Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C08L23/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
  • C08J3/24—Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules
  • C08J3/246—Intercrosslinking of at least two polymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C08L23/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L51/00—Compositions of graft polymers in which the grafted component is obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L51/06—Compositions of graft polymers in which the grafted component is obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers grafted on to homopolymers or copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L53/00—Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L53/00—Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L53/005—Modified block copolymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/18—Oxygen-containing compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls
  • C08K3/20—Oxides; Hydroxides
  • C08K3/22—Oxides; Hydroxides of metals
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/54—Silicon-containing compounds

Definitions

• compositions comprising a polypropylene polymer and an olcfinic interpolymer.
• the invention relates to compositions comprising polypropylene and an olef ⁇ nic interpolymer that have been reactively processed and which display characteristics of high heat resistance suitable for wire and cable coatings,
• the invention relates to power cables comprising an insulation layer while in still another aspect, the invention relates to a power cable in which the insulation layer comprises a composition comprising polypropylene and an olefmic interpolymer that have been reactively processed.
• Polymeric compositions are used extensively as primary insulation materials for wire and cable. As an insulator the composition should exhibit various physical and electrical properties, such as heat resistance, resistance to mechanical cut through, stress crack resistance and dielectric failure. Insulation materials for electric conductors often require crosslinking to achieve the desired heat resistance.
• Crosslinks can be introduced between different molecular chains of a polymer by a number of mechanisms, one of which is to graft to the individual polymer backbones or chains that constitute the bulk polymer a chemically reactive compound in such a manner that the grafted compound on one backbone may subsequently react with a similar grafted compound on another backbone thus forming the crosslink.
• exemplary of this process is the "silane crosslinking" process.
• the silane crossliiiking process employs a si lane-containing compound that crosslinks the polymer molecules.
• Silanes can be grafted to a suitable polymer by the use of a suitable quantity of organic peroxide or other free radical initiator, either before or during a shaping or molding operation. Additional ingredients such as stabilizers, pigments, fillers, catalysts, processing aids and the like may also be included in the mixture.
• Another method of crosslinking is the use of radiation. Radiation crosslinking requires complex equipment and is thus relatively costly to perform. Furthermore, radiation can cause polymer degradation by oxidation and/or chain scission thus requiring special stabilization. Furthermore, the sizes of cable that can be handled by commercial radiation equipment are limited, both in terms of jacket thickness and overall diameter of the cable. This limitation is typically manifested as non-uniform crosslinking of the jacket and a resultant variation in physical properties around the circumference of the cable or within the material wall of the jacket.
• the invention relates to compositions comprising a polypropylene polymer that has been reactively processed with an olefinic interpolymer such that the composition exhibits heat resistance and resistance to ignition and flame spread.
• the composition may also exhibit good flexibility.
• the invention is a process for coupling a propylene polymer with an olefinic interpolymer, the process comprising contacting under reactive processing conditions at least:
• a coupling amount of a coupling agent each weight percent based on the combined weight of the propylene polymer, olefinic interpolymer and metal hydrate, Typically the coupling agent is (i) a silane having a vinyl group, or (ii) a poly(azide).
• the polypropylene polymer can be a homopolymer or a copolymer.
• the oSefinic interpolymers include, but are not limited to, very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), homogeneously branched, linear ethylene/ ⁇ -olefm copolymers, homogeneously branched, substantially linear ethylene/ ⁇ -ol ⁇ f ⁇ n copolymers, linear medium density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE), and multi- block olefin polymers.
• VLDPE very low density polyethylene
• LLDPE linear low density polyethylene
• ULDPE ultra low density polyethylene
• multi- block olefin polymers multi- block olefin polymers.
• the metal hydrates used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide.
• the invention is a cable comprising an insulation layer that comprises a composition comprising a reactively processed polypropylene polymer, olefinic interpolymer and metal hydrate.
• the numerical ranges in this disclosure are approximate, and thus may include values outside of the range unless otherwise indicated. Numerical ranges include all values from and including the lower and the upper values, in increments of one unit, provided that there is a separation of at least two units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if a compositional, physical or other property, such as, for example, molecular weight, viscosity, melt index, etc., is from 100 to I 5 OOO, it is intended that all individual values, such as 100, 101, 102 5 etc., and sub ranges, such as 100 to 144, 155 to 170, 197 to 200, etc., are expressly enumerated.
• a compositional, physical or other property such as, for example, molecular weight, viscosity, melt index, etc.
• “Cable,” “power cable,” and like terms means at least one wire or optical fiber within a protective jacket or sheath.
• a cable is two or more wires or optical fibers bound together, typically in a common protective jacket or sheath.
• the individual wires or fibers inside the jacket may be bare, covered or insulated.
• Combination cables may contain both electrical wires and optical fibers, The cable, etc., can be designed for low, medium and high voltage applications.
• Polymer means a polymeric compound prepared by polymerizing monomers, whether of the same or a different type,
• the generic terra polymer thus embraces the term homopolymer, usually employed to refer to polymers prepared from only one type of monomer, and the term interpolymer as defined below.
• Interpolymer means a polymer prepared by the polymerization of at least two different types of monomers. These generic terms refer both to polymers prepared from two different types of monomers, and polymers prepared from more than two different types of monomers, e.g., terpolyrners, tetrapolymers, etc.
• Polyolefm' * , "PO” and like terms mean a polymer derived from simple olefins. Many polyolefins are thermoplastic and for purposes of this invention, can include a rubber phase. Representative polyolefins include polyethylene, polypropylene, polybut ⁇ ne, polyisoprene and their various interpolymers.
• Blend means a composition of two or more polymers. Such a blend may or may not be miscible. Such a blend may or may not be phase separated. Such a blend may or may not contain one or more domain configurations, as determined from transmission electron spectroscopy, light scattering, x-ray scattering, and any other method known in the art.
• composition means a mixture or blend of two or more components.
• the composition includes all the components of the mix, e.g., coupled propylene polymer and olefinic interpolymer, metal hydrate, uncoupled polymers and coupling agent, and any other additives such as processing agents, antioxidants, etc.
• Molecular melt means an at least partially amorphous blend, at room temperature, of a coupling agent (modifying agent) and an antioxidant, optionally also containing other polymer additives as, for example, described in WQ 2003/040229 Al. Both the coupling agent and the antioxidant are at least partially contained in the amorphous phase of the blend. Also, preferably the coupling agent and the antioxidant form a complex where the Raman spectra relating to the groups forming the nitrene groups are shifted compared to the Raman spectra exhibited by the groups forming the nitrene groups of the coupling agent alone.
• Coupled and like terms mean that one polymer strand is joined to another polymer strand by a coupling agent.
• Coupling agent and like terms means a chemical compound that contains at least two reactive groups that are each capable of forming a carbene or nitrene group that are capable of inserting into the carbon hydrogen bonds of CH, CH?, or CH 3 groups, both aliphatic and/or aromatic, of a polymer chain.
• the reactive groups together can couple or cross-link polymer chains.
• the coupling agent may require activation with heat, sonic energy, radiation or chemical activating energy, before it can effectively couple polymer chains.
• Coupling amount and like terms mean, in the context of this invention, an amount of coupling agent sufficient to couple a propylene polymer and olefinic interpolymcr under reactive processing conditions and in the presence of a metal hydrate such that the heat resistance of the composition in the form of a cable or wire insulation sheath is improved over the heat resistance of a similar cable or wire insulation sheath made from a composition alike in all aspects except that the propylene polymer and olefinic int ⁇ rpolymer are not coupled.
• Neitrene group means a compound having a structure R-N in which N is nitrogen capable of reacting with a polymer chain by inserting into the carbon hydrogen bonds of CH, CH 2 , or CH 3 groups, both aliphatic and/or aromatic, of a polymer chain.
• the nitrene nitrogen most preferred for inserting into the carbon hydrogen bonds has two lone pairs of electrons.
• R may be any atom or atoms that do not adversely interfere with the nitrogen inserting into the above-described carbon-hydrogen bonds.
• Carbene group means a compound having a structure R-C-R' in which C is carbon capable of reacting with a polymer chain by inserting into the carbon hydrogen bonds of CH, CH 2 or CHi groups, both aliphatic and/or aromatic, of a polymer chain.
• the carbon most preferred for inserting into the carbon hydrogen bonds has one lone pair of electrons.
• R and R' are independently any atom or atoms that do not adversely interfere with the carbon inserting into the above-described carbon hydrogen bonds.
• Antioxidant means types or classes of chemical compounds that are capable of being used to minimize the oxidation that can occur during the processing of polymers.
• the t ⁇ n also includes chemical derivatives of the antioxidants.
• the term further includes chemical compounds as described later in the description of the antioxidant that, when properly combined with the coupling agent, interact with it to form a complex which exhibits a modified Raman spectra compared to the coupling agent alone.
• Reactive processing means a method for compatibilization or chemical coupling of blends of polymers by mixing the polymeric components in such a manner that they react with one another in situ.
• the components of the composition are of sufficient reactivity that the reactions can occur across melt-phase boundaries.
• Reactive processing conditions means that the blend of polymers is subjected to (1) sufficient mixing to achieve the desired fineness of morphological texture, and (2) reacting, or coupling, at least some of the polymer molecules with one another to form covalent bonds during the mixing/mastication process. The reactions occur rapidly enough such that they are completed during processing in the extruder or mixer within a reasonable time.
• processing conditions include a temperature of 100 to 28O 5 more typically 150 to 250 and even more typically 180 to 250, 0 C.
• Pressure is typically a function, at least in part, of the equipment in which the polymers are blended, but typically the pressure ranges from atmospheric to a slightly positive pressure,
• the reactive processing conditions typically proceed until at least 50, more typically at least 70 and even more typically at least 80, percent of the azide has reacted or, in the case of a silane coupling agent, at least 50, more typically at least 70 and even more typically at least 80, percent of the peroxide has been consumed.
• the polyolefins used in the practice of this invention can be produced using conventional polyolefin polymerization technology, e.g., Zi ⁇ gler-Natta, metallocene or constrained geometry catalysis, each adapted, of course, for the polyolefin of interest.
• Metallocene and constrained geometry catalysts include mono- or bis-cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, or fluorenyl transition metal (preferably Group 4) complexes in combination with an activator, e.g., an alumoxane.
• polymerization can be accomplished at conditions well known in the art for Ziegler-Natta or Kaminsky-Sinn type polymerization reactions, that is, at temperatures from 0-250 0 C, preferably 30-2C)O 0 C, and pressures from atmospheric to 10.000 atmospheres (1013 megaPascal (MPa)). Suspension, solution, slurry, gas phase, solid state powder polymerization or other process conditions may be employed as desired.
• the catalyst can be supported or unsupported, and the composition of the support can vary widely.
• Silica, alumina or a polymer are representative supports, and desirably a support is employed when the catalyst is used in a gas phase polymerization process.
• the support is preferably employed in an amount sufficient to provide a weight ratio of catalyst (based on metal) to support within a range of from 1 : 100,000 to 1 : 10, more preferably from 1 :50,000 to 1 :20, and most preferably from 1 : 10,000 to 1:30.
• the molar ratio of catalyst to polymerizable compounds employed is from 10 "!2 :l to 10 "1 : 1. more preferably from 10 "9 :l to 10 "5 :l.
• Inert liquids serve as suitable solvents for polymerization.
• Examples include straight and branched-chain hydrocarbons such as isobutane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures of two or more of these materials; perfiuorinated hydrocarbons such as perfluorinated C 4- SQ alkanes; and aromatic and alkyl-substituted aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethyl benzene.
• Propylene Polymer Propylene Polymer;
• the propylene polymers used in the practice of this invention are not the olefin interpolymers (component B of the composition).
• the propylene polymer may be a propylene homopolymer, or a copolymer of propylene and one or more other olefins, or a blend of two or more homopolymers or two or more copolymers, or a blend of one or more homopolymer with one or more copolymer.
• the propylene polymers used in the present compositions can vary widely in form and include, for example, substantially isotactic propylene homopolymer, random propylene copolymers, and graft or block propylene copolymers.
• the propylene copolymers typically comprise 90 or more mole percent units derived from propylene. The remainder of the units in the propylene copolymer is derived from units of at least one ⁇ -ol ⁇ f ⁇ n,
• the ⁇ -olef ⁇ n component of the propylene copolymer is preferably ethylene (considered an ⁇ -olef ⁇ n for purposes of this invention) or a C 4-2 o linear, branched or cyclic ⁇ - olefm.
• Examples of C 4 . 20 ⁇ -olel ⁇ ns include 1-butene, 4 ⁇ niethyl ⁇ l-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodeeen ⁇ , 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene. and 1 -ociadecene.
• the ⁇ -olefins also can contain a cyclic structure such as cycioh ⁇ xane or cyelopentane, resulting in an ⁇ -olefin such as 3-cyclohexyl-l-propen ⁇ (ally! cyclohexane) and vinyl cyclohexa ⁇ e.
• a cyclic structure such as cycioh ⁇ xane or cyelopentane, resulting in an ⁇ -olefin such as 3-cyclohexyl-l-propen ⁇ (ally! cyclohexane) and vinyl cyclohexa ⁇ e.
• cyclic olefins such as norbornene and related olefins, particularly 5-ethyl ⁇ dene--2-norbornene, are ct-olefirjs and can be used in place of some or all of the ⁇ -olefins described above.
• styrene and its related olefins are ⁇ -olefins for purposes of this invention.
• Illustrative polypropylene copolymers include but are not limited to propylene/ethylene, propylene/1 -butenc, propylene/ 1 -hexene, propylene/1 -octene, and the like.
• Illustrative terpolymers include ethylene/propylene/ 1-octene, ethylene/propylene/1-butene, and ethylene/propylene/diene monomer (EPDM). The copolymers can be random or blocky.
• propylene polymers that can be used in the compositions of this invention: a propylene impact copolymer including but not limited to DOW Polypropylene T702-12N; a propylene hornopolyrner including but not limited to DOW Polypropylene H502-25RZ; and a propylene random copolymer including but not limited to DOW Polypropylene R751-12N.
• the above-mentioned Dow propylene polymers typically have a density of 0.90 g/cm J measured using ASTM D792.
• INSPIRE is a branched impact propylene copolymer with a melt flow index of 0.5 dg/min (230°C/2.16kg) and a melting point of 164 0 C, can be used (also available from The Dow Chemical Company).
• PIlOFAX 1 " 1 SR-256M which is a clarified propylene copolymer resin with a density of 0.90 g/cc and a MFR of 2 g/10 min
• PROFAX tra 8623 which is an impact propylene copolymer resin with a density of 0,90 g/cc and a MFR of 1.5 g/10 min
• CATALLO Y im in-reactor blends of polypropylene (homo- or copolymer) with one or more of propylene-ethylene or ethylene-propylene copolymer can be used (all available from Basell, Elkton, MD).
• Other propylene polymers include Solvay's KS 4005 propylene copolymer; and Solvay's KS 300 propylene terpolym ⁇ r.
• the olefinic interpolymers used in the practice of this invention do not include the propylene polymers described above (component A of the composition).
• the olefinic interpolymers include but are not limited to polyolefm elastomers, polyolefm flexomers, and polyolefin plastomers.
• the olefinic interpolymers are ethylene interpolymers that comprise at least 10, preferably at least 50 and more preferably at least 80, wt% units derived from ethylene based on the weight of the olefinic intexpolymer.
• VLDPE very low density polyethylene
• linear ethylene/ ⁇ -olefin copolymers e.g. TAFMER(D by Mitsui Petrochemicals Company Limited and EXACT® by DEXPlastom ⁇ rs)
• substantially linear ethylene/ ⁇ -olefin polymers e.g., AFFINITY® polyoJcfin plastomers and ENGAGE® polyolefin elastomers available from The Dow Chemical Company.
• the substantially linear ethylene copolymers are more fully described in USP 5,272,236, 5,278,272 and 5,986,028.
• olefmic interpolymers useful in the present invention include heterogeneously branched elhylene-based interpolymers including, but are not limited to, linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) 3 and ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE).
• Commercial polymers include DOWLEXTM polymers, ATTANE I M polymer and FLEXOMERTM polymers (all from The Dow Chemical Company), and ESCORENETM and EXCEEDTM polymers (both from Exxon Mobil Chemical).
• Still other olefmic interpolymers include multi-block or segmented copolymers. These are polymers comprising two or more chemically distinct regions or segments (referred to as "blocks") preferably joined in a linear manner, that is, a polymer comprising chemically differentiated units which are joined end-to-end with respect to polymerized ethylenic functionality, rather than in pendent or grafted fashion.
• the blocks differ in the amount or type of comonomer incorporated therein, the density, the amount of crystallinity, the crystallite size attributable to a polymer of such composition, the type or degree of tacticity (isotactic or syndiotactic), regio-regularity or r ⁇ gio-irregularity, the amount of branching, including long chain branching or hyper-branching, the homogeneity, or any other chemical or physical property.
• the multi-block copolymers are characterized by unique distributions of polydispersiiy index (PDI or M w /M n ), block length distribution, and/or block number distribution due to the unique process making of the copolymers.
• embodiments of the polymers when produced in a continuous process, may possess a PD ⁇ ranging from about 1.7 to about 8; from about 1.7 to about 3.5 in other embodiments; from about 1.7 to about 2.5 in other embodiments; and from about 1,8 to about 2.5 or from about 1.8 to about 2.1 in yet other embodiments.
• embodiments of the polymers When produced in a batch or semi-batch process, embodiments of the polymers may possess a PDI ranging from about 1.0 to about 2.9; from about 1.3 to about 2.5 in other embodiments; from about 1.4 to about 2.0 in other embodiments; and from about 1.4 to about 1.8 in yet other embodiments.
• Ethylene/ ⁇ -olef ⁇ n multi-block interpolymers comprise ethylene and one or more co- polymerizable ⁇ -olefin comonomers in polymerized form, characterized by multiple (i.e., two or more) blocks or segments of two or more polymerized monomer units differing in chemical or physical properties (block interpolymer), preferably a multi-block intcrpolyrner.
• the multi-block interpolymer may be represented by the following formula:
• n is at least 1, preferably an integer greater than 1, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 3O 5 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, or higher;
• 4 A " ' represents a hard block or segment; and
• B represents a soft block or segment.
• A's and B's are linked in a linear fashion, not in a branched or a star fashion.
• "'Hard” segments refer to blocks of polymerized units in which ethylene is present in an amount greater than 95 weight percent in some embodiments, and in other embodiments greater than 98 weight percent. In other words, the comonomer content in the hard segments is less than 5 weight percent in some embodiments, and in other embodiments, less than 2 weight percent of the total weight of the hard segments.
• the hard segments comprise all or substantially all ethylene.
• Soft segments refer to blocks of polymerized units in which the comonomer content is greater than 5 weight percent of the total weight of the soft segments in some embodiments, greater than 8 weight percent, greater than 10 weight percent, or greater than 15 weight percent in various other embodiments, in some embodiments, the comonomer content in the soft segments may be greater than 20 weight percent, greater than 25 eight percent, greater than 30 weight percent, greater than 35 weight percent, greater than 40 weight percent, greater than 45 weight percent, greater than 50 weight percent, or greater than 60 weight percent in various other embodiments.
• olefin multi-block interpolyniers include olefin block copolymers manufactured and sold by The Dow Chemical Company.
• the ethylene interpolymcrs useful in the present invention include ethylene/ ⁇ -ol ⁇ fin interpolym ⁇ rs having a ⁇ -olefin content typically of at least 5, more typically of at least 15 and even more typically of at least about 20, wt% based on the weight of the interpolymer. These interpolyniers typically have an ⁇ -olefin content of less than 90, more typically less than 75 and even more typically less than about 50, wt% based on the weight of the interpolymer.
• the ⁇ -olefin content is measured by 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using the procedure described in Randall (Rev. Macromol. Client Phys., C29 (2&3) ⁇ .
• the ⁇ -olefin is preferably a C 3-2 o linear, branched or cyclic ⁇ -olefin.
• Examples of C ⁇ 20 ⁇ -olefins include propene, 1-buten ⁇ , 4-methyl-l-penten ⁇ , 1-hexene, 1-ociene, i-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetrad ⁇ cene, 1-h ⁇ xadecene, and 1-octadecen ⁇ .
• the ⁇ -olefins also can contain a cyclic structure such as cyclohcxane or cyclopentanc, resulting in an ⁇ -olefin such as 3-cyclohexy 1-1 -propene (a UyI cyclohexane) and vinyl cyclohexane.
• a cyclic olefin such as norbomcne and related olefins, particularly 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, are ⁇ -olefins and can be used in place of some or all of the ⁇ -olefins described above.
• styrene and its related olefins are ⁇ -olefins for purposes of this invention.
• Illustrative poly olefin copolymers include ethylene/propylene, ethylene/butene, ethyle ⁇ e/1-hexen ⁇ , ethylene/1 -octene, ethylene/styrene, and the like.
• Illustrative terpolymers include ethylene/propylene/ 1 -octene, ethylene/propy lene/buten ⁇ , ethylene/butene/ 1 -octene.
• the copolymers can be random or blocky.
• Additional ol ⁇ fmic interpolyniers useful in the practice of this invention include the VERSIFY® propylene-based polymers available from The Dow Chemical Company, and the VISTAMAXX® propylene polymers available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, at least those VERSIFY® AND VISTAMAXX® propylene polymers with a content of units derived from propylene of less than 85 mol%.
• VERSIFY® propylene-based polymers available from The Dow Chemical Company
• VISTAMAXX® propylene polymers available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company
• the blend can be made by any in-rcactor or post-reaclor process, T he in-reactor blending processes are preferred to the post-reactor blending processes, and the processes using multiple reactors connected in series are the preferred in-reactor blending processes.
• These reactors can be charged with the same catalyst but operated at different conditions, e g , different reactant concentrations, temperatures, pressures, etc, or operated at the same conditions but charged with different catalysts, or operated at different conditions and charged with different catalysts.
• the metal hydrates useful in the practice of this invention include, but are not particularly limited to, for example, compounds having a hydroxy 1 group or water of crystallization, such as aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, fh ⁇ se metal hydrates can be used singly or in combination of two or more.
• Examples of commercially available magnesium hydroxide include MAGNIFIN® manufactured by Matinswerk. Other examples include KISUMA 5, KISUMA 5 ⁇ , RISUM ⁇ 5B 5 KJS UM ⁇ 5 J, KJSUM ⁇ 5LH and KISUMA 5PII (all trade names of and manufactured by Kyowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.). Examples of commercially available aluminum trihydroxide include MAR11NAL ⁇ manufactured by Matinswerk and HYDRAL manufactured by Alamaiis,
• the metal hydrate may be subjected to surface treatment with a surface treating agent, typically a si lane surface treating agent, in advance to blending into the composition, or a metal hydrate whose surface is untreated may be blended into the composition together with the surface treating agent, to carry out surface treatment in situ.
• a surface treating agent typically a si lane surface treating agent
• the surface treating agent is suitably added in an amount that is sufficient to provide the desired surface treatment of the metal hydrate.
• the preferable amount of surface treating agent to be added is 0,1 to 2.0 vvt% based on the weight of the metal hydrate. Any of the surface treating agents known in the an can be employed without any particular restriction.
• a silane surface treating agent having an organic functional group such as an amino group, a methacrylic group, a vinyl group, an epoxy group and a mercapto group, is preferable, and in terms of the fire retardancy and the tensile property, a silane surface treating agent having a vinyl group and/or an epoxy group is even more preferable.
• a coupling agent is a polyfunctional compound, i.e., a compound comprising two or more functional groups, capable of joining together two or more polymer chains via covalently bound links under appropriate reaction conditions.
• the poly(azide) coupling agents include the alky! and aryl azides, acyl azides, azidoformates, phosphoryl azides, phosphinic azides, silyl azides and poly(sulfonyl azides).
• a poly(sulfonyl azide) is any compound having at least two reactive groups (the sulfonyl azide groups (-SO 2 N 3 )) which are reactive with a polyolefin.
• the poly(sulfonyl azide)s have a structure X-R-X in which each X is -SO 2 Nj and R represents an unsubstituted or inertly-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyl ether or silicon- containing group, preferably having sufficient carbon, oxygen or silicon, preferably carbon, atoms to separate the sulfonyl azide groups sufficiently to permit a facile reaction between the polyolefin and the sulfonyl azide,
• atoms or groups that may be inertly substituted into R include, but are not limited to, fluorine, aliphatic or aromatic ether, siloxane as well as sulfonyl azide groups in which more than two polyolefin chains are to be joined.
• R is suitably aryl, alkyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl silane, siloxane or heterocyclic, groups and other groups which are inert and separate the sulfonyl azide groups as described. More preferably R includes at least one aryi group between the sulfonyl groups, most preferably at least two aryl groups (such as when R is 4,4' diphenyiether or 4,4'-biphenyl). When R is one aryl group, it is preferred that the group have more than one ring, as in the case of naphthylene bis(sulfonyi azides).
• Poly(sulfonyl)azides include but are not limited to such compounds as 1,5-pentane bis(sulfonyl azide), 1,8-octane bis(sulfonyl azide), 1,10-decane bis(sulfonyl azide), 1,10-octadecane bis(sulfonyl azide), l-octyl-2 5 4,6-benzene tris(sulfonyl azide), 4.4'-diphenyl ether bis(sulfonyl azide), l ,6-bis(4'sulfonazidophenyl)hexane, 2,7- naphthalene bis(sulfonyl azide), and mixed sulfonyl azides of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons containing an average of from 1 to 8 chlorine atoms and from about 2 to 5 sulfonyl azide groups per molecule, and mixtures of two or more such
• Preferred poly(sulfonyl azide)s include oxy-bis(4-sulfonylazidobenzene), 2,7-naphthalene bis(sulfonyl azide), 4,4'bis(sulfonyl azido)biphenyl, 4,4'-diphenyl ether bis(sulfonyl azid ⁇ ) and bis(4 ⁇ sulfonyl azidophenyl)methane, and mixtures of two or more such compounds.
• Examples of a silane coupling agent include vinyl-tris( ⁇ -methoxyethoxy)silane s vinyllriethoxysilane (VTES) 5 vinyltrimethoxysilane (VMTS), ⁇ -(methacryloyloxypropyl)- trimcthoxy silane, ⁇ -(methacryloy loxypropyl)methy 1 dimethoxy silane, ⁇ -glycidoxypropylmethyl-diethoxysilane, and the like.
• VTES and VTMS are preferred silane coupling agents.
• the coupling agents are used in a coupling amount, e.g., typically in an amount of 0.1 to 6, more typically in an amount of 0,1 to 5 and even more typically in an amount of 0.2 to 3, wt% based on the combined weight of the composition, i.e., the combined weight of the polypropylene, olefinie inlerpolymer and metal hydrate.
• the composition may contain additives including but not limited to antioxidants, curing agents, cross linking co-agents, boosters and retardants, processing aids, fillers, ultraviolet absorbers or stabilizers, antistatic agents, nucleating agents, slip agents, plasticizers, lubricants, viscosity control agents, tackifiers, anti-blocking agents, surfactants, extender oils, acid scavengers, and metal deactivators.
• additives including but not limited to antioxidants, curing agents, cross linking co-agents, boosters and retardants, processing aids, fillers, ultraviolet absorbers or stabilizers, antistatic agents, nucleating agents, slip agents, plasticizers, lubricants, viscosity control agents, tackifiers, anti-blocking agents, surfactants, extender oils, acid scavengers, and metal deactivators.
• Additives can be used in amounts ranging from 0,01 wt% or less to 10 wt% or more based on the weight of the composition.
• antioxidants are as follows, but are not limited to: hindered phenols such as letrakis[methylene(3,5-di ⁇ tert ⁇ butyl-4-hydroxyhydro-cinnamale)] methane; bis[(beta-(3,5-ditert- butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-methylcarboxyethyl)]sulphide, 4,4'-thiobis(2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-thiobis(2-tert-butyl-5-methylphenol), 2,2'-thiobis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), and thiodiethylene bis(3 s 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy)hydrocinnamate; phosphites and phosphorates such as tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite and di-tert-butylphenyl-phosphonite; tliio compounds
• curing agents are as follows: dicumyl peroxide; bis(alpha-t ⁇ butyl peroxyisopropyl)benz ⁇ ne; isopropylcumyl t-butyl peroxide; t-butylc ⁇ mylperoxide; di-t-butyl peroxide; 2,5-bis(t-butylperoxy)2,5-dimethylhexane; 2,5- bis(t-butylperoxy)2,5-dimethylhexyne-3; l,l ⁇ bis(t-butylperoxy)3,3 5 5-trimethylcyclohexane; isopropylcumyl euraylperoxide; di(isopropylcumyf) peroxide; or mixtures thereof.
• Peroxide curing agents can be used in amounts of 0.1 to 5 wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• Various other known curing co-agents, boosters, and retarders can be used, such as triallyi isocyanurate; ethyoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate; ⁇ -methyl siyrene dimer; and other co- agents described in USP 5,346,961 and 4,018,852.
• processing aids include but are not limited to metal salts of carboxylic acids such as zinc stearate or calcium stearate; fatty acids such as stearic acid, oleic acid, or erucic acid; fatty amides such as stearamide, oleamid ⁇ , erucamide, or N,N'-cthylenebis- stearamide; polyethylene wax; oxidized polyethylene wax; polymers of ethylene oxide; copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; vegetable waxes; petroleum waxes; non ionic surfactants; and polysiloxan.es. Processing aids can be used in amounts of 0.05 to 5 wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• fillers include but are not limited to clays, precipitated silica and silicates, fumed silica calcium carbonate, ground minerals, and carbon blacks with arithmetic mean particle sizes larger than 10 nanometers. Fillers can be used in amounts ranging from less than 0.01 to more than 50 wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• Reactive processing of the composition components will result in a preferred morphology of the solid, high-temperature polymer.
• Reactively coupled polypropylene compositions exhibit heat resistance, resistance to ignition and flame spread, and, preferably, flexibility.
• the reactive processing produces a preferred morphology that includes, but is not limited to, coupling of the polypropylene and olefinic interpolymer.
• Propylene homopolymer or copolymer can be used in any amount such that the composition exhibits as extruded without subsequent cross! inking heat resistance and resistance to ignition and flame spread.
• Propylene homopolymer or copolymer can comprise at least 10, preferably at least 15 and more preferably at least 20, wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• the only limit on the maximum amount of propylene homopolymer or copolymer in the composition is that imposed by economics, practicality (e.g., diminishing returns) and the required minimum amounts of the other components of the composition, but typically a general maximum comprises less than 50, preferably less than 45 and more preferably less than 40, wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• the olefinic interpolymer can be used in any amount such thai the composition exhibits as extruded without crosslinking heat resistance and resistance to ignition and flame spread.
• the olefinic interpolymer can comprise at least 10, preferably at least 15 and more preferably at least 20, wt% based on the weight of the composition,
• the only limit on the maximum amount of olefinic interpolymer in the composition is that imposed by economics, practicality and the required minimum amounts of the other components of the composition, but typically a general maximum comprises less than 50, preferably less than 45 and more preferably less than 40, wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• the metal hydrate can be used in any amount such that the composition exhibits as extruded without subsequent crosslinking heat resistance, flexibility, and resistance to ignition and flame spread.
• the metal hydrate can comprise at least 35, preferably at least 40, and more preferably at least 50 wt% based on the weight of the composition.
• the only limit on the maximum amount of metal hydrate in the composition is that imposed by economics, practicality and the required minimum amounts of the other components of the composition, but typically a general maximum comprises less than 75, preferably less than 70 and more preferably less than 65, wt% of the composition.
• the composition also can comprise a coupling package of bis-sulfonyl azide with an antioxidant including but not limited to 1RGANOX® 1010 or IRGANOX® MD 1024.
• This package can comprise at least 0.05, preferably at least 0,1 and more preferably at least 0.2, wt% of the composition.
• the only limit on the maximum amount of the package in the composition is that imposed by economics, practicality and the required minimum amounts of the other components of the composition, but typically a general maximum comprises less than 2%, preferably less than 1% and more preferably less than 0.5, wt% of the composition,
• the package is typically added to the composition as it exists in the form of a molecular melt within an extruder or other mixing device.
• Compounding of a cable insulation material can be effected by standard means known to those skilled in the art.
• Examples of compounding equipment are internal batch mixers, such as a BanburyTM or BoilingTM internal mixer.
• continuous single, or twin screw, mixers can be used, such as Farr ⁇ lTM continuous mixer, a Werner and Pfl ⁇ idererTM twin screw mixer, or a BussTM kneading continuous extruder.
• the type of mixer utilized, and the operating conditions of the mixer, will affect properties of the composition such as viscosity, volume resistivity and extruded surface smoothness.
• Cable comprising an insulation layer that itself comprises a composition of this invention can be prepared with various types of extruders, e.g. , single or twin-screw types.
• USP 4,857,600 provides a description of a conventional extruder.
• USP 5,575,965 also provides a description of an extruder and a co-extrusion process.
• an extruder has a hopper at its upstream end and a die at its downstream end. The hopper feeds into a barrel, which contains a screw, At the downstream end, between the end of the screw and the die, there is a screen pack and a breaker plate.
• the screw portion of the extruder comprises three sections, i.e., the feed section, the compression section, and the metering section.
• the extruder also comprises two zones, i.e., the back heat zone and the front heat zone.
• the sections and zones run from upstream to downstream.
• the extruder can comprise more than two heating zones along the axis running from upstream to downstream. If the extruder has more than one barrel, then the barrels are typically connected in series. Typically, the length to diameter ratio of each barrel is in the range of 15:1 to 30:1.
• the cable often passes immediately into a heated vulcanization zone downstream of the extrusion die.
• the heated cure zone is maintained at a temperature in the range of 200 to 35O 0 C 5 preferably in the range of about 170 to about 25O 0 C.
• the heated zone cars be heated by pressurized steam, or by inductively heated, pressurized nitrogen gas. However, crosslinking after extrusion can be eliminated with the practice of this invention.
• compositions of the six samples analyzed are reported in Table 1, Three samples (the comparative example (CEX) and EX. 1 and 3) comprise a polypropylene homopolymer (H502-25R) reactively processed with a polyol ⁇ fin elastomer (AFFINITYTM EG 8200 which has a density of 0.870 g/cm 3 (ASTM D792) and is available from The Dow Chemical Company), and MAGMFIN®H5 Mg(OH 2 ) which is available from Albemarle- Martinswerk. Two samples (EX, 2 and EX.
• Example 4 comprise a polypropylene homopolymer (H502-25R.) reactively processed with ultra-low density polyethylene (ATTANE SC4107 which is available from The Dow Chemical Company), and MAGNIF IN® 115 Mg(OH 2 ).
• Example 5 comprises a propylene impact copolymer (C705-44N ⁇ HP) and an olefinic interpolymer (VERSIFYTM 3300, 12 mole percent ethylene and 88 mole percent propylene, a density of 0.866 g/ cm 3 and a MFR of 9.8 g/10 min (230°C/21.6kg)) both of which are available from The Dow Chemical Company.
• the samples also comprise FUSABOND® 494 which is a maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (density of 0.87 g/cc) available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
• the samples also comprise IRGANOX MD 1024, which is a metal deactivator and antioxidant available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, IRGANOX PS 802DSDP, which is used as a heat stabilizer in combination with a phenolic antioxidant (also avai fable from Ciba Specialty Chemicals), and CHIMASSORB 944 which is a hindered amine light stabilizer (also available from Ciba Specialty Chemical).
• IRGANOX MD 1024 which is a metal deactivator and antioxidant available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals
• IRGANOX PS 802DSDP which is used as a heat stabilizer in combination with a phenolic antioxidant (also avai fable from Ciba Specialty Chemicals)
• EX, 1-2 and 5 and the comparative example also comprise SRGANOX 1010, which is an antioxidant.
• EX, 1-2 and 5 and the comparative example also comprises Dow-Corning MB 50-001 which is a formulation containing 50% of an ultra-high molecular weight siloxane polymer dispensed in polypropylene homopolymer.
• EX. 1-2 and 5 further comprise an additive package of bis-sulfonyl azide (BSA) and IRGANOX 1010.
• EX 3 and 4 further comprise XL PEarl Silan ⁇ which is a mixture of peroxide, a vinyltrialkoxysilane and a silane dchydro-condensation catalyst,
• the peroxide decomposes during compounding causing the vinyl silane to graft to the polymer chains.
• Small amounts of moisture released from the metal hydrate during compounding in combination with the dehydro-condensation catalyst cause coupling of the silane-grafted polymer chains,
• the flexural properties are tested according to ISO 178 and are reported in Table
• the Flexurai test measures the force required to bend a beam under 3 point loading conditions. FlexuraJ modulus is used as an indication of the stiffness of a material when flexed.
• TMA Thermal mechanical analysis
• Table 6 reports the Hot Set measured for each of the six samples at 200 0 C.
• compositions described above in which a propylene homopolyraer is reactiv ⁇ ly processed with a polyolefin elastomer (AFFINITY®) or ultra-low density polyethylene (ATTANE®) or even a low ethylene content oleftnic interpolymer (VERSIFY 1 " 1 ) exhibit, as extruded without subsequent cross-linking, (1) heat resistance: (2) resistance to ignition and flame spread, and (3) flexibility. These properties make these compositions suitable for cable applications, such as 125 C 'C rated automotive wire.

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