# US 8,541,491 B2 · In-situ methods of generating water through the dehydration of metal salt hydrates for moisture crosslinking of polyolefins

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- Number: US 8,541,491 B2
- Document ID: US8541491B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/679,539
- Filed: 2008-09-18
- Published: 2010-08-12
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2007-09-28
- Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Eric P. Wasserman; Bharat I. Chaudhary; Michael B. Biscoglio
- Inventors: Eric P. Wasserman; Bharat I. Chaudhary; Michael B. Biscoglio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541491B2

## CPC

- C08F 8/00: Chemical modification by after-treatment (graft polymers, block polymers, crosslinking with unsaturated monomers or with polymers C08F251/00 - C08F299/00; of conjugated diene rubbers C08C)
- C08J 9/125: {Water, e.g. hydrated salts}
- C08K 5/057: Metal alcoholates {(metal enolates C08K5/0091)}
- C08K 5/098: Metal salts of carboxylic acids
- C08K 5/57: Organo-tin compounds
- C08J 2343/04: Homopolymers or copolymers of monomers containing silicon
- Y10T 428/139: Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Compositions comprising a polymer resin comprising at least one copolymer with hydrolyzable groups, a water-generating metal salt hydrate, and a catalyst that comprises a metal atom and at least two ligands taken from the set alkyloxy and carboxylate are used to form articles that moisture-cure through in-situ generation of water via dehydration of the metal hydrate. The compositions are melt mixed to promote the dehydration and start the cure process during the mixing step. The curing compositions are formed and allowed to harden.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition comprising:
(A) A copolymer of ethylene and a vinyltrialkoxysilane in which the alkoxy group is RO and R is an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
(B) A hydrated salt of the general formula MxQy (H2O)z, wherein M is a cation of a metal selected from groups 1 through 13 of the periodic table, Q is an anion formed from the deprotonation of a carboxylic acid, x and y are integers taken to balance the overall charge of the salt, and z is the hydration number of the salt on a molar basis at 25° C., and the hydrated salt having an onset temperature of dehydration of greater than 100° C. and less than 200° C.; and
(C) A catalyst that comprises a metal ion and at least two ligands taken from the set alkoxide and carboxylate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyltrimethoxysilane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein vinyltrialkoxysilane is present in an amount between about 0.1 and about 5 mole % relative to all monomers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the hydrated salt is a tartrate, citrate or acetate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The composition of claim 4 wherein the wherein the hydrated salt is at least one of sodium L-tartrate dihydrate, sodium citrate tribasic dihydrate, or sodium acetate trihydrate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the hydrated salt is present in an amount sufficient to provide between about 0.1 and about 4 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable groups.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is present in an amount between about 0.1 and about 20 mole % based on the moles of hydrolyzable groups.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A composition comprising the composition of claim 1 and at least one non-moisture curable polymer resin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A composition comprising the composition of claim 1 and at least one of flame retardants, fillers, antioxidants, phosphites, UV stabilizers, cling additives, light stabilizers, thermal stabilizers, mold release agents, tackifiers, waxes, processing aids, crosslinking agents, colorants or pigments.