Compatibilizing agent for engineering thermoplastic/polyolefin blend

A process for preparing a compatible blend of an olefin polymer material and an engineering thermoplastic comprising:

• (A) making an oxidized olefin polymer material containing carboxylic acid groups or derivatives thereof,
• (B) extruding a mixture of (1) the oxidized olefin polymer material from step (A), (2) an engineering thermoplastic, (3) optionally, an inorganic base, and (4) optionally, a non-oxidized olefin polymer material, and
• (C) recovering a blend of the engineering thermoplastic, the oxidized olefin polymer material or an ionomer thereof, and, optionally, the non-oxidized olefin polymer material.

A process for preparing a compatible blend of an olefin polymer material and an engineering thermoplastic comprising:

• (A) making an oxidized olefin polymer material containing acid groups or derivatives thereof,
• (B) optionally, extruding a mixture of the oxidized olefin polymer material from step (A) and an inorganic base to form an ionomer of the oxidized olefin polymer material, and
• (C) extruding a blend of the oxidized olefin polymer material or an ionomer thereof, an engineering thermoplastic, and, optionally, a non-oxidized olefin polymer material.

A process for preparing an oxidized olefin polymer material comprising:

• (A) treating an olefin polymer material with 0.1 to about 4%, based on the weight of the polymer, of an organic peroxide initiator while adding a controlled amount of oxygen so that the olefin polymer material is exposed to a first amount of oxygen of greater than 0.004% and less than 15% by volume, at a temperature of at least 25° C. but below the softening point of the olefin polymer material,
• (B) heating the oxidized olefin polymer material of step (A) to a second temperature of at least 25° C. but below the softening point of the olefin polymer material, in the presence of a second controlled amount of oxygen greater than 0.004%, but less than 15% by volume, and
• (C) treating the oxidized olefin polymer material at a temperature of at least 80° C. but below the softening point of the polymer in an inert atmosphere to quench any active free radicals.

The process of claim 23 wherein the olefin polymer material is selected from the group consisting of a propylene polymer material, an ethylene polymer material, and a butene polymer material.