A polymeric sheet having low density and comprising a low to non-existent amount of cyclic olefinic polymers (COP) and/or cyclic olefinic copolymers (COC). The overall density of the sheet may be lower than water. The sheet may be stretched and then heat shrinked onto an article. The sheet may be used as a label or package to wrap articles therewith.

A surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight, as solid matters, of isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene, an organic solvent solution containing 10 to 160 parts by weight of fluororesin particles and 2.5 to 20 parts by weight of a perfluoroalkyl group-containing oligomer-based, fluorine-containing surfactant as a dispersant. The surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber improves the solution stability of the organic solvent solution, improves the further hardness of the entire coating film formed from the surface-treating agent, abrasion resistance, and product torque evaluation, and is effectively used as, for example, a coating agent for seal lip parts of oil seals.

In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter “the masterbatch process”) and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.

In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter “the masterbatch process”) and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to polymer compositions including a base material, a secondary material and an antioxidant. The composition also includes crystalline regions and amorphous regions with the crystalline regions comprising at least 62% by volume of the composition. In some embodiments, the base material is an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and the secondary material is a polyethylene material that is different than the base material.

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to polymer compositions including a base material, a secondary material and an antioxidant. The composition also includes crystalline regions and amorphous regions with the crystalline regions comprising at least 62% by volume of the composition. In some embodiments, the base material is an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and the secondary material is a polyethylene material that is different than the base material.

A heterogeneous vulcanized polymer blend comprising a continuous phase comprising a thermoplastic polypropylene having a crystallinity of at least 30% and a dispersed phase comprising particles of an elastomeric copolymer dispersed in the continuous phase and having an average particle size of less than 5 micron. The elastomeric copolymer has a crystallinity of less than 20% and is at least partially cross-linked such that no more than about 80 wt % of the elastomeric copolymer is extractable in cyclohexane at 23° C.

A heterogeneous vulcanized polymer blend comprising a continuous phase comprising a thermoplastic polypropylene having a crystallinity of at least 30% and a dispersed phase comprising particles of an elastomeric copolymer dispersed in the continuous phase and having an average particle size of less than 5 micron. The elastomeric copolymer has a crystallinity of less than 20% and is at least partially cross-linked such that no more than about 80 wt % of the elastomeric copolymer is extractable in cyclohexane at 23° C.

Propylene homo- or copolymer composition comprising an in-situ reactor blend of a Ziegler-Natta catalysed, nucleated polypropylene (znPP) and a metallocene catalysed polypropylene (mcPP), in a weight ratio in the range of 6:94 to 50:50 (wt % znPP:wt % mcPP), preferably in the range of 10:90 to 44:56 (wt % znPP:wt % mcPP), having an excellent balance between optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties and processing properties; a process for its production and the use of a mixture of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system and a metallocene catalyst system.

Propylene homo- or copolymer composition comprising an in-situ reactor blend of a Ziegler-Natta catalysed, nucleated polypropylene (znPP) and a metallocene catalysed polypropylene (mcPP), in a weight ratio in the range of 6:94 to 50:50 (wt % znPP:wt % mcPP), preferably in the range of 10:90 to 44:56 (wt % znPP:wt % mcPP), having an excellent balance between optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties and processing properties; a process for its production and the use of a mixture of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system and a metallocene catalyst system.