Intellectual Property Office
Non-Confidential Disclosures
“Copolymers of Alpha-Olefins and Divinylbenzene”
PSU Invention Disclosure No. 2098
Field of the Invention/Key Words:
Functionalized polyolefin; graft copolymers; divinylbenzene
Links:
US Patent 6,096,849
US Patent 6,265,493
US Patent 6,414,102
http://www.matse.psu.edu/fac/profiles/chung.htm
http://www.ipo.psu.edu
Inventors:
T.C. (Mike) Chung, J. Dong
Background:
Although useful in many commercial applications, polyolefin homopolymers, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) and isotactic polypropylene (i-PP), suffer poor interaction with other materials. The inert nature of polyolefins significantly limits their end uses, particularly those in which adhesion, dyeability, paintability, printability or compatibility with other functional polymers is paramount. Unfortunately, because of their inert nature and crystallinity, polyolefins have been among the more difficult materials to chemically modify by means of post-polymerization processes. In many cases, the post-polymerization reactions result in serious side reactions, such as degradation and crosslinking reactions. Although the direct copolymerization is the most effective route to functionalize polyolefins, such direct processes usually are laden with difficulties and limitations. While many attempts have been made to functionalize polyolefins to address these deficiencies, there continues to be a need for improved methods.
Invention description:
This invention is based on the discovery that with certain metallocene catalysts the effective copolymerization reaction of alpha-olefin and divinylbenzene can take place to produce alpha-olefin/divinylbenzene copolymers having a linear copolymer structure. The alpha-olefin/divinylbenzene copolymers have a linear molecular structure and are characterized by a mole ratio of unsaturation/divinylbenzene (TUS/DOU) near unity. The copolymers are also characterized by a narrow molecular weight distribution and a narrow composition distribution, and may be represented by the formula in Figure 1 in which R is a linear or branched alkyl group, or a cyclic aliphatic or aromatic group. The copolymers of this invention have a number average molecular weight (Mn) of at least about 1,000, and preferably at least about 10,000. The copolymers also preferably have a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of less than about 3. Furthermore, the copolymers have narrow composition distribution with the incorporated divinylbenzene units being distributed homogeneously along all of the polymer chains.
Advantages:
- Versatile precursors for a broad range of polyolefin structures
- Can produce copolymers having narrow composition and molecular weight distributions
- Metallocene catalysts are used to produce a linear copolymer structure
- Can be used to produce graft copolymers
Contact:
Bradley A. Swope
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
The Pennsylvania State University
113 Technology Center
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 863-5987
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: bradswope@psu.edu |
