Thermoplastic vulcanisate blend

A polymer blend comprising:

• 20 to 80 wt % of a mixture (A) of two or more polyalkylene phthalates;
• 2 to 60 wt % of a cross-linked acrylate rubber;
• 0 to 20 wt % of an ionomer;
• and
• 0 to 30 wt % of a terpolymer of ethylene, butylacrylate (BA) and glycidylmethacrylate (GMA);
• wherein the weight percentages are based on the sum of the above ingredients.

A process for making a polymer blend comprising compounding in a melt extruder at a temperature sufficient to melt and mix all components:

• a TPV component (X) comprising (X1) from 15 to 60 weight percent of a polyalkylene terephthalate polyester polymer or copolymer continuous phase and (X2) from 40 to 85 weight percent of a rubber disperse phase wherein said rubber is poly(meth)acrylate or a mixed polymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate dynamically cross-linked with an organic peroxide free radical initiator and an organic diene co-agent;
• and
• a thermoplastic polyester component (Y) comprising (Y1) at or about 5-25% by weight of a copolyether-ester block copolymer elastomer, (Y2) at or about 40-65% by weight of poly(butylene terephthalate), (Y3) at or about 5-20% by weight of an ionomer, and (Y4) at or about 5-30% by weight of a terpolymer of ethylene, butylacrylate and glycidylmethacrylate;
• provided that:
• the total of (Y1)-(Y4) is 100%;
• and the total content of (Y1) and (Y2) does not exceed 70%.

A batch process for making a polymer blend comprising the following steps:

• (1) mixing the following ingredients in a batch melt blender:
• 20 to 70 wt % of a mixture (A) of two or more polyalkylene phthalates;
• 2 to 60 wt % of a rubber comprising poly(meth)acrylate or a mixed polymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate that is capable of being dynamically cross-linked;
• 0.5 to 20 wt % of an ionomer;
• 1 to 30 wt % of a terpolymer of ethylene, butylacrylate and glycidylmethacrylate;
• at a temperature sufficient to melt all the components, to make a homogeneous melt;
• and
• (2) adding an organic diene co-agent and a free-radical initiator and continuing the mixing until the cross-linking of the rubber is essentially completed.

A continuous process for making a polymer blend comprising the following steps:

• (1) mixing the following ingredients in a continuous melt blender:
• 20 to 70 wt % of a mixture (A) of two or more polyalkylene phthalates;
• 2 to 60 wt % of a rubber comprising poly(meth)acrylate or a mixed polymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate that is capable of being dynamically cross-linked;
• 0.5 to 20 wt % of an Ionomer;
• 1 to 30 wt % of a terpolymer of ethylene, butylacrylate and glycidylmethacrylate;
• an organic diene co-agent and a free-radical initiator;
• and
• (2) heating at a temperature sufficient to melt all the components, to make a homogeneous melt and continuing the mixing until the cross-linking of the rubber is essentially completed.