# US 2014/0155505 A1 · Process for physically foaming a masterbatch

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- Number: US 2014/0155505 A1
- Document ID: US20140155505A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/057,571
- Filed: 2013-10-18
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-16
- Assignees: Sabic Basic Industries Corporation
- Applicants: Sabic Basic Industries Corporation
- Inventors: Pratip Sengupta; Roelof Franciscus Gerardus Maria de Vos; Johan Maria KRIST
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155505A1

## CPC

- C08J 9/0028: {containing nitrogen}
- C08J 3/226: {using a polymer as a carrier}
- C08J 9/08: developing carbon dioxide
- C08K 5/0083: {Nucleating agents promoting the crystallisation of the polymer matrix}
- C08K 5/20: Carboxylic acid amides
- C08J 2323/06: Polyethene
- C08J 2423/00: Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)

## Abstract

The invention is directed to a masterbatch comprising a nucleating organic compound which, on changing to the solid phase, forms crystals and which in its melt phase is soluble in the molten polyethylene and polyethylene. The ingredients of this masterbatch are applied as a nucleating agent masterbatch during the production of polyethylene foam.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process comprising
physical foaming a masterbatch, wherein the physical foaming comprises:
a) a nucleating organic compound which, on changing to the solid phase, forms crystals and which in its melt phase is soluble in the molten polyethylene; and
b) polyethylene;
wherein the amount of polyethylene in the masterbatch ranges between 50.0% by weight and 99.9% by weight and the amount of the organic compound ranges between 0.1% by weight and 50.0% by weight.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the nucleating organic compound is an amide, an amine and/or an ester of an aliphatic (C10-C34) carboxylic acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2, wherein the amide is caproamide, caprylamide, undecylamide, lauramide, myristamide, palmitamide, behenamide, arachidamide, hydroxystearamide, alkylenediyl-bis-alkanamide, (C2-C32) alkylenediyl-bis-(C2-C32)alkanamide, ethylene bis-stearamide, butylene bis-stearamide, hexamethylene bis-stearamide and/or ethylene bibehenamide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The process according to claim 3, wherein the amide is ethylene bis-stearamide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process according to claim 4, wherein the masterbatch comprises a mixture of the ethylene bis-stearamide, sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein polyethylene is low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate or metallocene catalyst based polyethylene.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process according to claim 6, wherein the polyethylene is low density polyethylene.

### Claim 8

A process comprising:
physical foaming a masterbatch, wherein the physical foaming comprises:
a) a nucleating organic compound which, on changing to the solid phase, forms crystals and which in its melt phase is soluble in the molten polyethylene; and
b) polyethylene;
wherein the masterbatch comprises a nucleating organic compound which, on changing to the solid phase, forms crystals and which in its melt phase is soluble in the molten polyethylene; and
wherein a mixture of ethylene bis-stearamide, sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein a second masterbatch comprises the mixture of ethylene bis-stearamide, sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The process according to claim 8, wherein polyethylene is low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate or metallocene catalyst based polyethylene.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process according to claim 10, wherein the polyethylene is low density polyethylene.