Process for the preparation of a partially crosslinked thermoplastic resin composition

Abstract: A partially crosslinked, thermoplastic resin composition well-balanced in rigidity, impact resistance, flexibility and processability is obtained by dynamically heat-treating a thermoplastic resin substantially not containing an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond in the presence of a dihydroaromatic compound or a polymer thereof as a crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer.

Description: The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing a thermoplastic resin composition and more particularly to process for preparing a thermoplastic resin composition well-balanced in rigidity, impact resistance, flexibility and processability. Thermoplastic resins are utilized in various industrial fields as materials superior in moldability. Besides, their utilization fields have been expanded by being blended for modification with resins having various properties and fillers. It is also well known that effects of such blending, for example, improvement of impact resistance and that of heat resistance are attained by dynamically heat-treating the resulting mixtures. As the method for dynamically heat-treating a thermoplastic resin substantially not having an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond it is known to utilize an organic peroxide. However, as to compositions obtained by such method utilizing organic peroxides, improvements have been desired in the following points. As exemplified in Japanese Patent Publication No.34210/1978 (US3,806,558), since a free radical initiator typified by an organic peroxide is used, there is obtained a composition which exhibits good fluidity in injection molding in the case where the thermoplastic resin used is an organic peroxide non-crosslinked type resin such as a polypropylene resin, but the organic peroxide remaining in the composition deteriorates the thermal stability and weathering resistance of the composition and there occurs a thermal decomposition of the organic peroxide rapidly, resulting in that a molecular cutting reaction is unavoidable, thus leading to deterioration of mechanical characteristics such as yield strength, bending strength, and flexural modulus. Moreover, in the case where the composition is used in extrusion or blow molding, there arise problems such as deterioration of drawdown resistance, and surface roughening and insufficient elongation of parison. Also in injection molding the gloss of the resulting molded product is poor, thus affecting the appearance of the commodity. Organic peroxide crosslinked type resins such as polyethylene resins are either not employable because of marked deterioration in fluidity of the composition obtained or require the use of an extremely small amount of an organic peroxide, thus it is difficult to handle them. Further, when the above conventional method is used, there inevitably arise such problems as poor stability and safety of the free radical forming agent during storage and dynamic treatment thereof, as well as thermal decomposition loss due to the adhesion to heated inner walls of a processing machine. A further example of a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising an organic peroxide can be found in EP-A-0269265. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved thermoplastic resin composition by crosslinking a thermoplastic resin using a crosslinking reaction with the drawbacks of conventional organic peroxides and which was found out by the present inventors. Having made extensive studies along the above-mentioned objects, the present inventors found out that a composition extremely superior in comparison with those obtained using conventional organic peroxides is obtained by using a dihydroaromatic compound or a polymer thereof as a crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer in crosslinking a thermoplastic resin substantially not containing an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond. More specifically, the present invention resides in a process for preparing a partially crosslinked, thermoplastic resin composition in which a thermoplastic resin substantially free of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds is dynamically heat treated in the presence of a dihydroaromatic compound or a polymer thereof as a crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer in the absence of an olefinically unsaturated elastomer and substantially in the absence of organic peroxides. The present invention will be described in detail hereinunder. The thermoplastic resin used in the present invention can be selected from a wide range of resins substantially not containing an olefinic unsaturated carbon-carbon bond. The thermoplastic resin may comprise a polyolefin resin and a heterogeneous thermoplastic resin. In one alternative embodiment the thermoplastic resin may comprise a mixture of at least two kinds of polyolefin resin. Examples of suitable thermoplastic resins are polyolefin resins such as cyrstalline polypropylenes, propylene-α-olefin random copolymers, high and medium density polyethylenes, polybutene-1, poly-4-methylentene-1, high pressure process low-density polyethylenes, linear chain low-density polyethylenes, very-low density polyethylenes (VLDPE), ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubbers, ethylene-unsaturated carboxylate copolymers, and ethylene-carboxylicacid unsaturated ester copolymers, as well as polystyrene resins, polyacrylonitrile resins, polymethacrylate resins, polyamide resins, polyester resins, polycarbonate resins, polyphenylene resins, polyacetal resins, and mixtures thereof. The polyolefin resin preferably includes at least one member selected from polypropylenes and ethylene (co)polymers. The very-low density polyethylenes (VLDPE) referred to above indicate polyethylenes not higher than 0.910 g/cm 3 in density and exhibiting intermediate properties between linear low-density polyethylenes and ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubbers. For example, a specific ethylene-α-olefin copolymer having a density of 0.860 to 0.910. g/cm 3 , a maximum peak temperature (Tm) of not lower than 100°C as measured according to a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a boiling n-hexane insolubles content of not lower than 10 wt% is prepared by using a catalyst comprising a magnesium- and titanium- containing solid catalyst component and an organoaluminum compound. This resin possesses both a high crystalline portion which a straight chain low-density polyethylene exhibits and an amorphous portion which an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubber exhibits. High mechanical strength and heat resistance which are features of the former and rubbery elasticity and low-temperature impact resistance which are features of the latter are present in a well-balanced state. The use of this resin is very useful in the present invention because there is obtained a thermoplastic resin composition superior in various points, as will be described later. According to the present invention, by changing the kind and proportion of the thermoplastic resin to be used, a wide variety of partially cross-linked thermoplastic resin compositions having various properties can be obtained. The dihydroaromatic compound used as a crosslinking agent in the present invention is a compound containing one or more aromatic rings in which at least one aromatic ring has been dihydrogenated. The aromatic ring as referred to herein indicates a ring structure having 4n+2 (n is an integer) π-electrons mentioned in the definition of aromaticity [see, for example, "Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry," translated by Toshio Goto, pp. 105-106, Tokyo Kagaku Dojin K. K. (1976), (Richard S. Mon-son & John C. Shelton; Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry, MacGraw-Hill, Inc. (1974)]. Examples include pyridine and quinoline, and hence examples of the dihydroaromatic compound used in the present invention include dihydro derivatives of quinoline. The dihydroaromatic compound used in the present invention may contain a substituent group. Its alkyl-, various elements- and functional groups-substituted derivatives are employable. Such dihydroaromatic compounds can be prepared by known chemical reactions. Examples of those available at present are 1,2-dihydrobenzene, cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol, 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene, as well as such 1,2-dihydroquinoline compounds as 6-decyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, 6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline. Polymers of these comcounds are also employable. Particularly preferred dihydroaromatic compound are 1,2-dihydroquinoline compounds, polymers thereof and 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene. The presumed function of the crosslinking agent is made via interaction with a polyfunctional monomer. The resonant structure may be obtained with the polyfunctional monomer. The carbon radical thus formed is weak in its hydrogen withdrawing ability from the carbon-hydrogen bond as compared with oxygen radical formed by cleavage of the foregoing organic peroxide, so does not exhibit a degradation reaction even for a peroxide decomposition type thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene, nor does it exhibit an excessive cross-linking reaction even for a peroxide crosslinking type thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene. Thus, it is easy to control reaction and even crosslinking of an extremely limited part which has so far been considered difficult by the use of an organic peroxide can be effected. Although the crosslinking agent may be used directly as above, there may be adopted a method wherein the crosslinking agent is prepared by a reaction during melt-kneading. This reaction may be selected optionally, but it is desirable to start from a compound which easily reacts on heating, in order to avoid the addition of a catalyst, etc. Particularly, Diels-Alder reaction is preferred. In this case, however, it is desirable to add the compound in the form of a dihydroaromatic compound. The dihydroaromatic compounds employable in the present invention have heretofore been known as antioxidants for rubber (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No.46661/1980). Heretofore, however, they have been used not as cross linking agents but together with other crosslinking agents such as sulfur compounds, quinone dioxime compounds, phenolic compounds, or organic peroxides. Thus, the prior art does not suggest the feature of the present invention that a mild crosslinking reactivity is attained by the use of only a dihydroaromatic compound or a polymer thereof and a polyfunctional monomer. In the present invention there is also used a polyfunctional monomer in addition to the dihydroaromatic compound as a crosslinking agent. As examples of such monomer there are mentioned higher esters of methacrylic acid typified by trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; polyfunctional vinyl monomers typified by divinylbenzene, triallyl isocyanurate and diallyl phthalate; and bismaleimides typified by N,N′-m-phenylene bismaleimide and N,N′-ethylene bismaleimide. Above all, bismaleimides are preferred because they are useful in enhancing the effect of the dynamic heat treatment. These compounds may be used in combination of two or more. Moreover, there may be used a benzothiazole compound or a benzothiazolylsulfenamide compound as an activator if necessary for enhancing the effect of addition of the polyfunctional monomer. A mixture consisting of the components explained above is heat-treated dynamically to obtain the resin composition. The dynamic heat treatment means melt-kneading the mixture to increase the boiling xylene insolubles content as compared with that before the kneading. The effect of the present invention is attained by this heat treatment. Generally, the higher the boiling xylene insolubles content, the greater the improvement in various effects, including impact resistance. The temperature of the dynamic heat treatment is not lower than the melting point or the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and below the decomposition point thereof. In melt-kneading of the mixture, it is desirable to use a mixing machine which affords a high shear rate to facilitate the formation of radicals in the mixture. The boiling xylene insolubles content is increased mainly by adjusting the amount of the crosslinking agent. An appropriate amount of the crosslinking agent is used, depending on the kind of the crosslinking agent used and that of the activator used and melt-kneading apparatus and conditions. If the crosslinking agent is used in an excess amount, there will occur bleeding of the components added, coloration of the resulting composition, or increase of the cost. So the amount of the crosslinking agent to be used may be determined in view of these points. Actually, the amount of the crosslinking agent and the activator, usually irrespective of the kind thereof, is in the range of 0.001 to 5, preferably 0.05 to 3, parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin. For the dynamic heat treatment there may be used a known melt-kneading machine such as, for example, open type mixing rolls, non-open type Bumbury's mixer, extruder, kneader, or twin-screw extruder. In the case where the present invention is practised in the aforementioned composition ratio, it is preferable that the kneading temperature and the heat treatment time be in the ranges of 120° to 350°C and 20 seconds to 20 minutes, respectively. For the improvement of moldability and flexibility there may be used a softening agent. A mineral oil or synthetic oil type softening agent is usually employed. These oils are high-boiling petroleum components and are classified into paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic oils. Petroleum distillates are also employable in the present invention. The softening agent may be used in an amount of 2 to 300, preferably 5 to 150, parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin. An amount of the softening agent smaller than 2 parts by weight will bring about no effect and an amount thereof exceeding 300 parts by weight will result in marked deterioration of strength and heat resistance. When the softening agent is to be added is not specially limited, but it is desirable to add the softening agent at the time of melt-kneading the thermoplastic resin. In the composition there may be incorporated, if necessary, stabilizer, antioxidant, ultraviolet ray absorber, lubricant, foaming agent, antistatic agent, flame retardant, plasticizer, dye, pigment, as well as fillers such as talc, calcium carbonate, carbon black, mica, glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid resins, and asbestos. The present invention employs a dihydroaromatic compound as a crosslinking agent, and a polyfunctional monomer whereby an excessive crosslinking reaction which is a drawback of the conventional crosslinking agents can be suppressed, and by using such dihydroaromatic compound there can be produced a partially crosslinked product which is crosslinked to a desired extent, ranging from an extremely slight degree of crosslinking up to a greatly crosslinked state, and physical properties can be improved remarkably. Working Examples and Comparative Examples The present invention will be described below more concretely in terms of Examples, but the invention is not limited thereto. Examples 1 - 25, Comparative Examples 1 - 25 As thermoplastic resins there were used polypropylene resin, low density polyethylene resin, high density polyethylene resin, linear low-density polyethylene resin, very-low density polyethylene resin, ethylenepropylene random copolymer rubber, ethylene-unsaturated carboxylate copolymer, and polyamide resin. Preparation of the compositions 100 parts by weight of each of the above thermoplastic resins were mixed with 3.6 parts of poly-(2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline) and 4.5 parts of N,N′-m-phenylene bismaleimide, and the resulting mixture was melt-kneaded using a Laboplastomill (Model 20R200, a product of Toyo Seiki K.K.). Conditions were a reaction time of 5 minutes, 60 revolutions, and a reaction temperature of 230°, and under these conditions, torque was observed in the melt kneading. After completion of the reaction, a boiling xylene insolubles content was determined. Each of the compositions thus prepared was formed into a 30 µ thick film at a blow ratio of 1.8 and a temperature of 200°C through a spiral die (diameter: 125 mm, lip: 2mm) of a 40 mm dia. extruder (L/D=20), and physical properties thereof were measured. The results obtained are as shown in Table 1. In the comparative example the melt kneading was performed without using poly(2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline) and N,N′-m-phenylene bismaleimide. In the same table, torque is represented using the arrows ↑ (rise) and → (unchanged). Method of Testing and Measurement (Tensile Strength at Break) According to ASTM D882. (Boiling Xylene Insolubles Content) A 20 mm x 50 mm x 0.2 mm film formed by pressing was put on a 120 mesh wire gauze and immersed in boiling xylene for 5 hours. Then, the weight of the film before the immersion and that after the immersion were measured, and a boiling xylene insolubles content was determined from the following equation: Boiling xylene insolubles content (wt%) = Film weight g after immersion in boiling xylene Film weight g before immersion in boiling xylene x 100 Examples 25 - 49, Comparative Examples 25 - 52 Polypropylene resin, high density polyethylene resin, linear low-density polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin, polyamide resin, polyester resin, and ethylenepropylene random copolymer rubber were used as mixtures. Specimens were obtained by injection molding and subsequent annealing, unless otherwise described. How to prepare compositions, as well as conditions for preparing the specimens by injection molding and testing methods are as follows: Preparation of the compositions 1) The above thermoplastic resins were mixed in predetermined proportions by means of a Henschel mixer. 2) A crosslinking agent was added to each of the mixtures thus prepared, followed by melt kneading at a resin temperature of 180-260°C and a revolution of 200 rpm, using a continuous twin-screw extruder - (30 mm dia., a product of Plastic Kogaku Kenkyu-Sho K.K.), to effect a dynamic heat treatment. Conditions for Injection Molding Molding machine : IS-90B (a product of Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.) Injection pressure : 1,000 kg/cm 2 Molding temperature : 180-260°C Mold temperature : 50°C Method of Testing and Measurement (MFR) According to JIS K6760, JIS K6758 and JIS K7210. (Yield Tensile Strength) and (Ultimate Elongation Length) According to JIS K6760, JIS K6758 and JIS K7113. (Flexural Modulus) According to JIS K6758 and JIS K7203. (Vicat Softening Temperature) According to JIS K6760, JIS K6758 and JIS K7206. (Izod Impact Value) According to JIS K6758 and JIS K7110. (Boiling Xylene Insolubles Content) A 20 mm x 50 mm x 0.2 mm film formed by pressing was put on a 120 mesh wire gauze and immersed in boiling xylene for 5 hours. Then, the weight of the film before the immersion and that after the immersion were measured, and a boiling xylene insolubles content was determined from the following equation: Boiling xylene insolubles content (wt%) = Film weight g after immersion in boiling xylene Film weight g before immersion in boiling xylene = 100 (Crystallization Temperature) Crystallization temperature was measured as an index of cycle time in the injection molding. It can be considered that the higher the crystallization temperature, the shorter the cycle time in the injection molding because the crystallization rate is high. The measurement was made using a differential scanning calorimeter (SSC/580, a product of Seiko Denshi Kogyo K.K.). About 10 mg of a sample was held at 210°C for 5 minutes and then the temperature was reduced at a cooling rate of 10°C/min. At this time, the temperature corresponding to a peak of the resulting exotherm curve was regarded as the crystallization temperarture. The results obtained are as set forth in Tables 2 to 4, in which the proportions of crosslinking agents are based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of thermoplastic resins (this is true also in the following tables). Examples 53 - 65, Comparative Examples 50 - 61 As thermoplastic resins there were used very-low density polyethylenes each in a proportion of 70-90 wt%. Specimens were each prepared by blanking to a predetermined size from a 100 mm x 200 mm x 2 mm flat plate obtained by injection molding, unless otherwise described. How to prepare compositions was the same as above, but in thc melt kneading step 2) of the manufacturing method, the resin temperature was in the range of 150° to 220°C, and where requried, a mineral oil-or synthetic oil-based softening agent was added from a reciprocating, fixed displacement pump connected to a vent port. Conditions for preparing test pieces by injection molding and newly added testing methods are as follows: Conditions for Injection Molding Molding machine : IS-90B (a product of Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.) Injection pressure : 500-1,000 kg/cm 2 Molding temperature: 180-230°C Mold temperature: 30-50°C Additional Testing and Measurement Methods (High Load MFR) According to JIS K7210. Temperature 230°C, load 10 kg. (Ultimate Tensile Strength and Ultimate Elongation Length) According to JIS K6301. A speed of testing 200 mm/min. (Durometer Hardness, H D A) According to ISO 868. (Parmanent Set) According to JIS K6301. Extension 100%. No. 3 dumbbell was used. (Vicat Softening Temperature) According to JIS K7206. Load 250 g. (Brittle Temperature) According to JIS K6760 and JIS K7216. (Abrasion Resistance) According to JIS K7204 (using a Taber abrader). Load 1,000 g, Continuous 1,000 revolutions. (Measurement of Maximum Peak Temperature (Tm) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)) This temperature was measured as a melting point of an very-low density polyethylene. About 5 mg of sample is weighed from a 100 µm thick film obtained by hot pressing, then set to a DSC device, and the temperature is raised to 170°C, at which temperature the sample is held for 15 minutes, followed by cooling to 0°C at a cooling rate of 2.5°C/min. Then, from this state, the temperature is raised to 170°C at a rate of 10°C/min, and the temperature in the vertex position of the maximum peak out of peaks appeared during the heating from 0°C to 170°C is regarded as Tm. Determination of Boiling n-Hexane Insolubles Content A 200 µm thick sheet is formed using a hot press, from which are cut out three 20 mm x 30 mm sheets. Using these three sheets, extraction is performed in boiling n-hexane for 5 hours by means of a double-tube type Soxhlet extractor. Then, n-hexane insolubles are taken out and vacuum-dried (at 50°C for 7 hours). Thereafter, a boiling n-hexane insolubles content is calculated by the following equation: Boiling n-hexane insolubles content (wt%) = Sheet weight after extraction Sheet weight before extraction x 100 The results obtained are as shown in Table 5. The proportion of each softening agent in Table 5 is based on the total resin weight assumed to be 100 parts by weight (this is also the same in the following tables). Examples 62 - 69, Comparative Examples 56, 57 There were used mixtures selected from polypropylene resin, low density polyethylene resin, very-low density polyethylene resin, ethylene-ethylacrylate copolymer resin and ethylene-propylene random copolymer rubber. How to prepare compositions and test pieces as well as conditions for preparing test pieces by injection molding are the same as in the above Examples 54-61. The following are newly added testing methods. Additional Testing and Measuring Methods (Spiral Flow) Using a mold having a cavity of a certain spiral, samples were prepared by injection molding under the following conditions, and the length of the spiral of each sample was measured to check melt flow charactcristic of the sample. Conditions for Injection Molding Molding machine : IS-90B (a product of Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.) Injection pressure : 1,000 kg/cm 2 Molding temperature : 230°C Stroke 25 mm Injection time : 15 sec Curing time : 10 sec Interval time : 3 sec Mold : Archimedes' type, Temperature 50°C (Bending Strength) According to JIS K6758 and JIS K7203. (Durometer Hardness, H D D) According to JIS K6760 and JIS K7215. (Surface Roughening and Elongation of Parison) Parisons were formed using an extruder for blow molding in the same manner as above and then evaluated visually for their surface condition and elongation. The evaluation was made in the following three stages: o ○ ... extremely good, ○ good, * ... bad The results obtained are as set out in Table 6. Thermoplastic resins (A) used in the present invention: A1 Very-low density polyethylene Ethylene and 1-butene were copolymerized using a catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component and triethylaluminum which solid catalyst component had been obtained from substantially anhydrous magnesium chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane and titanium tetrachloride. The resulting ethylene-1-butene copolymer contained 12 mole% of 1-butene and had the following properties: Density : 0.896 g/cm 3 Tm as measured by DSC : 120°C Boiling n-hexane insolubles content : 74 wt% MFR : 0.9 g/10 min A2 Very-low density polyethylene Ethylene and 1-butene were copolymerized using the same method as in the preparation of A1. The resulting ethylene-1-butene copolymer contained 9.5 mole% of 1-butene and had the following properties: Density : 0.900 g/cm 3 Tm as measured by DSC : 120°C Boiling n-hexane insolubles content : 80 wt% MFR : 0.5 g/10 min A3 Very-low density polyethylene Ethylene and 1-butene were copolymerized using the same method as in the preparation of A1. The resulting ethylene-1-butene copolymer contained 8 moles % of 1-butene and had the following properties: Density : 0.906 g/cm 3 Tm as measured by DSC : 121°C Boiling n-hexane insolubles content : 82 wt% MFR : 5 g/10 min A4 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J120G MFR 1.5, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A5 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J130G MFR 4.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A6 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J150G MFR 8.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A7 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J160G MFR 14, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A8 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J170G MFR 30, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A9 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J420G MFR 1.5, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A10 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J630G MFR 4.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A11 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J650G MFR 8.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A12 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J871M MFR 23, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A13 Polypropylene, Nisseki Polypro J880G MFR 40, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A14 Linear low-density polyethylene Nisseki Linirex AF1210 MFR 0.8, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A15 Linear low-density polyethylene Nisseki Linirex AJ5610 MFR 10, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A16 Linear low-density polyethylene Nisseki Linirex AJ6820 MFR 30, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A17 Linear low-density polyethylene Nisseki Linirex AJ6285 MFR 32, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A18 Low density polyethylene Nisseki Rexlon F102 MFR 0.25, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A19 Low density polyethylene Nisseki Rexlon F22 MFR 1.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A20 Low density polyethylene Nisseki Rexlon F3122 MFR 2.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A21 Low density polyethylene Nisseki Rexlon F504 MFR 9.5, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A22 Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer Nisseki Rexlon EEA A3050 A23 Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer Nisseki Rexlon EEA A3100 MFR 3.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A24 Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer Nisseki Rexlon EEA A3150 MFR 3.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A25 Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer Nisseki Rexlon EEA A4250 MFR 5.0, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A26 High density polyethylene Nisseki STAFLENE E809 (M) MFR 0.9, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A27 High density polyethylene Nisseki STAFLENE E750 (C) MFR 5.3, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A28 High density polyethylene Nisseki STAFLENE E807 (F) MFR 0.6, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. A29 Ethylene-propylene random copolymer rubber, EP02P ML 1+4 =24, a product of Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd. A30 Ethylene-propylene random copolymer rubber, EP07P ML 1+4 =70, a product of Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd. A31 6-Nylon CM1021, a product of Toray Industries Inc. A32 Polystyrene Toporex 525, a product of Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc. A33 Polybutylene terephthalate PBT310, a product of Toray Industries Inc. Softening Agent (B) B1 Mineral process oil, a product of Nippon Oil Co., Ltd. B2 Liquid polybutene, Nisseki POLYBUTENE LV100, a product of Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. Crosslinking Agent (C) C1 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene a product of Tokyo Kasei Kogyo K.K. C2 6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline Nocrac AW-D, a product of Ohuchi Shinko Kagaku Kogyo K.K. C3 Poly(2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline) Nocrac 224-S, a product of Ohuchi Shinko Kagaku Kogyo K.K. C4 α,α-bis(t-butylperoxy)-m-diisopropylbenzene Perbutyl P, a product of Nippon Oils & Fats Co., Ltd. Polyfunctional monomer (D). D1 N,N-m-phenylene bismaleimide Vulnoc PM, a product of Ohuchi Shinko Kagaku Kogyo K.K. D2 Divinylbenzene, a product of Tokyo Kasei Kogyo K.K. D3 Triallyl isocyanurate Taic , a product of Nippon Kasei K.K.

Claims: A process for preparing a partially crosslinked, thermoplastic resin composition in which a thermoplastic resin substantially free of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds is dynamically heat treated in the presence of a dihydroaromatic compound or a polymer thereof as a crosslinking agent and a polyfunctional monomer in the absence of an olefinically unsaturated elastomer and substantially in the absence of organic peroxides. A process according to Claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin comprises a polyolefin resin and a heterogeneous thermoplastic resin. A process according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic resin comprises a mixture of at least two kinds of polyolefin resins. A process according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the polyolefin resin includes at least one member selected from polypropylenes and ethylene (co) polymers. A process according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the dihydroaromatic compound crosslinking agent is a 1,2-dihydroquinoline compound or a polymer thereof or 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene. A process according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the polyfunctional monomer is a bismaleimide compound. A process according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein a softening agent is also used together with the thermoplastic resin.

Inventors: INOUE TOSHIO, KASHIWASE SHIUZI, MIYAZAKI MASAAKI, INOUE, TOSHIO, KASHIWASE, SHIUZI, MIYAZAKI, MASAAKI
Applicants: NIPPON PETROCHEMICALS CO LTD, NIPPON PETROCHEMICALS COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: C08K5
IPC codes: C08F257, C08F299, C08K5, C08F290, C08F283, C08J3, C08L23, C08F255, C08L101, C08F289