.

26 . The method of claim 24 wherein the grafting composition is introduced into a twin screw extruder at a first feed location and reacted at a temperature above 180° C.

27 . The method of claim 26 wherein the second polymer component is introduced into the twin screw extruder at a second feed location that is downstream of the first feed location.

28 . The method of claim 26 wherein the silane-grafted polyolefin is formed in an extruder.

29 . The method of claim 28 wherein steps b), c), and d) are performed in the extruder in which the silane-grafted polyolefin is formed.