Photo-crosslinkable polyolefin compositions
AssigneeShawcor Ltd.
InventorsPeter Jackson, Eileen Wan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photo-crosslinkable polyolefin composition comprises a polyolefin, a source of functionality receptive to crosslinking by UV radiation, a cationic photoinitiator and optionally includes a free-radical photoinitiator, a crosslinking accelerator or sensitizer, and other additives such as compatibilizers, inorganic fillers, nanofillers, glass, polymeric and ceramic microspheres, glass fibers, flame retardants, antioxidants, stabilizers, processing aids, foaming agents and pigments. A method for manufacturing a UV-crosslinked polyolefin article comprises forming an article by extruding, molding or otherwise forming the UV-crosslinkable polyolefin composition and subjecting the article to UV radiation on-line with the extrusion, molding or other forming operation.
Claims23
An ultraviolet-crosslinked article comprised of a polymer composition, the polymer composition comprising:
- (a) a polyolefin selected from one or more members of the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene, terpolymers of polyethylene and copolymers of polypropylene, wherein the polyolefin includes cationically polymerizable functional groups covalently bonded to the polyolefin;
- (b) a cationic photoinitiator in an amount effective to initiate curing of said composition;
- and
- (c) free-radical polymerizable functional groups in an effective amount to accelerate curing of said composition, wherein the free-radical polymerizable functional groups are covalently bonded to the polyolefin;
- wherein the polymer composition is crosslinked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation and possesses a sufficient degree of crosslinking such that when the article is heated to a temperature above the crystalline melting point of the polyolefin, it is softened but does not become liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.