Patent ID: 6656995
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: C08J,C08K

Abstract:
A process for producing olefin polymer composites having increased melt strength comprising:(a) contacting an olefin polymer base resin, said olefin polymer base resin dissolved in or added to an aromatic solvent and selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymers, propylene homopolymers, ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-C4-8 &agr;-olefin copolymers, propylene-C4-8 &agr;-olefin copolymers, ethylene-vinyl C2-4 carboxylate copolymers and ethylene-C1-4 alkyl methacrylate copolymers, and an organically modified clay, said organically modified clay dissolved or dispersed in an aromatic solvent and consisting of a smectite clay that has been ion-exchanged and intercalated with a quaternary ammonium ion of the formula (R)(R1)(R2)(R3)N+where R represents a C18 alkyl substituent or mixture of alkyl substituents wherein C18 alkyl moieties constitute 50 percent or more of the mixture and R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of R, H and C1-22 hydrocarbyl; and(b) evaporating said aromatic solvent to obtain an olefin polymer composite; said olefin polymer composite having from 0.5 to 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composite, of the organically modified clay intimately dispersed therein.