CA1272349A - Alcohol control of lightly crosslinked foamed polymer production - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract An expandable olefin or styrene polymer composition for production of lightly crosslinked foamed polymers and a process for controlling the degree of crosslinking of the polymer prior to extrusion foaming is disclosed. The control is obtained by use of (a) a reversible gas-yielding crosslinking reaction which is delayed in the foam extrusion line in the presence of gaseous products (alcohols) and (b) added amounts of an alcohol such as an aliphatic alcohol. Suitable crosslinking agents include silanes, azido functional silanes, titanates, and amino compounds.

Description

2~

~LCOilOL CO~TROL OF LIG~ITLY CROSSLINKED
F`OAMED POLY~ER PRODUCTIO~

This in~ention relates to an expandable polymer composition and a pLocess for preparing lightly crosslinked, ext~uded, closed-cell foamed polymer articles from that composition. It particularly pertains to expandable ethylenic or styrenic polymer compositions containing a reversible crosslinking system which permits alcohol control o the degree of crosslinking of the polymer prior to e~trusion foaming.
It is well known to make closed-cell polymer resin foams by the process of extrusion foaming wherein a normally solid thermoplastic polymer resin is heat-plastified and mixed under pressure with a volatile material to form a flowable gel which is then passed through a shaping orifice or die opening into a zone of lower pressure. Upon the release of pressure, the volatile constituent of the gel vaporizes, forming a gas phase cellular structure in the gel which cools to a corresponding cellular foamed solid resin. Desirably, the resulting gas cells are substantially uniform in size, uniformly distributed through the foam body, and closed, i.e., separa-ted from each other by membrane walls of resin.
It is also known thàt the use of relatively lightly to moderately crosslinked polymers generally improves the quality of foamed polymer a,rticles.
In addition, lightly crosslinking in some instances make possible foaming of polymer foams which otherwise cannot easily be produced. Some polymers such as linear polyethylenes are difficult to foam by 30,395A-F

ext~usion. I~ is genera:Lly believed that poor melt strength together with a sharp change in melt viscosity near the trans;.tion temperature makes extrusion foaming of lineaL ~olyolefins difficult. Since light crosslinking increases polymer viscosity and thus broadens the range of foaming temperature, crosslinking would also be desirable fLom this standpoint.
However, a crosslinked polymer is difficult to extrude. As such, past practices have ordinarily not involved crosslinking during normal thermoplastic fabrication processing procedures such as production of extruded foamed ~olymer articles. As a result, most research works have been directed to production of a crosslinked polymer composition expandable durin~
post-extrusion secondacy foaming. Recently, however, advances have been made in overcoming some of the problems involved.
For example, Corbett's U.S. Patent No. 4,454,086 (assigned to the assignee of the present invention~
discloses making crosslinked styrene polymer foams by an extrusion process. In Corbett a styrene/acrylic acid copolymer is lightly crosslinked in the foam extrusion line with a multi-functional epoxy resin. Since covalent bonds formed by the acid/epoxy LeaCtionS are not reversible, the scheme calls for a close control of epoxy level or the reaction rate.
In addition, silane and peroxide crosslinkers have been used to crosslink polyolefin and polystyrene foams which may be produced by using an extrusion foaming machine. U.S. Patents 4,446,254; 4,421,867: 4,351,910, and 4,Z52,906, amongst others, fall into this category.

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Sugitani Patent No. 4,351,~10, for example, proposes improving the hea~ resistance of a polystyrene foam by introducing an organosilane compound into a styrene series resin. The silarle structure is chemically bonded to the molecular structure of the styrene series resin by addition polymerization, by graft polymerization or by free radicals. The degree of crosslinking is disclosed as being temperature dependent. As-such, Sugitani states that crosslinking can be delayed by low temperature processing since it only proceeds gradually at temperatures below 100C.
It is also known that crosslinking can be delayed by swelling the polymer so as to permit working in cfosslinking agents at temperatures below the starting point of the used crosslinking agents. Thus, Slogburg's Patent No. 3,~52,123 discloses adding an organic solvent to swell an ethylene polymer and then admixing therein, at a temperature below the starting point of the used crosslinking agent, the propallant and the crossllnking agent. Extrusion of the resulting mass is carried out at temperatures above the softening point of the swelled compound. This system is said to result in delay of the crosslinking so that it, preferably, occurs in the extrusion die.
Still, the delayed cros~slinking system of Slogburg, like the crosslinking and foaming systems of the others mentioned, is not reversible and therefore reguires rather careful temperature and processing controls. The need exists therefore for improved means for controlling the degree of crosslinking of an expandable polymer prior to extrusion ~oaming.

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~L~7~ 3 The present invention meets tha-t need by use of a reversible gas-yielding crosslinking reaction which is delayed in the foam extrusion line in the presence of gaseous products (alcohols) bùt proceeds fu~ther during foam expansion at the die. Thus, the crosslinking control of the eresent invention is primarily accomplished by -, inclusion of an aliphatic alcohol, along with the blowing agent, in the polymer admixture.
In a broad aspect, the present invention is a process for preparing lightly crosslinked olefin or styrenic polymer foamed articles having a closed-cell structure, characteLized by the steps of:
a) providing an olefin or styrene polymer material, b) admixing said olefin or styrene polymer material with (1) a blowing agent, t2) a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of silane, azido silane, titanate and amino compounds which upon reaction with said olefin or styrene polymer material reversibly releases alcohol, and (3) additionally admixing a sufficient amount of alcohol to control the degree of crosslinking of said olefin or styrene polymer material in the admixture which is thereby formed, and c) extruding said admixture and activating said blowing agent in such a manner to expand said olefin or styrene polymer material to a cellular structure and at the same time dissi.pate said alcohol, whereby foaming and crosslinking of said olefin or styrene polymer material concurrently takes place.
Since a delayed crosslinking system makes control of crosslinking easier, this permits, for example, a high 30,395A-F

level of crosslinking with the ext~usion foaming process.
Increased heat disto~tion temperatures are the benefits of such a highly crosslinked polymer.
Another advantage of the presence of al7cohol in the blowing agent is that it can accelerate steam expansion by loweFing the glass transition t;emperature of the polymer and also by promoting water vapor transmission. Faster permeation of water could result from its enhanced solubility in the polymer/alcohol phase and its higher diffusivity in the alcohol-plasticized polymer. On-line steam expansion, in turn, drops foam density enabling production of highly expanded polymer foams.
Basically, the foam extrusion process relies on physical equilibrium between a polymer and blowing agent.
A physical blowing agent is mixed in and equilibriated with the polymer in the foam extrusion line. The blowing agent remains dissolved and contained in the polymer phase. Upon exposure to atmospheric pressure at the exit of the die, the gel undergoes phase separation. The blowing agent separates from the polymer phase and rapidly diffuses into the microcavities expanding the polymer to a cellular structure.
A gas-yielding reversible reaction can reach a chemical equilibrium in the foam extrusion line much the same way as the physical equilibrium between polymer and blowing agent. The crosslinking reaction of the present invention is, thus, one which Leversibly produces a gaseous alcohol reaction product. In the foam extrusion line, the gaseous product remains dissolved in the polymer, limiting formation of cross-bonds to an 30,3g5A-F' equilibrium levelO At the dle during foam expansion, the volatile product rap;dly diffuses i.lltO the cell cavities depleting its concentration in the polymer phase and lettincl the reaction proceed Eurther. The in situ formed additional cross-bonds help set the expanding bubbles.
For successful implementation of this mechanism:
1) the crosslinking reaction must be reversible yield-ing a gaseous product and 2) the gaseous product must possess -the properties required for a good secondary blowing agent; (a) adequa-te solu-bility in the polymer in the line, (b) high diffusivity during foam expansion, (c) low solubility at ambient temperature, and (d) low toxicity and flammabilityO
It has been found that various crosslinking reaction systems which reversibly yield an alcohol may be used since many alcohols possess the required secondary blowing agent characteris-tics. Crosslinking agents which do so with ethylenic ar.d styrenic polymers include silanes, azido silanes, titanates and amino compounds.
Generally, any grafted silane having more than one hydrolyzable group is useful as the crosslinking agent. The silane may be an organofunctional silane of the general formula R
R' Si Y~ in which R represents a vinyl, epoxy or amine functional radical attached to silicon through a silicon carbon bond and composed of carbon, hydrogen and optionally oxygen or nitrogen, each Y represents a hydrolyzable organic radical and R' represents a hydrocarbon radical or Y. Examples of such organofunctional silanes are found in U.S. Patent No. 3,646,155.

- 7 - 64693-3g0~

Alternatlvely, the silane may be an alkoxy silane of the general Eormula RaSl(OR')b, where "a" is 1,2 and "b" is 2,3, R
is methyl or organoreactive alkyl group and ~R' is a hydrolyzable alkoxy groupt or it ~nay be a hydroxy functional silicone inter-mediate. Examples of such alkoxy silanes are found in U S.
Patent No. 4,351,910.
The silane crosslinking agent is preferably one which is both organofunctional and alkoxy. Examples of organofunctional alkoxy silanes which may be used are gamma-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxy silane, gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane, vinyltrimethoxy silane, vinyl-triethoxy silane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane, N-~-(N-vinyl benzyl amino) ethyla-minopropyltrimethoxy silane, methyltrimethoxy silane, ~nd gamma-aminopropyl triethoxy silane.
While all of the crosslinking agents utilized in the present invention are useful for producing lightly crosslinked polymer foams, the most preferred crosslinking agents are the azido functional silanes oE the general formula R R'SiY2, in which R represen-ts an azido functional radical attached to silicon through a silicon to carbon bond and composed o carbon, hydrogen, optionally sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, each Y represents a hydrolyzable organic radical, and R' represents a monovalent hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable organic radical~ Examples of the azido functional silanes which may be used are found in U.S. Patents 3,705,911 and 4,401,598. Preferred amongst the azido functional silanes '~

are 2-(trimethoxysilyl) ethyl phenyl sulfonyl azide and (triethoxy silyl) hexyl sulfonyl azide.
The titanate crosslinking asent may be a titanium alkoxide of the general formula Ti(oR)~ where R is Cl, to C18 alkyl or it may be a titanate coupling agent of the general formula (RO)m - Ti (O - X - R - Y)n wherein R is typically alkyl, X is carboxyl, R2 is a long carbon chain, Y is reactive double bond or amino, and m and n are integers which total ~. Preferred amongst the ~- titanates are titanium isopropoxide, and tetramethyl titanate.
Preferred as amino crosslinking agents are hexamethoxymethylmelamine (~ M) and alkylated glycoluril-formaldehyde ~esins.
The ethylenic or styrenic polymer material may be an olefinic polymer or copolymer; an alpha-olefin polymer with an a,~ ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, hydroxyl ethyl acrylate or carbon monoxide: a styrene homopolymer or copolymer; styrene having hydroxyl, carboxylic acid and carbonyl functional groups: vinyl toluene polymers: or mixtures and blends thereof. For example, the ethylenic or styrenic material may be linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene styrene/acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene/
acrylic acid copolymers, styrene/acrylonitrile/hydroxy ethyl-acrylate terpolymers, and mixtures thereof.
The blowing agent may be selected from conventional ph~sical blowing agents such a chlorofluoro-carbons, chlorocarbons, hydrocarbons and alcohols.
Preferred are dichlorodifluoromethane, trichloromonofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, andmixtures thereof.

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When halogenated hydrocarbon compounds are used as the blowing agent, there can be from abo~lt 0.013 to about 0.50 gLam mole, and preferably 0.0~0 to 0.30 geam mole of such blo~ing agent per lO0 grams of polymer resin in the admi~ture.
The alcohol used to control the~degree of crosslinking is preferabl~ an aliphatic alcohol such as methanol (methyl alcohol), ethanol (ethyl alcohol), n-propanol ~propyl alcohol), i-propanol (isopropyl alcohol) and butanols (butyl alcohols).
Preferably, the alcohol is added during processing along with the blowing agent. For e~ample, an ~0/20 mixture of dichlo~odi1uoromethane/methanol may be used as the blowing agent/alcohol. The weight ratio of blowing agent to alcohol may, however, vary from approximately 70/30 to 95/5.
In some instances, however, an alcohol can serve the dual purpose of crosslinking delaying and blowing agent when used with a crosslinking agent in accordance with the present in-~rention. Alcohols are somewhat deficient in blowing power with their low vapor pressure and high solubilities in certain polymers. Lightly crosslinking peLmits raising the foaming temperature and thus the blowing efficiency leading to low foam densities. Thus, it is possible to use alcohol alone as the blowing agent~crosslinking control with certain crossllnking agents and polymers.
In any event, addition of an alcohol along with the blowing agent permits control of the deqree of crosslinking when the crosslinking reaction mechanism is a ~eversible one yielding alcohols.

30,395A-F' 7~.3~

For example, the fundamental chemistry involved in silane crosslinking is depicted by the following reactions:

_Si-OCH3 ~ ~0 ~ Si OH + CH3~ (a) _ Si-OH ~ HO-Si _ _ -Si-O-Si - ~ H20 (b~

2 -Si-OCH3 ~ ~2 ~ `Si-O-Si-- ~ CH30H (c) 10 Methoxy silane hydrolyzes Leversibly to silanol releasing methanol by ~eaction (a). Silanols condense to siloxane linkages releasing water by reaction (b). Overall two moles o methoxy silane and one mole of water reversibly produce one mole of siloxane crosslink releasing one mole 15 of methanol by reaction (c).
Alkoxy functional silanes graft on ethylenic or styrenic polymers having carboxylic acid groups through reaction of carboxylic acids with methoxy groups forming acyloxy silane linkages, again with the release oE alcohol.
~mino functional silanes graft on polymers having carboxylic acid or anhydride groups. Silanes having epoxy functional groups also react with carboxylic acid-functional polymers such as copolymers of acrylic acid with ethylene or styrene. Since reversible, alcohol 25 yielding, reaction mechanisms occur with silanes of this type, these crosslinking mechanisms are controllable by use of an alcohol in the processing.
A titanium alkoxide reversibly reacts with a carboxylic acid or hydroxyl functional polymer releasing 30 alcohols. Amino crosslinking agents can also be used to 30,395A-F

~7~3'~3 crosslink polymers containing hydroxyl, carboxy oc arnide functionality. Amino crosslinking agents crosslink such functionalized pclymers through a condensation reaction releasing alcohol as a product. In addition, titanate and amino crosslinking agents are inexpensive permitting a high level-of use without cost penalties.
However, as noted, the silane, titanate and amino crosslinkiny mechanisms require a polymer having a functional group such as carboxylic acids. An azido functional silane is unique in that it can graft on most polymers through the nitrine insertion reaction:

N350z ~ CHZCil25i(0CH3)3 - Nz + :NSOz $ CHZc~2sl(oc~l3)3 ,C - H ~ `C - N - S2 ~ CH2CH2Si(OcH3)3 Therefore, an azido functional silane can graft on and crosslink polyethylene and polystyrene having no reactive functional group.
~ccordingly, azido functional silanes are the preferred crosslinking agent and will be used as the illustrative crosslinking agent in the general description of the preferred embodiment which follows. Still, as long as the reaction between the polymer and the crosslinking agent is a reversible one yielding alcohols, it is controllable in accordance with the instant invention, and various of the following examples illustrate use of others of the crosslinking agents.
In accordance with the process of the present invention, lightly crosslinked polymer foams may be made 30,395A-~

~L~ 7~

on conventional melt processing apparatus such as by continuous extrusion from a screw-type ex~ruder. Such an extruder typically comprises a series of sequential zones including a feed zone, compression and melt zone, metering zone, and mixing zone. The barrel of the extruder may be provided with conventional electric heaters for zoned temperature control.
~n inlet, such as ~ln injection nozzle, is provided for adding a mixture of fluid blowing agent and crosslinking agent under pressure to the polymer in the extruder barrel between the metering and mixing zones.
Crosslinking agerlt is pumped, in a con-trollable manner, into the stream of fluid blowing agent upstream of the injection nozzle. The blowing agent and crosslinking agent are compounded into the starting polymer in a conventional manner to form a flowable gel or admixture, preferably in a continuous manner. Thus, -the polymer, blowing agent, and crosslinking agent may be combined in the mixing zone of an extruder using heat to plastify the polymer resin, pressure to maintain the blowing agent in a liquid state, and mechanical working to obtain thorough mixing.
The blowing agent is compounded into the flowable gel in proportions to make the desired degree of expansion in the resulting foamed cellular product to make products having foarned densities down to about 0.6 pcf. Depending o~ the amount of blowing agent added, the resulting foamed materials may have densities from about 0.6 to lS.0 pcf.
The alcohol for crosslinking control purposes is preferably added with the blowing agent. ~s mentioned, the blowing agent~alcohol ratio, by weight, may vary from app~oximately 70/30 to 95/5.

30,395~-F' Since the condensa~ion reaction of silanols to siloxanes is catalyzed by the presence of certain metal catalysts such as dibutyl tin dilauLate or butyl tin maleate, it is preferred that when azido silanes are used as the crosslinking agent in the present invention, that a small amount o~ such catalyst also be added to the polymer melt.
The crosslinking reaction is self-controlled in the extruder by the presence of the gaseous reaction product, namely an alcohol, which limits the reaction.
However, the crosslinking reaction proceeds during foam expansion at the exit of the die as the alcohol diffuses into the gaseous phase with the volatile blowing agent.
In this manner, crosslinkin~ of the polymer gel in the extruder is controlled so that the gel remains flowable until it exits the die to a zone of lower pressure. There, the crosslinking reaction proceeds, - which stabilizes gas bubble and cell focmation as the olefinic polymer is expanded. Because the degree of crosslinking in the extruder can be controlled, a greater proportion of azido silane crosslinking agent may be added and, a higher degree of crosslinking in resultant polymer ~oam may be obtained.
Suitable azido-functional silane compounds include the group of azido trialkoxysilanes such as 2-(trimethoxysilyl~ ethyl phenyl sulfonyl azide (commercially available from Petrarch Systems, Inc., Bristol, Pennsylvania) and (triethoxy silyl) hexyl sulfonyl azide (commercially available as Azcup D-98 from HeLcules, Inc., Wilmington, ~el.). The azido functional silane crosslinking agent is added in an amount .

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between about 0.01 to 2.0 parts per hundred (pph), by weight, of ethylenic or styrenic polymer. ~n especially preferred range of addition is between 0.02 to 1.0 pph of azido silane crosslinking agent.
The discharge end of the mixing zone of the extruder is connected, through a coolinq and temperature control zone, to a die orifice. The hot polymer gel is cooled and then passed through the die orifice into a~zone of lower pressure (e.g., normal ambient air atmosphere) where the blowing agent is activated and the polymer gel expands to a lower density, cellular mass. As the foamed extrusion forms, it is conducted away from the die and allowed to cool and harden.
In practice, the temperature o the feed zone is maintained at 1~0 _ 20C, the temperature of the melting, metering, and mixing zones is maintained at 210 ~ 20C, and the temperature in the cooling and temperature control zone is maintained at 120 -~ 20C. The temperature of the polymer gel as it expands through the die orifice is prefe~ably just above the temperature at which solid polymer would crystallize out of the gel and will vary depending upon~the particular ethylenic or styrenic polymer utilized.
The Lesulting lightly crosslinked polymer foams comprise substantially closed cell structures and are flexible to bending and shaping. The foams have excellent dimensional stability and high compressive strengths and heat distortion temperatures than branched low density polyethylene foams having an equivalent foam density.
As is conventional, finely divided solid materials such as talc, calcium silicate, zinc s-tearate, 30,395A-F

~7~3~3 and the like can advantageously be incorPorated ~ith the polvmer gel pcio~ to expansion. Such finely dlvided materials aid in controlling the size of the cells and may be employed in amoun~s up to five percent by weight of the polymer. Nume~ous fillers, pigments, lubricants, and the like well known in the art can also be incorporated as desired. Antioxidants may be added to retard or suppress the crosslinking reaction. In such an instance where antio~idant is present in or added to the polymer gel, an additional amount of crosslin~sing agent may be required to achieve the desired degree of crosslinking.
The specific working examples that follow are intended to illustrate the invention but are not to be taken as limiting the scope thereof. In the examples, parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified or cequired by the context.

Example I
The appa~atus used in this example is a 1-1/4"
screw type extruder having two additional zones for mixing and cooling at the end of usual sequential zones for feeding, melting and metering. An opening for blowing agent injection is provided on the extruder barrel between the metering and mixing zones. A small syringe-type pump is connected to the blowing agent stream for additive injections. ~t the end of cooling zone, there is attached a die orifice having an opening of rectangular shape. The height of the opening, called die gap hereinafter, is adjustable while its width is fixed at O.Z5".
In this example, it is shown that a high temperature-resistant polyolefin foam can be produced from 30,395A-F

a blend of a linear low density polyethylene and an ethylene/aclylic acid copolymeL. Thus, the polymer used in this example is a 50/50 by weight blend of a linear low density polyethylene, Dowlex 2032~ (2.0 M.I., 0.926 g/cc density), and Dow PE ~52~, a granular copolymer of acrylic acid-with ethylene (2.0 M.I., 0.932 g/cc density and 6.5% acrylic acid). Throughout the tests in this example, a small amount of talcum powder-(0.2-0.7 pph) was added for cell size control. Optionally, a small amount (0.05 pph) of magnesium oxide was put in to catalyze epoxy/acid reaction.
An 80/20 by weight mixture of FC-12~/FC~
(duPont's dichlorodifluoromethane/trichloromono-fluoromethane) was employed as the blowing agen-t in the tests of this example. ~ethanol was fed in the extruder in a mixture with the blowing agent in -tests designed to see its effect as the reaction-delaying agent.
Formulations in the test of this example are presented in Table A.
The temperatures maintained at extruder zones were app~oximately 120C at feeding zone, 190C at melting and metering zone and also at mixing zone. The temperature of cooling zone was maintained so that the temperature of the polymer/blowing agent mixture could reach an optimum uniform temperature for foaming which was in the range of 115-119C as shown in Table ~. The die gap was fix~d at 0.120" throughout the tests. In some tests, foam dimensional stability at ambient temperature was followed with specimens cut to about 7 inches in length. The foam c~oss sectional area varied with the formulation but most had width in the range of 1.0-1.5"
and thickness 0.7-1.0".

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~7~ 3 Table ~ shows the results of the tests. ~ith no crosslinking, foam resulted in total collapse. Addition of epoxy furlctional silane made the foam rise. Magnesium oxide is shown to assist crosslinking; ~t a Z-6040 level of 0.3 pph with magnesium oxide incorporated, a reasonably good looking foam of substantially open cell structure was obtained. Dimensional stability of the open cell foam was naturally good. Further increase in crosslinking agent, however, made the foam strand unstable. That is, the foam strand became wobbly and in extreme cases fractured. Note that addition of crosslinking agent raises the extruder discharge pressure as much as 600 psi.
~ddition of methanol dramatically reduced the line pressure as seen in Tests 9 and 10. Also, addition of methanol cured the flow i.nstability of the extruder and further resulted in ~ood foams having substantially closed-cell structure.
The heat distortion characteristics of the blend foam produced in Test 10 were tested against a foam produced from a low density polyethylene having 2.3 M.I.
and 0.921 g/cc density. The blend foam of Test 10 had superior high temperature performance.

, 30,395A-F

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E~ample II
The apparatus and its operating procedure used for tests in this example were the same as in Example I.
A granular styrene/acrylic copolymer (1% acrylic acid, 200,000 ~.W.) was uniformly mixed with abou~ 0.2 pph talcum powder and 0.2 pph barium stearate. The mixture was fed into the extruder at an essentially uniform rate of about 10 eounds per hour. The blowing agent used was a 70/30 by weight mixture of dichlorodifluoromethane (duPont's FC-12~) and ethanol, which was injected into the extruder at a uniform predetermined rate. The crosslinking agent used in this example is hexamethoxymethylmelamine (~MM) (CYMEL 303~ made by ~merican Cyanamid Co.). ~ predetermined amount of corsslinking agent was injected in the blowing agent stream in Test Nos. 2 through 5 as shown in Table B. The extruder zones were maintained at 160,200 and Z00C for feeding, melting, metering and mixing zone, respectively.
The temperature of cooling zone was maintained to achieve a uniform gel temperature of 145C throughout the tests.
When all temperatures reached a steady state, the effect of die gap on foam appearance and line pressures was determined.
~fter about a week, the foams were tested for high temperature resistance. Foam slugs of a about 0.25"
thickness are sliced out of foam strands and subjected to - hot air of predetermined temperature for one hour.
Percent retention of foam volume after the test was recorded as an indication of collapse resistance.
As shown in Table B, HMM~ at a level up to 0.9 pph has a minimal effect on the pressures and, 30,395A-F

accordingly, the threshold die gap for prefoaming does not vary with the ~I~M level. .~t 0.030" die gap, good foams a~e made lndependent of HMMM leve].. The results clearly substantiate that alcoho]., indeed, delays the crosslinking S reaction in the foam extrusion line.
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Fxample III
In the tests in this example, there were used the same apparatus, its operating procedure, polymer, blowing agent and cell size control agent as used in Example II.
Additionally, there were added one pph FR651A and 0.03 pph magnesium oxide. FR651A is a trade name flame retardant manufactured by Dow Chemical Company. The extruder zones were set down a little to prevent decomposition.of the flame retardant: 1~0, 170 and 176C for feeding, melting, metering and mixing zone, respectively. The gel temperature was varied slightly as presented in Table C.
As shown in I'able C, ~MM has little impac-t on die pressure and extruder discharge pressure manifesting the inhibiting effect of alcohol. The most remarkable thing with the formulations is improvement in colla~se resistance. The threshold temperature for collapse, as defined by the maximum temperatu~e at which foam retains at least 90% of its original volume, increases with the M level. It increases from 120 to 125C for formulations containing 0.5 to 0.9 pph, 140C for one containing 1.O pph and 160C for one with 2.0 pph ~ M.
It appears that the flame retardant additive catalyzes the crosslinking reaction and that the HMMM needs to exceed about 1.0 pph to impart significant thermo-collapse resistance to a foam product. However, it is possible to lower the required level by adding the more potent external catalyst such a paratoluenesulfonic acid.

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30 / 395A~F

~ ~7~ s3 Exam~ IV
The a~paratus and its operatins proceduLe used in this example W15 the same as in Example II. An ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer having 6.5% acrylic acid and 2.0 melt index was evaluated in this work. ~IMMM
(American Cyanamid'.s CYMEL 303~) was used as the crosslinkin~ agent and talcum powder as the cell size control agent. Three different types of blowing agents, as shown in Table D, were employed to observe the effect of alcohol. The zones of extruder were set at 150, 180 and 1~0C for feeding, melting, metering and mixing zone, respectively. The gel temperature was maintained at 100, 104 and 102C for FC-12, FC-12/EtOH and FC~ /MeOH
blowing agen-t, ~espectively.
Table D sets forth the test results. With the absence of alcohol in Test No. 2, 0.2 pph ~ ~ is sufficient to overcrosslink the polymer in the foam extrusion line. ~elt fracture of the foam strand accompanied with a sharp increase in line pressure plagues the test. Test Nos. 4 and 6 demonstrate the reaction-delaying effect of alcohol. At a ~ M level as high as 1.5 pph, good foams are made without a large increase in pressures and flow instability. The crosslinked foams show improvement of collapse resista~ce. The foam made in Test No. 6 contined ~2%
insoluble gel after an extraction test in boiling xylene for 24 hours and the polymer was no longer flowable.

30,395A-F

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.

Example V
The apparatus used in this example is the same as that used in Example I.
The polymer used in this example was a terpolymer of styrene, acrylonitrile and hydroxy ethylacrylate (75%
styrene, 25% acrylonitrile and 0.22%-HEA) having about 157,000 molecular weight. The polymer was fed into the extruder at an esseritially uniform rate of about-10 pounds per hour. ~ 70/30 by weight mixtuLe of fluorocarbon 12 (FC-12) and isopropyl alcohol (i-PrO~l) was premixed and injected into the extruder at a uniform rate of about 1.6 pounds per hour. ~or tests incorporating titanium isopropoxide, a predetermined amount of the crosslinking agent was premixed with the blowing agent so that ~he aimed level could be achieved in the final composition.
The extruder zones were maintained at about 170, 190 and 200C for feeding, melting, meteLing, and mixing zone, -respectively. The temperature of the cooling zone was adjusted so that the gel would rsach a uniform temperature for optimum foam expansion.
Good quality foams were achieved from the polymer with or without the addition of titanium isopropoxide. ~s set forth in Table E, the line pressures went up slightly but the increases were probably due to the slight drop in the foaming gel temperature. The increase of the die pressure within the tolerable range is desirable in the extrusion process since the enhanced die pressure permits us to achieve the larger foam cross-section without incurring prefoaming. ~ control formulation, i.e., without crosslin~ing agent, Test 1, resulted in prsfoaming at the given condition while those containing titanium 30,395~-F

4"~

isopropoxide crosslinking agent produced good foams free from ~refoaming. The foam strands had oval cross-section of about 0.7 - 1.0 inches in the smaller diameter and 1.0 - 1.4" in the larger diameter. As shown in Table F, the foams had densities of about 2.4 - 2.5 pcf and expansion ratios of about 24-27. The expansion ratio is defined by the ratio of specific foam volume to polymer volume.
The distinct benefit of titanium isopropoxide addition was seen during secondary expansions of the foam products with hot air or atmospheric steam. As shown in Table F~ titanium isopropoxide makes the foams expand significantly better in both air and steam. Its effect is most pronounced in steam expansion. The foam made with 0.34 pph titanium isopropoxide expands to a size almost twice as large as the control. The highly expanded Eoam products were light and resilient with their thin flexible cells walls. The details of expansion procedures are described below.
~or both expansion tests, foams aged for about a week were employed. For hot air expansion tests, foam strands were sliced to about 3/4" in length. The specimens were subjected to hot air in a convective oven maintained at a predetermined constant temperature for one hour. The weight and volume of a foam specimen before and after the expansion test were determined and the expansion ratios were calculated. Among five different temperatures tried ranging from 100 to 120C, 110C provided the best' expansions for all compositions and thus the results are reported in Table E.

30,395~-F

;' ' :

~ ~ .

~.~7~3~

For steam expansion tests, foams were sliced to about 1/4" thick s].ugs and subjected to atmospheric steam for various pe~i~ds ranging from five seconds to two hours. Foam specimens having undergone expansions exceeding about 60 expansion ratio shriveled when taken out of the~steam but substantially recovered in about two days. The expansion ratios reported in Table F are based on the steady state volume determined in five days. All foams attained the maximum expansions during 7 to 15 min.
exposure to steam which are set forth in Table F. The longer exposure to steam resulted in gradual deterioration of expansion.
All Eoams were found soluble in methyl ethyl ketone (~EK). Approximately 0.2 g of each foam was dissolved in about 25 ml of MEK. The result indicates that there may develop some build-up of molecular weight but a high level of crosslinking does not occur with the pQlymer at the given level of crosslinking agent.
Probably, the titanate plasticizes the polymer and extends the polymer chain slightly resulting in the favorable steam expansions.

30,395A-F

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~X7~

Exanple VI
The apparatus used in this example is ~s in Example I.
A granular linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having 1.0 melt index (ASTM D-1238-79 Condition E) and 0.935 g/cc density, was uniformly mixed with 0.1 pph dibutyl tin dilaurate condensation catalyst (commercially available under the trade name designation T-12 from M~T
Chemicals, Inc.) and 0.1 pph talcum powder. The mixture was fed into the extruder a-t an essentially uniform rate of about 10 pounds per hour. An 80/20 of FC-12/ethanol blowing agent was injected into the extruder at a rate of 19.9 pph. The temperatures maintained at the extruder zones were 170C at feeding zone, 220C at melting and metering zone, and 220C at mixing zone. The temperature of the cooling zone was adjusted so that the gel could be cooled down to about 123C throughout the tests.
Again, alcohol suppressed line pressures for fo~mulations crosslinked with azido functional silane.
G~od quality foams were obtained at the silane levels of 0.1 to 0.15 pph. At 0.25 pph silane level, the foam strand fractured signifying ove~-crosslinking. The foams made with 0.15 and 0.25 pph silane showed some thermo-collapse resistance during oven aging tests. That . is, these foams cetained over 50% of their original volume during aging in 130C oven for one hour while the control and those containing a lower level of silane coIlapsed totally during the test.

30;395A-F

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r A-F

3~3 Example VII
In this example, the same apparatus as in Example I was used. ~ high density polyethylene (HDPE) having 0.6 melt index (AS~'M D-1238-79 Condition E) and 0.963 g/cc density was used in this example. The polymer granules were mixed with 0.05 pph talc and 0.05 pph orga~otin catalyst (T-12 from M~T Chemicals). The mixture was fed ~ into the extruder at 10 pounds per hour. Extruder zones were maintained at 160, 200 and 200C for feeding, melting and metering, and mixing zone, respectively. The gel temperaure was maintained at about 130C and a 90/10 mixture of FC-12/EtOH was used as the blowing agent. The test results are presented in Table G.
~gain, the silane crosslinking agent aided in foam processing and alcohol suppressed development of corsslinking in the extrusion line. At a low silane level, improvements were seen in one or more performance areas. For example, even at 0.0S pph silane level, foam density dropped significantly from the control. At 0.15 pph silane level, good quality foams were produced with a noticeable increase in the die pressure. Interestingly, the pressure at extruder discharge increased little at this silane level. This is an advantage in foam extrusion process since we like to have a high die pressure to prevent prefoaming but a low extruder discharge pressure to facili~ate polymer extrusion. The trend indicates that the alcohol-containing blowing agent called for a silane level higher than 0.15 pph for the optimum rèsults.

30,395A-F

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, 3~

-3~-~xample VIII
The same apparatus used in Example I was used in this example. The polymer feedstock employed in this example was an 80/20 mixture of a linear low density polyethylene (1.0 M.I,, 0.935 g/cc density) and a polystyrene having an average molecular weight of about 200,000. Two granular polymers were blended by use of a tumbler, mixed with 0.1 pph talc and 0.05 pph organotin catalyst (T-12 from M&T Chemicals) and fed to the extruder at an essentially uniform rate of 10 pounds per hour. A
95/5 by weight mixture of FC--12/ethanol was injected into the extruder at a rate of approximately 21.0 pph.
Extruder 20nes were maintained at 145, 195 and 205C, for feeding, melting and metering, and mixing 20ne, respectively. The gel was cooled down to an essentially uniform temperature of about 122C. The test results are shown in Table H.
This particular polymer blend provided reasonably good foam without crosslinking when the die gap was closed down to 0.050 inch. The foam had a small cross section and a relatively high level of open cells. ~t a larger die gap, foam collapsed partially. Foam improved progressively with the a2ido functional silane level. At a silane level of 0.15 pph or higher, superb-looking foams were obtained having a lower density, larger cross-section, and lower open cell content. At a silane level as high as 0.25 pph, the~e was no sign of over-crosslinking.
The foams thus produced also had excellent dimentional stability during aging without suffering any shrinkage. The heat distortion temperature of the blend foams was about 110C.

, -30,395A-F

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3~ 3 ~xample IX
I'he apparatus ln this example is the same as in Example I. The polymer feedstock employed -for tests in this examele was a 50/50 by weiyht blend of polystyrene with Mw 200,000 an~ polystyrene with Mw 300,000.
~proximately 0.05-pph T-12 from M~T Chemicals, 0.1 pph barium stearate and 0.1 pph talcum powder~were mixed in the granular blend of two polystyrenes and fed into the extruder at a uni-form rate of 10 pounds per hour. A 70/30 by weight mixture oE FC-12 and isopropyl alcohol was used as the blowing agent. The level of azido silane crosslinking agent (2-trimethoxyoilyl ethyl phenyl sulfonyl) azide, was varied up to 0.45 pph. The extruder zones were maintained at about 170, 200 and 200C Eor feeding, melting and metering, and mixing zone, respectively. The temperature of the cooling zone was adjusted so that the gel could reach an essentially uniform temperature of about 135C.
When the operating condition reached an essentially steady state, the effects of die opening on foam appearance and line pressures were studied. Foam samples were taken both at the thLeshold die gap for preeoaming and at a fixed die gap for a given blowing agent system. Property determination and secondary foaming tests were conducted. The foam samples were aged for about one month.
Secondary foaming was conducted both by atmospheric steam.and by hot air. Foam slugs of about 0.25" thickness were sliced ou~ of foam strands and aged for about one day at ambient temperature prior to secondary expansions. After exposure to atmospheric steam 30,395A-F

, for varying lengths of time, foam specimens were aged at ambient temperature while their weights and volumes were monitored. Highly expanded foam specimens shrank when taken out of steam but recovered to the final steady state volume in about two days. Expansion tests in hot air were conducted similarly with the exception that expansion or shrinkage of a foam specimen in the oven was permanent not needing ambient aging for volume recovery.
The process data set forth in Tables Ia, Ib, and Ic manifest the cLosslinking-delaying effect of alcohol in the foam extrusion line. With this blowing agent also, we see the general efEects of azido silane on foam extrusion and secondly expansions.

.

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_____ __ 4~3 While the methods and compositions herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, i.t is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise methods and compositions, and that changes may be made in either without departing ~rom the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

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'

Claims (14)

1. A process for preparing lightly crosslinked olefin or styrenic polymer foamed articles having a closed-cell structure, characterized by the steps of:
a) providing an olefin or styrene polymer material, b) admixing said olefin or styrene polymer material with (1) a blowing agent, (2) a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of silane, azido silane, titanate and amino compounds which upon reaction with said olefin or styrene polymer material reversibly releases alcohol, and (3) additionally admixing a sufficient amount of alcohol to control the degree of crosslinking of said olefin or styrene polymer material in the admixture which is thereby formed, and c) extruding said admixture and activating said blowing agent in such a manner to expand said olefin or styrene polymer material to a cellular structure and at the same time dissipate said alcohol, whereby foaming and crosslinking of said olefin or styrene polymer material concurrently takes place.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent is an organofunctional alkoxy silane selected from the group consisting of gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane, gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane, vinyltrimethoxy silane, vinyltriethoxy silane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane, N-.beta.-(N-vinyl benzyl amino) ethylaminopropyltrimethoxy silane, methyltrimethoxy silane, and gamma-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane.

30,395A-F

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent is an azido silane of the formula R R'SiY2 in which R represents an azido functional radical attached to silicon through a silicon to carbon bond and composed of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, or oxygen, each Y
represents a hydrolyzable organic radical, and R' represents a monovalent hydrocarbon radical or a hydrolyzable organic radical.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of 2-(trimethoxysilyl)ethyl phenyl sulfonyl azide and (triethoxy silyl) hexyl sulfonyl azide.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent is a titanate having a general formula Ti(OR)4 where R is C1 to C18 alkyl or having a formula (RO)m - Ti(O-X-R2-Y)n wherein R is alkyl, X is carboxyl, R2 is alkyl, Y is a reactive double bond or amino, and m and n are integers which total 4.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of titanium isopropoxide, and tetramethyl titante.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of hexamethoxymethylmelamine and alkylated glycoluril-formaldehyde resins.

30,395A-F

8. The process of claim 1 wherein said olefin or styrene polymer material is selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene polystyrene, styrene/acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers, styrene/acrylonitrile/hydroxy ethylacrylate terpolymers, and mixtures thereof.
.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein said alcohol is an aliphatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, and butanol.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein said blowing agent is selected from the gLoup consisting of dichlorodifluoromethane, trichloromonofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane and mixtures thereof.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein said olefin or styrene polymer material is selected from the group consisting of styrene/acrylic acid copolymer and ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers and said crosslinking agent is hexamethoxymethylmelamine.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein said olefin or styrene polymer material is selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polystyrsne and mixtures thereof and said crosslinking agent is 2-(trimethoxysilyl) ethyl phenyl sulfonyl azide.

30,395A-F

13. The erocess of claim 1 wherein said olefin or styrene polymer is a styrene/acrylonitrile/hydroxy ethylacrylate terpolymer and said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of titanium isopropoxide, and tetramethyl titanate.

14. The product produced by the process of claim 1.
30,395A-F