MODIFIED POLYOLEFINS

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified polyolefin comprising a polyolefin and 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a mono-telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin. Preferably, the mono-telechelic polyolefin is a polyolefin mono-ol. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a modified polyolefin which comprises blending of a polyolefin and a mono-telechelic polyolefin and molding the blend. Furthermore, the present invention relates to articles containing the said modified polyolefin.

Description: MODIFIED POLYOLEFINS The present invention relates to modified polyolefins, including modified thermoplastic polyolefins. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing such modified polyolefins. Moreover, the present invention relates to articles containing the modified polyolefins. Polyolefins, of course, are well known in the art. In the past decades a plethora of applications have been found, each application placing specific requirements on properties of the polyolefins and compositions containing polyolefins. To be able to meet specific requirements, often a selected polyolefin is blended with other compounds, such as for example talc fillers, glass fibers and/or other polymers like ethylene/propylene rubber or hydrogenated s yrene/diene/styrene block copolymer rubber. Such polyolefin blends are hereinafter referred to as modified polyolefins. It will be appreciateα that it is often difficult to improve one or more properties of modified polyolefins without negatively affecting one or more other properties, and that often compromises have to be made. As is well known, painting on and adhesion to polyolefins is normally cumbersome in view of the apolar nature of the polyolefins. The terms painting, a paint, and paintability as used herein are intended to include coating, a coat(ιng), and coatability respectively. Various surface treatments have been developed to improve paintability and adhesion onto polyolefins, such as an etching treatment, a plasma treatment or a flame treatment, each having significant disadvantages, as set out in more detail in e.g. US-A-5 , 256, 734. US-A-5, 256, 734 describes a modified polyolefin, that is a polypropylene resin composition which can be coated directly without any preliminary surface treatment. The composition comprises from 20 to 100 parts by weight of a hydrogenated styrene/butadiene or styrene/isoprene elastomeric block copolymer having a melt index of not less than 25 g/10 min, per 100 parts by weight of a polypropylene. A disadvantage, however, is that the improvement in coatability places strict requirements on the composition, leaving limited room for amendment of other desirable properties. JP-03-277636-A describes a modified polyolefin composition containing i) a propylene-ethylene block copolymer; ii) an ethylene-containing elastomer, a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene and/or styrene-isoprene block copolymer; iii) a hydroxylated diene polymer; and iv) a filler. The hydroxylated diene polymer is typically a diol . EP-A-0 429 236 describes a coated resin molding composition comprising a propylene polymer and a 1.3- diene polymer preferably having from 1.5 to 5 hydroxyl groups per molecule. A disadvantage of the modified polyolefins described in these publications is that the disclosed relatively low molecular weight polyhydroxy diene polymer bleeds out relatively easily. Thus, the modified polyolefin ages relatively rapidly, resulting e.g. in reduced adhesion to paints which have been applied to the modified polyolefin. In the journal Plastic World of February 1996 featured an article regarding directly paintable thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO) . According to this article, conventional TPO can be made directly paintable by melt blending into the formulation a low molecular weight polyether amine and a maleic anhydride functionalised polypropylene (MPP) . The MPP and the polyether amine react to form a polar olefin-ether copolymer . As disclosed at the ANTEC 1995 conference by R.J. Clark (ANTEC 95 conference proceedings pages 3306- 3310) , preference was given to MPP containing a relatively high level of maleation, ensuring a high level of reaction sites per molecule for the polyether amine . Tne article in Plastic World claims that problems of bleeding out are overcome in this way, but acknowledges that the modified polyolefin product is fairly expensive. Moreover, due to the hydrophilicity of the polar olefin ether copolymer, the modified polyolefin will age fairly rapidly. It would be desirable to be able to provide modified polyolefins which do not have one or more of the disaαvantages associated with prior art modified polyolefins. In particular, it would be desiraole to be aole to provide modified polyolefins having an improveα paintability and improved adhesion to adhesives, without surface treatments, without substantial negative effect or other important properties and without significant ageing . Most surprisingly, such modified polyolefins have now been found. Therefore, the present invention relates to a modified polyolefin comprising a polyolefin and 0.01 to 20 parts by weight (pbw) of a mono-telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts oy weight of the polyolefin, wherein the mono- telechetic polyolefin has a functionality in the range from 0.6 to 1.4 functional groups per molecule. Preferably the mono-telechelic polyolefin is present in an amount from 0.5 to 15 pbw, more preferably from 3.5 to 12 pbw, even more preferably from 5 to 10 pbw. For the purposes of this specification a mono- telechelic polyolefin is a polyolefin containing a functional group substantially at one end of the polyolefin . The functional group is located substantially at one end of the polyolefin if the functional group is located at most 10 carbon atoms from the end of the polyolefin structure, preferably at most 5 carbon atoms, more preferably at most 1 carbon atom. Most preferably, the functional group is located at one end of the polyolefin structure . The polyolefin structure can be linear, or radial, that is a polyolefin structure containing more than two arms. In the latter case, it will be appreciated that the functional group can be located at any one end of an arm of the polyolefin structure. Preferably, the polyolefin structure is linear. For the purposes of this invention, the functional group is a polar group, preferably a hydroxyl group, an amine group, a carboxylic acid group or a carboxylic acid anhydride group, more preferably a hydroxyl group. Accordingly, preferably the mono-telechelic polyolefin is a polyolefin mono-ol. The polymer backbone of the mono-telechelic polyolefin, that is the polyolefin, is typically the polymerised product of an olefin monomer or an olefin monomer and a vinylaromatic monomer. The olefin monomer typically contains from 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferably, the olefin monomer is a diene containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, even more preferably butadiene or isoprene or mixtures thereof, most preferably butadiene . The vmylaromatic monomer is preferably a vinylmonoaromatic monomer, such as styrene or alkyl- substituted styrene, wherein the alkyl-substituent ( s ) contain from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. More preferably, the vmylaromatic monomer is styrene or mono-alkyl- substituted styrene. The mono-telechelic polyolefin may contain up to 50% by weight of polymerised vmylaromatic monomer, preferably from 0 to 20% by weight, more preferably from 0 to 5% by weight. Preferably, the mono-telechelic polyolefin contains less than 20% olefinic unsaturation in the polymer backbone. More preferably, the olefinic unsaturation is less than 5%. Olefinic unsaturation as used herein is intended to exclude unsaturation present in any aromatic groups in the polymer. Ways to determine olefinic unsaturation are known to those skilled in the art. According to a more preferred embodiment, the polyolefin mono-ol is a polydiene mono-ol, preferably havmq a hydrogenated polydiene backbone, typically a hydrogenated polydiene backbone wherein the olefinic unsaturation is as discussed above. Most preferably, hydrogenated polybutadiene mono-ol is used having a 1,2-addιtιon between 30% and 70% to minimise viscosity and subsequent crystallisation. Typically, the mono-telechelic polyolefin has a functionality in the range from 0.6 to 1.4 functional groups per molecule. Preferably the functionality is at least 0.8, more preferably at least 0.85, even more preferably at least 0.9. The functionality is preferably not more than 1.2, more preferably less than 1.0. The functionality is defined as the number of functional groups, that is preferably hydroxyl groups, per molecule. The functionality can be determined by NMR or chemical titration techniques. The mono-telechelic polyolefin typically has a number average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 30000, preferably from 1000 to 20000 g/mol. The polyolefin of the modified polyolefin composition may be an olefin homopolymer such as polyethylene and polypropylene, an olefin copolymer such as ethylene/propylene copolymers and block copolymers containing more than 50% by weight, preferably more than 75% by weight, more preferably more than 90% by weight, of blocks predominantly containing the polymerised product of an olefin monomer or olefin monomers. For the purpose of this specification, with blocks predominantly containing the polymerised product of an olefin monomer or olefin monomers is meant that the said blocks should consist of at least 80% by weight of polymerised olefin monomer(s), preferably at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight. The remainder of the predominantly polymerised olefin containing blocks and any other blocks may comprise the polymerised product of vinylaromatic monomers, acrylic monomers or acrylonitrile monomers, in particular vinylaromatic monomers. Preferably, the polyolefin is an olefin homopolymer. In view of ready availability and costs, polyethylene and polypropylene are especially preferred, in particular polypropylene. Alternatively, the polyolefin is a crystalline propylene/ethylene block copolymer having an ethylene content of 3 to 75% by weight, preferably 5 to 70% by weight, and/or a crystalline propylene/ethylene random co-polymer having an ethylene content of 0.5 to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 5% by weight. The number average molecular weight of the polyolefin is typically in the range from 50 to 1,500 kg/mol, preferably in the range from 50 to 1,000 kg/mol more preferably from 80 to 500 kg/mol. It will be appreciated that the modified polyolefin may contain further compounds normally added to polyolefins to alter their properties. Examples include elastomers, to improve the impact strength, fillers, fibers as well as further additives like antioxidants . The modified polyolefin typically further comprises from 3 to 50 parts by weight of an elastomer per 100 parts of polyolefin. Examples of suitable elastomers include ethylene/propylene copolymers, styrene/diene block copolymers, and other olefinic thermoplastic elastomers. For the purpose of this specification an elastomer is defined as having a Tg of less than -50°C and a number average molecular weight of 100,000 g/mol or more. The modified polyolefin may further comprise from 0 to 50 pbw of a filler per 100 parts of polyolefin. Examples of suitable fillers include silica, talc, other silicates, and carbonates like calcium carbonate and calcium/magnesium carbonate. The modified polyolefin may- further comprise from 0 to 50 pbw of fibres per 100 parts of polyolefin. Examples of suitable fibres include glass fibres, carbon fibres, like aramide fibres, and rockwool. The modified polyolefin may further comprise from 0 to 50 pbw of a plasticiser per 100 parts of polyolefin. Plasticisers which may be found useful include petroleum-derived oils, Fischer-Tropsch oils and waxes, olefin oligomers as well as vegetable and animal oils. The olefin oligomers may be oligomers of olefin monomers having from 2 to 14 carbon atoms, in particular from 4 to 12 carbon atoms. Typically the oligomers have a number average molecular weight in the range from 350 to 10,000 g/mol. The modified polyolefins may further comprise one or more of antioxidants, colour pigments, and UV stabilizers . A particular preferred modified polyolefin comprises per 100 parts polyolefin, 5 to 50 pbw of an ethylene/propylene copolymer rubber; 5 to 50 pbw of a filler, in particular talc; 0 to 50 pbw of fibres, in particular glass fibres; and 0.5 to 10 pbw of a hydrogenated polydiene mono-ol as described herein before. According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a modified polyolefin as described herein, which comprises blending of a polyolefin and a mono-telechelic polyolefin and, optionally, molding the blend. According to yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a modified polyolefin as described herein, which comprises blending a mono-telechelic polyolefin with a polyolefin in an amount of more than 20 parts by weight of the mono- telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin to prepare a masterbatch and blending the masterbatch with a polyolefin, optionally followed by molding of the blend, to prepare the modified polyolefln. Preferably, the masterbatch contains at most 50 parts by weight of the mono-telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin. More preferably, the masterbatch contains from 25 to 45 parts by weight of the mono-telechelic polyolefin. If desired, any filler, elastomer and/or any other additives are blended with the polyolefin and the mono- telechelic polyolefin prior to molding. Blending and molding methods are well known to those skilled in the art. A preferred method involves dry- blendmg of the various components, e.g. in a Banbury mixer, followed by injection molding or extrusion molding. Suitable process conditions include those taught in the art. Alternatively, the mono-telechelic polyolefin, when liquid, may be injected directly into an extrusion line with the polyolefin to prepare the product according to the invention. In the above process, preferably a polyolefin mono- ol is used, more preferably a polyolefin mono-ol which has been prepared by polymerising an olefin monomer with an initiator, thereby producing a living polymer, and end-capping the living polymer (living macromolecular species) with a hydroxyl-yielding funct onaliz g agent, typically when the living polymer has reached the desired molecular weight. The polydiene mono-ol preferably used this invention may be prepared anionically such as described in United States Patents Nos . 5,378,761, 5,391,663, 5,393,843, and 5,405, 911. According to this method, polymerisation of the polydiene mono-ol typically commences with a monolithium initiator which builds a living polymer backbone at each lithium site. The anionic polymerisation is carried out in solution in an organic solvent, typically a hydrocarbon like hexane, cyclohexane or benzene, although polar solvents such as tetrahydrofuran can also be used. The molar ratio of initiator to monomer determines the molecular weight of the polymer. If the conjugated diene is 1 , 3-butadιene and the resulting polymer is to be hydrogenated, the anionic polymerisation of butadiene in a hydrocarbon solvent like cyclohexane is typically controlled with structure modifiers such as diethylether or glyme (1, 2-dιethoxy- ethane) to obtain the desired amount of 1, 2-addιtιon . The optimum balance between low viscosity and high solubility in a hydrogenated polybutadiene polymer occurs at a 60/40 ratio of 1 , 4-butadιene / 1,2- butadiene. This butadiene microstructure may e.g. be 0 achieved during polymerisation at 50 C in cyclohexane containing about 6% by volume of diethylether or about 1000 ppm of glyme. Anionic polymerisation is terminated by addition of a functionalizing agent like those in United States patent specification Nos . 5,391,637, 5,393,843, and 5,418,296, but preferably the living polymer is capped with ethylene oxide, prior to termination. Thus, each mole of living polymer is preferably capped with one mole of ethylene oxide and terminated with one mole of methanol to yield the desired polydiene mono-ol. The polydiene mono-ol is preferably hydrogenated such that at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, of the olefinic carbon to carbon double bonds in the diene is saturated. Hydrogenation of these polymers may be carried out by a variety of well established processes including hydrogenation in the presence of such catalysts as Raney Nickel, noble metals such as platinum and palladium, soluble transition metal catalysts and titanium catalysts as in United States patent specification No. 5,039,755. A particularly preferred catalyst is a mixture of nickel 2-ethylhexanoate and tnethylaluminum. The polybutadiene polymer preferably has no less than about 30% 1 , 2-butadιene addition because, after hydrogenation, the polymer will be a waxy solid at room temperature if it contained less than about 30% 1,2- butadiene addition. To minimise viscosity of the mono- ol, the 1 , 2-butadiene content is preferably between 40 and 60%. If as conjugated diene for the preparation of the polydiene diol, isoprene is used, the isoprene polymers preferably have no less than 80% 1,4-ιsoprene addition in order to reduce Tg and viscosity. The diene microstructures are typically determined by l^C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in chloroform. The polydiene mono-ols preferably have hydroxyl equivalent weights in the range of from 500 to 15,000, more preferably in the range of from 1,000 to 12,500. For the polydiene mono-ols suitable number average molecular weights will be between 500 and 15,000, more preferably between 1,000 and 12,500, most preferably between 1,500 and 6,000 g/mol. The number average molecular weights referred to in this specification are number average molecular weights measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) calibrated with polybutadiene standards having Known number average molecular weights. The solvent for the GPC analyses is tetrahydrofuran . According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to articles containing modified polyolefins as described above. Examples of articles to be manufactured from the modified polyolefins include automotive parts like dashboards and bumpers. It will be appreciated that there is a desire in the automotive industry to paint plastic automotive parts, particular bumpers, in the same colour as the metal parts on the outside of the vehicle. Up to now this has been an expensive and cumbersome process involving separate surface treatments. Alternatively, expensive engineering thermoplastics had to be used in the preparation of parts to be painted. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to articles as described above which have been painted. The invention will now be further illustrated by means of the following Examples. EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of modified polyolefin 100 parts of a thermoplastic polypropylene compound, modified with ethylene-propylene rubber, marketed under the tradename HIFAX and available from Montell Polyolefins, was dry-blended with 8 pbw of a hydrogenated polybutadiene mono-ol having a functionality of 0.95 and a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 4200, marketed under the tradename KRATON Liquid Polymer L-1203, and available from Shell Chemical companies . The blend was compounded using an extrusion line. Subsequently, the compounded blend was injection molded to form a modified polyolefin plate. Measurement of surface tension The surface tension of the modified polyolefin plate was determined by a known technique, using a standard set of pencils. The surface tension of the modified polyolefin plate according to the invention was 38 dyne/cm, whereas the surface tension of a polyolefin plate containing the same HIFAX material but not the KRATON Liquid Polymer L- 1203 material was less than 32 dyne/cm. Measurement of adhesion to the modified polyolefin A conventional pressure sensitive adhesive tape, having a composition as outlined in Table I, was adhered to the modified polyolefin plate according to the invention. The loop tack ( FTM 9) was measured. Tabl e I Tape backing: Polyester marketed under the tradename MYLAR Adhesive formulation: 100 parts KRATON D-1161 elastomer (linear SIS block copolymer containing 15% by weight polystyrene) 140 phr PICCOTAC 95E tackifying resin (Aliphatic C5 hydrocarbon resin available from Hercules) 40 phr CATENEX 956 plasticiser (naphthenic oil) 1 phr IRGANOX 1010 antioxidant ( tetrakis-ethylene- ( 3, 5- di-tertiary-butyl- -hydroxy-hydrocinnamate) methane) The loop tack of the modified polyolefin according to the invention, as measured at 23 °C, was 13.0 +/- 0.5 N/25mm, whereas the loop tack of the unmodified HIFAX material was only 9.6 +/- 0.6 N/25mm. Example 2 Preparation of Modified Polyolefin Twelve different modified polyolefins were prepared by dry-blending three different polyolefins with 5 or 10% by weight of KRATON Liquid Polymer L-1203 or L-2203, followed by compounding of the blend using an extrusion line and injection moulding to form a modified polyolefin plate. KRATON Liquid Polymer L-2203 is a hydrogenated polybutadiene diol having a functionality of 1.9 and a hydroxyl equivalent weight of 1700, available from Shell Chemical Companies . The polyolefins used were PM 6100, PLZ 867 and CB180 A2 300, all obtained from Montell Polyolefins. PM 6100 is a homopolypropylene having a melt flow rate of 6 g/10 min, at 230 ° C. PLZ 867 is a polypropylene/polyethylene copolymer having a melt flow rate of 8 g/10 min, at 230 ° C. CB180 A2 300 is a low-shrinkage thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) grade containing glass fibre and talc and having a melt flow rate of 6 g/10 min at 230 °C. Measurement of surface tension The polar surface tension γ p and the dispersive surface tension γ d of the 12 modified polyolefins and three not modified polyolefin samples were determined by contact angle measurement with water and α-bromo- naphthalene, according the harmonic mean method as described by S.Wu in "Polymer interface and adhesion", chapter 5, pages 178-181, M. Dekker Inc., 1982. Results are presented in Table I. It can be seen that both the polar surface tension γ p and the dispersive surface tension γ d increases as a result of addition of either L-1203 or L-2203 (not according to the invention) relative to the not modified polyolefins. The surface tension of modified PM6100, containing is 10% L-2203 could not be adequately determined as L-2203 was bleeding out of the modified PM 6100 at room temperature. Determination of stability of modified polyolefins The modified polyolefin samples were cut in three pieces, and were stored at 23°C, 65°C or 95°C for two, two and one week respectively, after having been wrapped in absorbing paper. Dark, wet spots on the absorbing paper were an indication of bleeding out. Results are presented in Table II. It can be seen that all samples containing 10% L-2203 (not according to the invention) aged after only 2 weeks at 65°C or 1 week at 95°C. None of the samples containing 5% L-2203 actually showed ageing, but it is contemplated that they would show ageing at a more severe test. None of the modified polyolefins according to the invention showed ageing, including the modified polyolefins containing 10% L-1203. Table I t Bleeding out Table II

Claims: C L A I M S 1. Modified polyolefin comprising a polyolefin and 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a mono-telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin, wherein the mono-telechelic polyolefin has a functionality in the range from 0.6 to 1.4 functional groups per molecule. 2. Modified polyolefin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mono-telechelic polyolefin is a polyolefin mono-ol. 3. Modified polyolefin as claimed in claim 2, wherein the polyolefin mono-ol is a polydiene mono-ol. 4. Modified polyolefin as claimed in claim 3, wherein the polydiene mono-ol has a hydrogenated polydiene backbone . 5. Modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mono-telechelic polyolefin has a functionality in the range from 0.8 to 1.2 functional groups per molecule. 6. Modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of the mono-telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin. 7. Modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mono-telechelic polyolefin has a number average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 30000 g/mol. 8. Modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising from 3 to 50 parts by weight of an elastomer, per 100 parts of polyolefin. 9. Modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more additives chosen from fillers, fibres, plasticisers, antioxidants, colour pigments, and UV stabilizers. 10. A process for preparing a modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which comprises blending of a polyolefin and a mono- telechelic polyolefin and, optionally, molding the blend . 11. A process for preparing a modified polyolefin as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, which comprises blending a mono-telechelic polyolefin with a polyolefin in an amount of more than 20 parts by weight of the mono-telechelic polyolefin per 100 parts of the polyolefin to prepare a master batch and blending the masterbatch with a polyolefin, optionally followed by molding of the blend, to prepare the modified polyolefin . 12. A process as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein any filler, elastomer and/or any other additives are blended with the polyolefin and the mono-telechelic polyolefin prior to molding. 13. A process as claimed in any one of claims 10-12, wherein a polyolefin mono-ol is used which has been prepared by polymerising an olefin monomer with an initiator thereby producing a living polymer, and end- capping the living polymer with a hydroxyl-yielding functionalizing agent. 14. Articles containing modified polyolefins as claimed in any one of the preceding claims . 15. Articles as claimed in claim 14, which have been painted.

Inventors: GERARD ERIC-JACK, SCHNEIDER JURGEN KLAUS LEOPOLD, VERVOORT FREDDY MARIA ARMAND, GERARD, ERIC-JACK, SCHNEIDER, JURGEN, KLAUS, LEOPOLD, VERVOORT, FREDDY, MARIA, ARMAND
Applicants: SHELL INT RESEARCH, SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C08L23
IPC codes: C08C19, C08J3, C08L9, C08L21, C08L23