Additive composition and method for producing a polymer composition using the same

Abstract

An composition comprises a first component and one or more calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts. The first component is selected from thermoplastic polymers, waxes, and mixtures thereof. 25 mol. % or more of the calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts present in the composition are calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate monohydrate. A method for producing a polymer composition entails mixing the composition with a polyolefin polymer, melting the resulting admixture, and letting the admixture solidify to produce a polymer composition.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A composition comprising:
 (a) a first component selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, waxes, and mixtures thereof; and   (b) one or more calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts, wherein 25 mol. % or more of the calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts present in the composition are calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate monohydrate.   
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein about 33 mol. % or more of the calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts present in the composition are calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate monohydrate. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein about 50 mol. % or more of the calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts present in the composition are calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate monohydrate. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein about 75 mol. % or more of the calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts present in the composition are calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate monohydrate. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein about 90 mol. % or more of the calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts present in the composition are calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate monohydrate. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the composition further comprises a metal salt of a fatty acid. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of C 8 -C 28  fatty acids. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the fatty acid is stearic acid. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the metal salt of a fatty acid comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, and group 12 element cations. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the metal salt of a fatty acid comprises a zinc cation. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the metal salt of a fatty acid is zinc stearate. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the first component is a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the first component is a wax selected from the group consisting of animal waxes, plant waxes, paraffin waxes, microcrystalline waxes, polyolefin waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the composition contains about 50 ppm to about 5,000 ppm of calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the composition contains about 100 ppm to about 2,000 ppm of calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the composition contains about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts. 
     
     
         37 . A method for producing a polymer composition, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a polyolefin polymer, the polyolefin polymer having a melting point;   (b) providing the additive composition of  claim 21 ;   (c) combining the polyolefin polymer and the additive composition to produce an admixture;   (d) heating the admixture to a temperature above the melting point of the polyolefin polymer to produce a molten admixture; and   (e) reducing the temperature of the molten admixture to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin polymer, thereby producing a polymer composition.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the polyolefin polymer is a polypropylene. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the polyolefin polymer is a polyethylene. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the admixture contains about 100 ppm to about 2,000 ppm of calcium cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate salts.