Silane vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers

1. A thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV) composition comprising the reaction product of

(a) a first polymer (rubber phase);

(b) a second polymer (thermoplastic phase);

(c) a carboxylic acid anhydride;

(d) either (d1) a vinyl-silane in combination with a peroxide or (d2) a sulphursilane;

and whereby component (d) is first added to a polymer melt comprising components (a) and (b), followed by the addition of component (c).

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (a) is a Polyethylene or an Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Rubber.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (b) is a Polypropylene.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (c) is maleic acid anhydride.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (d1) is vinyltrimethoxy-silane in combination with 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert.butylperoxy) hexane (DHBP) or wherein component (d2) is Bis(triethoxy-silylpropyl) polysulfide.

6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein

(a) is present in an amount of 50-90 wt %;

(b) is present in an amount of 5-40 wt %;

(c) is present in an amount of 0.2-5 wt %; and/or

(d) is present in an amount of 0.2-5 wt %;

wherein the wt % is based on the total amount of polymer present.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein

the gel content is 5-40 wt %; and/or

the tensile strength is 3-40 MPa; and/or

the elongation break is 100-1500%; and/or

the melt index is 0.1-20 g/10 min at 190° C./5 kg; and/or

the shore hardness is 20 A-80 D.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein

component (d) is selected from (d1),

component (a) is selected from the group consisting of ethylene propylene copolymer (EPR), ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM), butyl rubber (BR), natural rubber (NR), chlorinated polyethylenes (CPE), isoprene rubber (IR), silicone rubber, chlorinated rubbers, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene methacrylate (EMA), ethylene butylacrylate (EBA), ethylene ethylacrylate (EEA), low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE) and

component (b) is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and its copolymers, thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO's), thermoplastic polypropylene, polyethylene and its copolymers, silane copolymers, polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), polycarbonate (PC), and polyamide (PA).

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein

component (d) is selected from (d2),

component (a) is selected from the group consisting of EPR, EPDM, BR, NR, CPE, IR, SBR, NBR, chlorinated rubbers and PVC ethylene propylene copolymer (EPR), ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM), butyl rubber (BR), natural rubber (NR), chlorinated polyethylenes (CPE), isoprene rubber (IR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile rubber (NBR), chlorinated rubbers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC); and

component (b) is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and its copolymers, polyethylene and its copolymers, polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), thermoplastic polyesters (PET, PBT), polycarbonate (PC), and polyamide (PA).

10. A process for manufacturing a composition according to claim 1 , said process comprising the steps of:

method A, where component (d1) is used:

proving a homogeneous mixture of components (a) and (b), and then

adding component (d1), either simultaneously or subsequently and then

adding component (c); or

method (B), where component (d2) is used:

proving a homogeneous mixture of components (a) and (b) and then

adding component (d2), and then

adding component (c).

11. The process of claim 10 method (A), wherein the vinylsilane is added first, followed by addition of the peroxide.

12. An article consisting of a composition according to claim 1 , said article being selected from the group of pipes, profiles, molded parts, foamed parts and sheet-like articles.

13. An automotive device consisting of a composition according to claim 1 .

14. An aircraft device consisting of a composition according to claim 1 .

15. A healthcare device consisting of a composition according to claim 1 .

16. A power cable comprising a composition according to claim 1 .