Patent ID: 9481792
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: A63B,B29B,C08F,C08J,C08L

Claim Text:
1. A method for making a dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic material, comprising: (a) introducing into an extruder an elastomer composition comprising an ethylenically unsaturated elastomer polymer comprising a rubber polymer and at least a first free radical initiator and a second free radical initiator; (b) in a first zone of the extruder, heating and partially crosslinking the elastomer composition at a first crosslinking temperature to form a thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition; (c) introducing into the extruder in a second zone downstream of the first zone a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising a member selected from the group consisting of polyolefin polymers and copolymers, polyesters, polyamides, polyolefin elastomers, ionomer resins, copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, copolymers of ethylene and (meth)acrylate, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, thermoplastic polyester elastomers, thermoplastic styrene block copolymer elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers, and thermoplastic polyurea elastomers; (d) mixing and heating the thermoplastic polymer composition and the thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition to a second crosslinking temperature higher than the first crosslinking temperature, wherein the thermoplastic polymer composition is liquid at the second crosslinking temperature; and (e) mixing and further crosslinking the elastomer composition to form a thermoplastic material having a dispersed phase of crosslinked elastomer composition in the thermoplastic polymer composition.