Patent ID: 8039526
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: C08K,C08L

Abstract:
1. A method for preparing a nanoclay-filled thermoplastic vulcanizate, the method comprising: preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising an olefinic elastomeric copolymer by dynamic vulcanization, where the olefinic elastomeric copolymer is cured using a phenolic cure system and to an extent that not more than 6 wt % of the olefinic elastomeric copolymer is extractable from the thermoplastic vulcanizate by cyclohexane at 23° C.; introducing a functionalized thermoplastic resin, a polypropylene resin possessing a melt flow rate that is less than or equal to 10 dg/min (low-MFR polypropylene), and a surface-modified nanoclay to the thermoplastic vulcanizate after dynamic vulcanization; and blending the thermoplastic vulcanizate, functionalized thermoplastic resin, the low-MFR polypropylene and surface-modified nanoclay, where said blending takes place at a temperature above the melt temperature of the thermoplastic vulcanizate but below the temperature at which the surface-modified nanoclay degrades, and wherein the nanoclay-filled thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises of from 6 wt % to 40 wt % of the functionalized thermoplastic resin and the vulcanizate comprises from 2 to 10 wt % of the surface-modified nanoclay; and wherein the nanoclay-filled thermoplastic vulcanizate has a Shore D Hardness, as determined according to ASTM D-2240 with a 5 second time interval, of less than 60.