Molecular melt and methods for making and using the molecular melt

Abstract

The present invention includes a molecular melt composition comprising an antioxidant and a modifying agent. The molecular melt is partially amorphous in nature. The invention also includes a method for making the molecular melt composition and a method for using the molecular melt to produce modified polymers. The invention further includes a method for using an antioxidant to phlagmatize a modifying agent.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for making a modified polymer comprising the steps of: 
 (a) mixing a molecular melt containing a modifying agent with a polymer; and    (b) reacting the molecular melt with the polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reacting is caused by heating the molecular melt and the polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method is carried out in a mixer that mixes the molecular melt and polymer and provides sufficient heat to cause reaction between a modifying agent of the molecular melt and the polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method is carried out in a polymer extruder.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying agent is a sulfonyl azide.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the molecular melt is comprised of an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of phenolic compounds and derivatives thereof, hindered amines and derivatives thereof, amine hydroxides and derivatives thereof, thioester compounds and derivatives thereof, hindered phenolic compounds and derivatives thereof, lactones and derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfonyl azides, phosphazene azides, silyl azides, formyl azides, azides, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antioxidant is tetrakis [Methylene (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] or derivatives thereof and wherein the modifying agent is p-carboxybenzene sulfonyl azide or derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer to be modified is a polyolefin.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer to be modified is a propylene based polymer.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant is tetrakis [Methylene (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)] or derivatives thereof and wherein the modifying agent is p-carboxybenzene sulfonyl azide or derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A polymer made according to the method of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         13 . A polymer made according to the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A wire and cable composition containing the polymer of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         15 . A cable made from the composition of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . The cable of  claim 15 , wherein the modified polymer is contained within the jacketing of the cable.  
     
     
         17 . The cable of  claim 15 , wherein the modified polymer is contained within the insulation of the cable.  
     
     
         18 . A wire and cable composition containing the polymer of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . A cable made from the composition of  claim 18.