Segmented polyolefins

A method for the production of segmented polyolefins of high strength and tenacity, characterized in that mixtures of 80 to 99% by weight of polyolefin powders with a particle size ranging from 0.001 to 2 mm, and 20 to 1% by weight of polyolefin granulates with a particle size ranging from 2 to 8 mm are subjected to a reaction with unsaturated monomers in continuous mixers in two consecutive reaction steps in the solid phase, a reaction step in a solid phase/melt transition phase, as well as in a melt homogenizing step, wherein

• the polyolefin powders used consist of propylene homopolymers and/or copolymers of propylenes and .alpha.-olefins with 2 to 18 carbon atoms, ethylene polymers, 1-polybutene, poly-4-methyl-1-pentene, mixtures of said polyolefins as well as mixtures of these polyolefin powders and
• the polyolefin granulates used consist of ethylene polymers, ethylene propylene copolymers, copolymers of ethylene and .alpha.-olefins with 4 to 18 carbon atoms, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, ethylene-butadiene-styrene terpolymers, propylene block copolymers, mixtures of these polyolefins or of mixtures of these polyolefin granulates, and wherein
• a) in the first reaction step in the solid phase, mixtures of polyolefin powders and polyolefin granulates are reacted at reaction temperatures of 100.degree. to 40.degree. C. below the melting temperature or softening temperature of the polyolefins with 5 to 30% by weight, based on the polyolefins used, of acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, C.sub.4 to C.sub.21 acrylate esters, methacrylic acid, methacrylonitrile, C.sub.5 to C.sub.22 methacrylate esters, styrene, monoalkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.12) styrenes, dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.6) styrenes, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkoxy styrenes, monohalogenstyrenes, C.sub.1 to C.sub.11 alkyl esters of styrene carboxylic acid and/or unsaturated C.sub.4 to C.sub.21 dicarboxylic acid anhydrides in the presence of 0.05 to 0.85% by weight, based on the polyolefins used of acyl peroxides, alkyl peroxides, hydroperoxides, peroxycarbonates and/or peresters,
• b) in the second reaction step in the solid phase at reaction temperatures of 60.degree. to 20.degree. C. below the melting temperature or the softening temperature of the polyolefins, the polyolefins, modified in a), are reacted with 0.5 to 20% by weight, based on the polyolefins used, of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, C.sub.5 to C.sub.22 methacrylate esters, styrene, monoalkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.12) styrenes, dialkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.6) styrenes, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkoxy styrenes, monohalogenstyrenes, C.sub.1 to C.sub.11 alkyl esters of styrene carboxylic acid, C.sub.5 to C.sub.14 vinylsilanes, C.sub.6 to C.sub.15 acrylatesilanes, vinylpyridine, vinyloxazolin, isopropenyloxazolin, vinylpyrrolidone, aminoalkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.8) acrylates, aminoalkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.8) methacrylates, C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 vinyl ethers, hydroxyalkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.8) acrylates, hydroxyalkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.8) methacrylates and optionally with 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the polyolefins used, divinylbenzene, allyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate, C.sub.8 to C.sub.14 diacrylates, C.sub.9 to C.sub.15 dimethacrylates, C.sub.12 to C.sub.17 acrylate esters of polyalcohols and/or C.sub.15 to C.sub.21 methacrylate esters of polyalcohols,
• c) in the third reaction step, in a solid phase/melt transition phase at a reaction temperature of 40.degree. C. below the melting temperature or the softening temperature of the polyolefins up to 40.degree. C. above the melting temperature or the softening temperature of the polyolefins, the polyolefins, modified in a) and subsequently in b), are reacted with 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the polyolefins used, of multifunctional, unsaturated monomers of the divinylbenzene, butadiene, isoprene, C.sub.8 to C.sub.14 diacrylate, C.sub.9 to C.sub.15 dimethacrylate, C.sub.12 to C.sub.17 acrylate ester of polyalcohols, C.sub.15 to C.sub.21 methacrylate ester of polyalcohols and/or C.sub.9 to C.sub.22 bismaleiimide type and
• d) in a melt homogenization step, the polyolefins, modified in the three reaction steps a, b and c are melted and homogenized in a known manner optionally with the addition of 0.01 to 45% by weight, based on the polyolefins used, of auxiliary materials, with heating of the polyolefins to temperatures of 15.degree. to 130.degree. C. above the melting temperature or the softening temperature of the polyolefins, at residence times of 0.2 to 4 minutes and, optionally, with the addition of entraining agents, degassed and discharged,
• and wherein, during the second reaction step b) and/or during the third reaction step c) and/or during the melt homogenizing step d), 1 to 40% by weight, based on the polyolefins used, of further polymer granulates selected from polystyrenes, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, ethylene-propylene rubbers, ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers, polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutyiene terephthalate, polycarbonates, polyphenylene oxides, liquid crystalline polymers, polyethylene glycols and/or polypropylene glycols, as well as oligoethylene glycols and/or oligopropylene glycols may optionally be added.