CA1201237A - Polyphenylene ether resin compositions containing polyolefin in high amount - Google Patents

Polyphenylene ether resin compositions containing polyolefin in high amount

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Publication number
CA1201237A
CA1201237A CA000417890A CA417890A CA1201237A CA 1201237 A CA1201237 A CA 1201237A CA 000417890 A CA000417890 A CA 000417890A CA 417890 A CA417890 A CA 417890A CA 1201237 A CA1201237 A CA 1201237A
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
composition according
resin
polyphenylene ether
amount
radial teleblock
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000417890A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gim F. Lee, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to CA000417890A priority Critical patent/CA1201237A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1201237A publication Critical patent/CA1201237A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

POLYPHENYLENE ETHER RESIN COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING
POLYOLEFIN IN HIGH AMOUNT
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Thermoplastic compositions of polyphenylene ether resin and diblock or radial teleblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene (which can be hydrogenated) containing polyolefin resin in large amount are described. The compositions are moldable into articles which do not exhibit the brittle-ness and tendency toward delamination often associated with use of large amounts of polyolefin.

Description

POLYPHENYLENE ETHER RESIN COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING
POLYOLgFI~ IN HIGH ~IOU~
ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The polyphenylene ethers are known as high perfonmance engineering thermoplastic possessing high melt viscosities and so~tPning points which makes them useful fox many applications where resistance to high temperatures i5 desired. These materials are described in many publica-lion including ~ay~ ~.5. Patent Nos. 3,306,874 and 3,306,875 and 5tamatoff, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,~57;357 and 3,257,358.

Certain properties of the polyphenylene ethers are undesirable for some uses however. For example, parts molded or otherwise shaped from polyphenylene ether resins are somewhat brittle due to poor impact strength and are thus prone to fracturing or shattering. Also, the relatively high melt viscosities and softening points of the polymer sometimes cause difficulties in processing.
Because of the high temperatures required to melt the resin and achieve good flow, special equipment is often.
necessalyO Moreover, the resin is more susceptible to degradation and discoloration at sueh elevated temperatures It is now well known that properties of the pol~phenylene ether resins can be altered materially by blending with other resin materials. For instance, Cize~
discloses compositions o polyphenylene ether resin and ~2~3~
2 8CN-3227 o polystyrene which are characterized by proved properties both during and aster molding. Sue U.S. PatEnt No. 3,383,435.

It is also known that whey polyethylene, a polyol~fin resin, is incorporated in polyphenylene ether resins and compositions, melt flow and other properties are substantially Lmproved. The amount ox polyethylene which can by incorporated has usually been very limited however, due to delEminatlo~
and brittleness in the resultant molded article~O - -.
It has recently been found that larger amounts of polyolefin resin can be successfully incorpoxated in apolyphenylene ether resin if certain elastomeric triblock copolymers are also preset in the compositions.

Such compositions, which possess good melt flow and impact resistance properties, are described in U.S.
Patent No. 4,1~6,055 to Lee, Jr.

INTROD~CTlON TO TOE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that poly~lefin can be compatibly admixed in large amount with polyphenylene ether resin if a diblock or radial teleblock copolymer of 20 an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene is also present. The diblock copolymer and radial teleblock copolymer each act as a "compatibilizer" for the polyolefin, enabling it to be homogeneously hlended in substantial proportion with polyphenylene ether.

Because of the larger amount of polyolefin in the compositions, properties are upgraded. Moreover, parts molded from the composition do not exhibit the delamination and/or brittleness which normally accompanies use of large amounts ox polyolefin.

~2~

The polyphenylene oxide resins useful in accordance with the present compositions are, as previously indicated, individually well known and readily available.
where are, howevex, various preferrer composition components.

The preferred polyphenylene ethers are homo- and copolymers of the formula:
10 ., ,o-~L

n wherein Q, Q', Q" and Qn', are independently select d from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbon radicals, halohydrocarbon radicals having at least two carbon atoms between-the halogen atom and the phenol nucleus, hydrocar-bonoxy radicals and halohydrocarbonoxy radicals having at least two carbon atoms between the halogen atoms and the phenol nucleus, and Q', Q" and Q-'l in addition may be halogen with the proYiso that Q and Q' are preferably free of a tertiary carbon atom; and n represents the total number 25 ox monomer residues and is an integer of at least 50.

specially preferred is poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether.

The diblock A-B copolymers of an alkenyl aromatic compound, A, and a conjugated diene, B, are derived from alkenyl aromatic compounds having the formula:

~21~ 7 o Cal, CHR2 R~ R3 wherein Rl and R2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alk~l or alkenyl groups of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 are elected from the group consistlng of chloro, bromo, hydrogen, and lower alkyl groups of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R5 and R6 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl an alkenyl group of prom 1 to 6 carbon atoms or R5 and R6 may be concatenated together with a hydrocarbyl group to form a ~aphthyl group.

Specific example of alkenyl aromatic monomers include styrene, bromostyrene, chlorostyrene, a-methyl-styrene, vinylxylene, divinylbenzene, vinyl naphthalene, and ~inyl-toluene.

these are copolymerized with the polydiene, B, which is derived from, for example, 1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3 butadiene and 1,3-pentadieneO

the A-B block copolymers can be, made by following procedures which are well known in the art or described in the patent literature, for example, in U.K. Ratent No.
1,145/923. These polymers are also commercially available, eOg~, from Shell Chemicals under the trade designation I-Shellvis 50. Preferably, these are diblock oopolymers in which the aliphatic unsaturation, as in block B, has been reduced by hydrogenation. Such copolymers will preferably have the a~erage-unsaturation of rubber block B decreased to less than 20%, and more pre$erably less than 10~ of its original value.

ydrogenation can be curried out using a varieky S of hydrogenating catalysts, such as ~ick~l ox Kieselguhr, Raney nickel 9 CDpper chromite, molybdenum sulfide, and finely divided platinum or other noble metals on a carrier.

- Hydrogenation can be conducted at vixtually any desired temperature or pressure, eOg., ranging from atmospheric to 3,000 p.s.i.g. and from 75 to 600F., for up to 24 hours. Such procedures are well known.

The term "radial teleblock copolymer" deines a well known class of materials. These are commercially available or can be made by following procedures described in the patent literature, such as U.S. Patent Nos. 3,595,942 and 4,090,996.

By way of illustration, a conjugated diene such as butadiene and a vinyl aromatic compound suoh as styrene are co-polymerized in the presence of an organometallic compound such as n-butyl lithium to produce a copolymexic product containing chains terminating in an active metal atom, e.g., lithium. These copolymers are reacted with a coupling agent having more than one active site capable of reacting with and replacing the terminal metal atom on the polymer chains. The resulting copolymer is characterized by a structure comprised of a centrally located coupling agent from which extend in various directions several chains of the copolymer. If hydrogenation is desired, the polymer can then be hydrogenated in the known manner, for example, by procedures descried in DeVault, U.SO Pakent NoO 3,696,088.

I k
3 0 8C~ 3227 The polyolefin is usually polyethylene, poly~ropylene~
polyisobutylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene as well as co~olymers of ethylene and organic esters such as ethylene vinyl ace~a~e, ethylene ethyl acrylate~ ethylene methyl 5 acrylate~ and so forth. These are commercially vailable or are otherwise prepared from the known teachings.

The polyphenylene ether resin and compatibilizer can be present in wiaely ranging proportions, but normally are present in weight amounts of from 4:1 to 1:2 of poly-- phenylene ether: compatibilizer (diblock copolymer or radial teleblock copolymer).

For best effectiveness, the polyolefin should be included in amounts ox at least about 20 and more usually from 30 to 60 parts by weight based on the combined total of polyphenylene ether, compatibilizer and polyolefin.

Other ingredients can al50 be included in the compositions. These can be selected from among additives commonly employed with plastics, such as fillers and/or reinforcements, strengthening fibers, plasticizers, colorants, dyes, flame retardants, antioxidants,pigments, mold release agents, and so forth. Minor but effective amounts are 25 selected normally ranging from 1 to 50 parts by weight of the total composition weight.

The compositions can be prepared using any of the known procedures In one such procedure, a preblend on 3~ the ingredients is formed, extruded on a single or twin screw extruder at a temperature of between 400 and 550'F., chopped, cut or ground to smaller size and injection mclded at temperatures sf from 400 to 500~F. tQ desired shape and size.

,~,~'3~D O
8C~-3227 The composition, due to the larger amount of polyolef in which can be homogeneously incorporated, i5 characterized by better melt f low and is more easily processed The invention is illustrated in the examples which follow. These are intended as best embodiments ox the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention in any way. All parts are by weight he ingredients noted below were blended on a mixer and the resultant blend is extruded on a twin screw 28 mm Werner-Pfleiderer extruder or single screw Brabender extruder at 4500F., and molded at an injection temperature of 400F., into test bars. The test bars were evaluated for tensile strength and elongation, with the results shown in the Table.

For purposes of comparison f other compositions not in accordance with the invention were also prepared, molded and tested under the same conditions. These are also noted in the Table below.

l I o o ~CI I o o t o o o I I o I , ,11 o o 0~
~3 '~:~

.D
0 ,1 8~
.~ ,, ,~

~p~v~

o # _I

o or o l ,o~

.

:~L2~

o It can he seen that tensile elongation~is markedly improved in the case of compositions 1, 2 and 3 versus control blends A and B, while the tensile strength is substantially maintained he above mention d patenks and/or publications are incorporated herein by reference. Obviously other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, instead of poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether there can be substituted poly(2,6-dimethyl-co-2,3,6-trimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether copolymer. In addition, conventional reinox~ements and/or fillers, flame retardants, stabilizers, colorants, impact modifiers can be used in conventional amounts. Xt is~therefore,to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention described which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (16)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A thermoplastic composition, comprising in intimate admixture:
(a) a polyphenylene ether resin; and (b) in property improving combination, a poly-olefin resin and a polymer selected from the group consisting of diblock or radial teleblock copolymers of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, said polyolefin resin being present in an amount of at least about 20 parts by weight based on the total amount of resinous components.
2. A thermoplastic composition, comprising ln intimate admixture:
(a) a polyphenylene ether resin; and (b) in property improving combination, a poly-ethylene resin and a hydrogenated radial teleblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, said polyethylene being present in an amount of at least 20 parts by weight based on the combined amount of (a) and (b).
3. A composition according to claims 1 or 2, in which the polyphenylene ether resin is poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether.
4. A composition according to claims 1 or 2, in which the weight ratio of polyphenylene ether to diblock or radial teleblock copolymer is from 4:1 to 1:2.
5. A composition according to claim 1, in which the polyolefin is selected from among polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, copolymers of ethylene and organic esters, and mixtures of any of the foregoing.
6. A composition according to claim 1, in which the polyolefin is polyethylene.
7. A composition according to claim 1, in which the polymer is a diblock copolymer of styrene and butadiene.
8. A composition according to claim 7, in which the diblock copolymer has been hydrogenated to reduce the aliphatic unsaturation.
9. A composition according to claim 1, in which the polymer is a radial teleblock copolymer of styrene, butadiene and a coupling agent.
10. A composition according to claim 9, in which the radial teleblock copolymer has been hydrogenated to reduce the aliphatic unsaturation.
11. A composition according to claim 1, in which the polyolefin is present in an amount between 30 and 60 parts by weight based on the total amount of resinous ingredients.
12. A composition according to claims 1 or 2, which includes one or more additives selected from among flame retardants, fillers and/or reinforcements, strengthening fibers, plasticizers, pigments and anti-oxidants.
13. A method for improving the compatibility of a mixture of a polyolefin resin and polyphenylene ether resin, which comprises including in the mixture an effective amount of a polymer which is a diblock or radial teleblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene.
14. A composition according to claim 2, in which the polymer is a radial teleblock copolymer of styrene, butadiene and a coupling agent.
15. A composition according to claim 2, in which the polyethylene is present in an amount between 30 and 60 parts by weight based on the combined amount of (a) and (b).
16. A method for improving the compatibility of a mixture of polyethylene resin and polyphenylene
Claim 16 continued:
ether resin, which comprises including in the mixture an effective amount of a polymer which is a hydrogenated radial teleblock copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene.
CA000417890A 1982-12-16 1982-12-16 Polyphenylene ether resin compositions containing polyolefin in high amount Expired CA1201237A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000417890A CA1201237A (en) 1982-12-16 1982-12-16 Polyphenylene ether resin compositions containing polyolefin in high amount

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000417890A CA1201237A (en) 1982-12-16 1982-12-16 Polyphenylene ether resin compositions containing polyolefin in high amount

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1201237A true CA1201237A (en) 1986-02-25

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
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Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1201237A (en)

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