Platable engineered polyolefin alloys and articles containing same
AssigneeSolvay Engineered Polymers
InventorsScott Matteucci, Satchit Srinivasan, Ruidong Ding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to polyolefin alloys that are receptive to metal plating. These compositions also have enhanced properties and are easily processed into articles by various molding methods. The blends of the invention preferably include a polyethylene component, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer(s), and at least one styrene monoolefin copolymer. The invention also relates to articles containing such alloys, and to methods of forming such blends and articles containing the same. These blends have excellent platability and superior physical properties including enhanced stiffness and toughness.
Claims22
A platable polyolefin blend comprising:
- an ethylene polymer that is free of propylene and that comprises polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or a combination thereof;
- a polymeric compatibilizer comprising styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-ethylene/butylene, styrene-butylene-butadiene-styrene (SBBS), or a combination thereof that is present in an amount sufficient to facilitate adhesion between the components of the polyolefin blend;
- and
- an ABS resin component of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin or a blend of styrene-acrylonitrile resin with a diene, the ABS resin component being present in an amount sufficient to render the polyolefin blend suitable for electroplating.
A platable polyolefin blend comprising:
- an ethylene polymer that is free of propylene and is present in an amount of about 20 to 80 weight percent and that comprises polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, or a combination thereof;
- a polymeric compatibilizer comprising styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-ethylene/butylene, styrene-butylene-butadiene-styrene (SBBS), or a combination thereof that is present in an amount of about 1 to 45 weight percent to facilitate adhesion between the components of the polyolefin blend;
- an ABS resin component of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin or blend of styrene-acrylonitrile resin with a diene, the ABS resin component being present in an amount of about 2 to 60 weight percent to render the polyolefin blend suitable for electroplating;
- and
- optionally, a toughening agent of a substantially amorphous copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an alpha olefin present in an amount of about 0.01 to 30 weight percent.
A process for preparing a plated polyolefin article which comprises:
- blending an ethylene polymer that is free of propylene;
- a polymeric compatibilizer comprising at least one styrene monoolefin present in an amount sufficient to facilitate adhesion between the components of the polyolefin blend and an ABS resin component of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin or a blend of styrene-acrylonitrile resin with a diene, the ABS resin component being present in an amount sufficient to render the polyolefin blend suitable for electroplating, to form a blend;
- forming the blend into an article having a desired form, shape, and an exterior surface;
- depositing an initial conductive metal onto at least a portion of the surface of the article;
- and
- plating a second metal over the polyolefin article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.