Filler concentrates for use in thermoplastic materials

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of isotactic polypropylenes of very great fluidity for the preparation of concentrates of fillers which can be used in thermoplastics of the olefinic type such as polypropylene, polyethylene and as a general rule: the polymers used alone or in a mixture, based on ethylenic monomers containing 2 to 6 atoms of carbon polymerised alone or in a mixture. The invention also relates to the concentrates of fillers or master batches prepared from isotactic polypropylenes of very great fluidity. The invention finally relates to the loaded thermoplastic materials obtained with the addition of selected polypropylenes according to the invention, and the industrial products manufactured from, or containing, such thermoplastic materials.

1 - 17 . Cancelled  
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing a master batch comprising one or more mineral fillers and one or more polymers, comprising: 
 mixing the fillers with the polymers,    wherein the polymers comprise at least one isotactic polypropylene and have a crystallinity percentage greater than 20% measured by the DSC method,    wherein the filler is present in an amount of at least 82% by weight in the master batch.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the polymers have a fluidity index greater than or equal to 200 g/10 min, measured in accordance with the amended standard NF T 51-620 (190 C-10 kg-1.05 mm).  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the polymers have a fluidity index greater than or equal to 500 g/10 min, measured in accordance with the amended standard NF T 51-620 (190 C-10 kg-1.05 mm).  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the polymers comprise: 
 30% to 100% of the isotactic polypropylene having a fluidity index measured in accordance with the amended standard NFT 51-620 of greater than or equal to 200 g/10 min (temperature 190 C, load 10 kg, die 1.05 mm);    0 to 70% of one or more amorphous, crystalline or both amorphous and crystalline polyolefins; and    0 to 5% of one or more additives.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the polymers consist of an isotactic polypropylene.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the polymers comprise at least one isotactic polypropylene and at least one other crystalline or amorphous olefinic polymer.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the other crystalline or amorphous olefinic polymer is a polyethylene.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the polymers comprise an isotactic polypropylene and a polyethylene.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the polymers comprise at least one isotactic polypropylene and at least one other amorphous, atactic, substantially amorphous or substantially atactic olefinic copolymer or terpolymer.  
     
     
         27 . A master batch comprising one or more mineral fillers in an amount greater than 82% by weight, wherein said master batch has a fluidity index greater than or equal to 5 g/10 min (190 C-5 kg-2.09 mm) measured in accordance with the standard NF T with the standard NF T 51-620, and further comprises at least one isotactic polypropylene having a crystallinity percentage greater than 20%, measured by the DSC method.  
     
     
         28 . The master batch according to  claim 27 , wherein the mineral fillers are selected from the group consisting of carbonates, natural calcium carbonates, chalks, calcites, marbles, synthetic carbonates, calcium carbonates precipitated at different stages of crystallisation, mixed salts of magnesium, mixed salts of calcium, dolomites, magnesium carbonate, zinc carbonate, lime, magnesia, barium sulphate, barite, calcium sulphate, silica, magnesium silicates, talc, wollastonite, clays, aluminum silicates, kaolins, mica, oxides of metals, oxides of alkaline earths, hydroxides of metals, hydroxides of alkaline earths, magnesium hydroxide, iron oxides, zinc oxide, glass fibre, glass powder, wood fibre, wood powder, mineral pigments, organic pigments, mixtures of titanium oxide and carbonates, and mixtures effected before or after the grinding of the minerals.  
     
     
         29 . The master batch according to  claim 27 , wherein the mineral fillers are selected from the group consisting of natural calcium carbonates, chalks, calcites, marbles, synthetic carbonates, talc, magnesium hydroxide, barite, titanium dioxide, wollastonite, dolomites and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         30 . A method for preparing a thermoplastic material comprising one or more mineral fillers, comprising 
 mixing the master batch according to  claim 27  with one or more thermoplastic materials,    wherein said thermoplastic materials are selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylenes, linear polyethylene, branched polyethylene, high-density polyethylenes, homopolymer polypropylene, copolymer polypropylenes, polyisobutylenes, copolymers obtained during the polymerisation of at least two comonomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, and isobutylene; polyolefins modified by grafting, polyolefins modified by copolymerisations, halogenated polyolefins, EPDM modified polypropylenes, SEBS modified polypropylenes, mixtures of EPDM and SEBS modified polypropylenes, natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, natural elastomers, synthetic elastomers, thermoplastics, SBR rubbers (styrene-butadiene rubber), EPDM thermoplastics, SEBS thermoplastics and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the polymers have a crystallinity percentage between 30 and 90%.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the polymers have a crystallinity percentage between 50 and 85%.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the polymers comprise at least one amorphous or crystalline polyolefins are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polymers comprising ethylenic monomers containing 2 to 6 atoms of carbon, copolymers comprising ethylenic monomers containing 2 to 6 atoms of carbon and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the polymers comprise at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a thermal stabilizer, an antioxidant, an anti-UV agent, a dispersant, a lubricant, a dye, a plasticizer, an antistatic agent, a flame retardant, a nucleation agent, a metal-passivating agent and a cupropassive agent.  
     
     
         35 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the mineral filler is present in an amount of from 82% to 93% by weight.  
     
     
         36 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the fluidity index is greater than or equal to 8 g/10 min.  
     
     
         37 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a crystallinity percentage between 30 and 90%.  
     
     
         38 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a crystallinity percentage between 50 and 85%.  
     
     
         39 . The master batch of  claim 29 , wherein the synthetic carbonate is a precipitated calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the thermoplastic material is at least one selected from the group consisting of a maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin, a halogenated polyolefin, an EPDM modified polypropylene, and a SEBS modified polypropylene.  
     
     
         41 . A method for manufacturing a molded article, said method comprising 
 forming the molded article by thermoforming by injection a composition comprising the master batch according to  claim 27 .    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the master batch is in the form of an aggregate or granulate.  
     
     
         43 . A method for forming a film or sheet, said method comprising 
 extruding a composition comprising the master batch of  claim 27  to form an extrudate, then    blow molding the extrudate to form the film or sheet.    
     
     
         44 . A method comprising 
 calendaring a composition comprising the master batch according to  claim 27 .    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the composition is in the form of aggregates or granulates.  
     
     
         46 . A molded article obtained by the process of  claim 41 .  
     
     
         47 . A film obtained by the method of  claim 43 .  
     
     
         48 . A molded article obtained by the process of  claim 44 .  
     
     
         49 . A method comprising, 
 extruding a composition comprising the master batch of  claim 27  to form a film, a sheath, a tube, a profiled section, a wire, or a cable.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the composition is in the form of aggregates or granulates.  
     
     
         51 . The master batch according to  claim 27 , wherein the polymers have a fluidity greater than or equal to 500 g/10 min measured in accordance with the amended standard NF T 51-620 (190 C-10 kg-1.05 mm).  
     
     
         52 . The master batch according to  claim 27 , wherein the polymers consist of an isotactic polypropylene.  
     
     
         53 . The master batch according to  claim 27 , wherein the polymers comprise at least one isotactic polypropylene and at least one other crystalline or amorphous olefinic polymer.  
     
     
         54 . The master batch according to  claim 27 , wherein the polymers comprise a polyethylene.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a fluidity greater than or equal to 840 g/10 min.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a fluidity greater than 970 g/10 min.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a fluidity of from 840 to 1150 g/10 min.  
     
     
         58 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a fluidity of 840 g/10 min or greater.  
     
     
         59 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a fluidity of 970 g/10 min or greater.  
     
     
         60 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has a fluidity of from 840 to 1150 g/10 min.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fillers are present in an amount of from 87 to 93% by weight.  
     
     
         62 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the fillers are present in an amount of from 87 to 93% by weight.  
     
     
         63 . The master batch of  claim 27 , wherein the masterbatch has a fluidity greater than or equal to 200 g/10 min measured in accordance with the amended standard NF T 51-620 (190° C.-10 kg-1.05 mm).