Process for preparation of functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer

A process for the manufacture of a functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer composition comprising the steps of:

• a) copolymerizing ethylene, propylene and at least one masked functionalized olefin monomer in the presence of a catalyst system,
• wherein the masked functionalized olefin monomer is a reaction product of a functionalized olefin monomer represented by the structure according to Formula (I) and a masking agent:
• wherein R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and hydrocarbyl with 1 to 16 carbon atoms,
• wherein R5—[X—(R6)n]m is a polar functional group containing one or multiple heteroatom containing functionalities X—(R6)n wherein
• X is selected from —O—, —S— or —CO2— and R6 is H, and n is 1, or
• X is N and R6 is each independently selected from the group consisting of H and a hydrocarbyl group with 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and n is 2,
• wherein R5 is either —C(R7a)(R7b)— or a plurality of —C(R7a)(R7b)— groups, wherein R7a, and R7b are each independently selected from the group consisting of H or hydrocarbyl with 1 to 16 carbon atoms and R5 comprises 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
• wherein R3 and R5 may together form a ring structure that is functionalized with one or multiple X—(R6)n,
• where X is attached to either a main chain or side chain of R5, where m is an entire number between 1 and 10, and
• b) treating a product obtained by step a) with a Brønsted acid solution, optionally containing metal salts or ammonium salts, to abstract a residue derived from the masking agent and combining an obtained functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer with a cross-linking enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyamines, polyacids, polyethers, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polysaccharides, polypeptides and combinations of at least two of said cross-linking enhancing agents, wherein said cross-linking enhancing agent has at least two functionalities,
• wherein in step a) an ethylene to propylene weight ratio is from 25:75 to 60:40.

A functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer composition comprising

• i) from 90-99.99 wt % of a functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer of ethylene, propylene and at least one functionalized olefin monomer selected from the group consisting of allyl alcohol, 3-buten-1-ol, 3-buten-2-ol, 3-buten-1,2-diol, 5-hexene-1-ol, 5-hexene-1,2-diol, 7-octen-1-ol, 7-octen-1,2-diol, 9-decen-1-ol, 10-undecene-1-ol, 5-norbornene-2-methanol, 3-butenoic acid, 4-pentenoic acid, and 10-undecenoic acid;
• and
• ii) from 0.01 to 10 wt % of at least one cross-linking enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyamines, polyacids, polyethers, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polysaccharides, polypeptides, wherein said cross-linking enhancing agent has at least two functionalities,
• wherein the wt % is based on a combined weight of the functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer and the cross-linking enhancing agent.