Synthesis and use of well-defined, highly-branched saturated hydrocarbon polymers
US7687580B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08L2205/16
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method to produce highly branched polymers with a polyolefin backbone structure of ethylene and precise control of the nature of the branching. In particular, the distribution of branch length and number of branches can be more precisely controlled via the polymerization method of the present invention. The method comprises using anionic chemistry to make unsaturated polydienes with a well-defined, highly-branched structure, and then hydrogenating these polydienes to form highly branched or dendritic saturated hydrocarbon polymers. Highly branched or dendritic polyethylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer and atactic polypropylene are among the saturated hydrocarbon polymers that can be anionically synthesized via the proper selection of diene monomer type, coupling agent, and hydrogenation conditions. These polymers find application in injection molding and extrusion processes as a minor additive for improving processability of linear polyolefins by delaying the onset of melt fracture, and correspondingly increasing melt throughput rates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.