The invention is related to a new soft heterophasic random propylene copolymer with improved optical properties, as well as the process by which the heterophasic random propylene copolymer is produced.

An impact copolymer comprising a polypropylene comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, and having a molecular weight distribution (Mw.sub.MALLS/Mn) greater than 10, a branching index (g) of less than 0.97, and a melt strength greater than 40 cN, and an elastomer. Also disclosed is a method of making an impact copolymer composition comprising melt-blending the components, sequentially or simultaneously a polypropylene resin comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, and having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) greater than 6, a branching index (g) of at least 0.97, and a melt strength greater than 10 cN determined using an extensional rheometer at 190 C.; and within the range from 0.01 to 3 wt % of at least one organic peroxide; and an elastomer.

Disclosed is the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include a polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include the reaction product of a mixture that includes at least 10 wt % of isotactic polypropylene at least 30 wt % of an amorphous propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units; at least 10 wt % of a diluent and at least 0.015 wt % of at least one curative. The mixture is preferably formed without adding an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

Disclosed is the preparation of compatibilized thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. A cross-linkable ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer with majority propylene (PEDM) is used to compatibilize a plastic and rubber blend of a polypropylene (PP) and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, where the propylene content is less than 50 wt % (EPDM), in dynamic vulcanization and preparation of PP/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates. The resulting PP/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates typically exhibit a weight average equivalent dispersion diameter of less than 3 microns and a particle size polydispersity index (PSDI), or weight average over number average dispersion diameter, of less than 5. This reduction in crosslinked rubber dispersion size in a PP/EPDM TPV by using PEDM compatibilizers enhances the toughness of the vulcanizate product by raising both elongation to break and break stress.

This invention relates to a thermoplastic vulcanizate having excellent elongation comprising an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which a cross-linked ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) is dispersed, the vulcanizate comprising the reaction product of: a) 35 to 55 wt % of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM); b) 10 to 40 wt % of isotactic polypropylene (iPP); c) 0.5 to 25 wt % of a propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) compatibilizer, said compatibilizer having a heat of fusion of less than 2 J/g; and d) 0.015 to 0.03 wt % of curatives; wherein the percentages of components (a) to (d) are based on the total weight of the mixture.

A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed, the rubber particles comprising an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) containing at least 40 wt % of ethylene-derived units. A propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units and having a heat of fusion (H.sub.f) of 2 to 10 J/g is added to compatibilize the propylene/EPDM blend.

A process for the continuous synthesis of a modified diene elastomer includes: polymerization by n reactors r1 to rn equipped with an internal stirring system, the reactor r1 being fed by an input solution comprising a solvent, one or more monomers, an anionic polymerization initiator and a polar agent, one or more of the reactors being fed by reinjection of a purified solution comprising solvent and/or monomer(s), the number of dead chains in the output stream from the reactor rn is less than 30% of the number of living chains initiated in the reactor r1, the temperature of each reactor varying from 20 C. to 150 C.; and modification of the living diene elastomer obtained in the preceding stage and exhibiting a polydispersity index varying from 1.1 to 2, making it possible to introduce, into the elastomer, a functional group comprising at least one silicon atom directly connected to the elastomer chain.

The present invention provides a method for in-depth profile control and displacement of low-permeability oil reservoirs, comprising: sequentially injecting a flexible and elastic particle-containing pre-slug, a polymer microsphere-containing main slug and a flexible and elastic particle-containing protective slug into an oil layer, and the three slugs have a volume ratio of total injection amount of 1-2:6-8:1-2. The invention provides a method for in-depth profile control and displacement by using styrene-based flexible and elastic particles in combination with the polyacrylamide polymer microsphere, wherein the flexible elastic particles can block cracks and large pore channels of the oil layer, and the polymer microsphere can displace the remaining oil in the oil layer. In the present invention, different slugs of profile control and displacement system are combined to achieve the objective of blocking cracks and large pore channels, displacing crude oil, and improving oil well recovery.

A thermoplastic elastomer composition including: a crystalline olefin resin (A) having a melting point of 100 C. or more; an olefin resin (B) satisfying requirements (B-1) to (B-3); and an ethylene/-olefin copolymer (C), the weight ratio of (A)/((B)+(C)) is from 70/30 to 30/70, and the weight ratio of (B)/(C) is from 100/0 to 1/99: (B-1) the resin (B) has a main chain of an ethylene copolymer and a side chain of an ethylene polymer or a propylene polymer, the ethylene copolymer includes repeating units derived from ethylene and repeating units derived from at least one -olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and the repeating units derived from the -olefin contained within the range of 10 to 50 mol % to the total repeating units in the main chain; (B-2) the melting point measured by DSC rom 60 C. to 170 C.; and (B-3) Tg measured by DSC from 80 C. to 30 C.

A thermoplastic elastomer composition including: a crystalline olefin resin (A) having a melting point of 100 C. or more; an olefin resin (B) satisfying requirements (B-1) to (B-3); and an ethylene/-olefin copolymer (C), the weight ratio of (A)/((B)+(C)) is from 70/30 to 30/70, and the weight ratio of (B)/(C) is from 100/0 to 1/99: (B-1) the resin (B) has a main chain of an ethylene copolymer and a side chain of an ethylene polymer or a propylene polymer, the ethylene copolymer includes repeating units derived from ethylene and repeating units derived from at least one -olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and the repeating units derived from the -olefin contained within the range of 10 to 50 mol % to the total repeating units in the main chain; (B-2) the melting point measured by DSC rom 60 C. to 170 C.; and (B-3) Tg measured by DSC from 80 C. to 30 C.