Patent ID: 6218476
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
A process for producing a functionalized polypropylene comprising:(a) providing molten polypropylene in an apparatus,(b) introducing into the molten polypropylene a first amount of from about 5 to less than 50 percent by weight of the total required amount of at least one free radical initiator and mixing the first amount of free radical initiator with the molten polypropylene to form a resultant mixture,(c) introducing into the resultant mixture of molten polypropylene and first amount of free radical initiator, at least one functionalizing agent comprising an unsaturated monomer containing one or more carboxylic acid or acid anhydride groups, and mixing the functionalizing agent with the resultant mixture of molten polypropylene and first amount of free radical initiator such that the functionalizing agent, the first amount of free radical initiator and the molten polypropylene are reacted to form a reaction mixture,(d) introducing into the reaction mixture a remaining second amount of from about 95 to equal to or greater than 50 percent by weight of free radical initiator, and mixing the remaining amount of free radical initiator with the reaction mixture to form a functionalized polypropylene, and,(e) recovering the functionalized polypropylene.