Functionalized polypropylenes and process for production
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorStephen Wayne
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Abstract
A novel process for preparing functionalized polypropylenes entailing apportioned introduction of free radical initiator is described. Also described are novel functionalized polypropylenes having a yellowness index color of at least 77 and a Brookfield Thermosel viscosity of greater than 7000 cP at 190° C. Preferably, the functionalized polypropylenes are further characterized by having an acid number greater than 6 milligrams of KOH per gram of polymer.
Claims30
A functionalized polypropylene comprising a polypropylene functionalized with an unsaturated monomer containing one or more carboxylic acid or acid anhydride groups, having a yellowness index color of at least 77 and a Brookfield Thermosel viscosity of greater than 7000 cP at 190° C.
A process for producing a functionalized polypropylene comprising:
- (a) providing molten polypropylene in an apparatus,
- (b) introducing into the molten polypropylene a first amount of from about 0.01 to about 99.99 percent by weight of the total required amount of at least one free radical initiator and mixing the first amount of free radical initiator with the molten polypropylene to form a resultant mixture,
- (c) introducing into the resultant mixture of molten polypropylene and first amount of free radical initiator, at least one functionalizing agent comprising an unsaturated monomer containing one or more carboxylic acid or acid anhydride groups, and mixing the functionalizing agent with the resultant mixture of molten polypropylene and first amount of free radical initiator such that the functionalizing agent, the first amount of free radical initiator and the molten polypropylene are reacted to form a reaction mixture,
- (d) introducing into the reaction mixture a remaining second amount of from about 99.99 to about 0.01 percent by weight of free radical initiator, and mixing the remaining amount of free radical initiator with the reaction mixture to form a functionalized polypropylene, and,
- (e) recovering the functionalized polypropylene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.