Low molecular weight polypropylene derivatives

Abstract

Disclosed are polypropylene derivatives and methods of preparing them. These derivatives can be used as, for example, compatibilizers. The degree of isotactic, syndiotactic or atactic structure of the compatibilizers can be modified based upon the character of the materials to be compatibilized to improve the effectiveness of the compatibilizer.

1 . A polypropylene derivative comprising the reaction product of admixing: 
 (a) a polypropylene homopolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylene in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient to polymerize propylene;    (b) a copolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylene and a co-monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient to polymerize the propylene and co-monomer; or    (c) a mixture of (a) and (b),    with a derivatizing agent or a series of derivatizing agents under reaction conditions sufficient to add to the polypropylene homopolymer or polypropylene copolymer or mixtures thereof, a functional group selected from the group consisting of alcohol, carboxylic acid ester, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylic acid, amine, amide, nitrile, imine, silane, siloxane, sulfonate, alkane, aldehyde, epoxide, alcohol, organoborane, ethoxylate, propoxylate, higher alkoxylate, and halogen functional groups.    
     
     
         2 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 1  wherein the functional group is selected from the group consisting of a maleic acid group, a succinic acid group, a maleic acid anhydride, a succinic acid anhydride, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 1  wherein the polypropylene derivative is prepared using a polypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity of from about 6 percent to 90 percent.  
     
     
         4 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 3  wherein the polypropylene homopolymer has an isotacticity of from about 10 percent to 80 percent.  
     
     
         5 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 4  wherein the polypropylene homopolymer has an isotacticity of from about 10 percent to 39 percent  
     
     
         6 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 1  wherein the polypropylene derivative is prepared using a polypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity of from about 10 percent to 35 percent.  
     
     
         7 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 6  wherein polypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity of from about 15 percent to 30 percent.  
     
     
         8 . The polypropylene derivative of  claim 7  wherein the functional group is selected from the group consisting of a maleic acid group, a succinic acid group, a maleic acid anhydride, a succinic acid anhydride, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A compatibilizer comprising a polymer derivative of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A coating comprising a compatibilizer of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         11 . A process for compatibilizing and/or enhancing adhesion of a coating and surface upon which the coating is to be applied comprising admixing with the coating a compatibilizer comprising a polypropylene derivative of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A process for compatibilizing and/or improving the adhesion of a coating and a surface upon which the coating is to be applied comprising applying a compatibilizer comprising a polypropylene derivative of  claim 1  to the surface prior to applying the coating.  
     
     
         13 . A process for coating a surface in order to improve compatibility and/or adhesion of the surface with a coating comprising determining the characteristics of a surface to be coated and then preparing a polypropylene derivative compatibilizer having a level of isotacticity, syndiotacticity or atacticity, and/or melting point, and/or molecular weight, such that the compatibilizer has an optimal level of compatibility with the surface to be coated.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  additionally comprising applying the compatibilizer to the surface to be coated and then applying a coating to the surface to be coated.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13  additionally comprising admixing the compatibilizer with a coating and then applying the coating to the surface to be coated.