Coupling of blends of α-olefin/vinyl aromatic monomer or hindered aliphatic vinyl monomer interpolymers with polyolefins

Abstract

The invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer blend comprising heating an admixture containing (1) a polymer blend containing: (A) from 1 to 99 weight percent of one ore more α-olefin/hindered vinyl monomer substantially random interpolymers, each having been made from monomer components comprising: (1) from 0.5 to 65 mole percent of either (a) at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, or (b) at least one hindered aliphatic vinyl monomer, or (c) a combination of at least one vinyl aromatic monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic vinyl monomer; and (2) from 35 to 99.5 mole percent of at least one aliphatic α-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and (B) from 99 to 1 weight percent of one or more homopolymers or copolymers made from monomer components comprising aliphatic α-olefins having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, or aliphatic α-olefins having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and containing polar groups; and (2) a coupling amount of at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer blend having less than 2 weight percent gel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.