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 fiber-reinforced polymer composition that contains a polymer matrix and a plurality of long reinforcing fibers that are distributed within the polymer matrix is provided. The polymer matrix contains a propylene polymer and constitutes from about 30 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the composition. The fibers constitute from about 10 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the composition. Further, the polymer composition exhibits a spiral flow length of about 450 millimeters or more as determined in accordance with ASTM D3123-09 and a volatile organic content of about 100 micrograms per gram or less as determined by VDA 277.

A flame-retardant antibacterial composite polypropylene filter material and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The filter material includes the following components in weight percent: 70-90 wt % of isotactic polypropylene, 3-10 wt % of a functional negative ion-releasing material, 3-10 wt % of a nano-antibacterial agent, 2-5 wt % of graphene oxide, 0.5-5 wt % of a flame retardant and 1-3 wt % of a dispersant. The filter material of the present invention can be prepared into network, fabric and other forms by the melt-blending extrusion, which can be applied for air pollutant removal in different environments. The functional negative ion-releasing material is a piezoelectric material, which can spontaneously produce negative oxygen ions, without consumption of energy or producing secondary pollution such as ozone. The released negative oxygen ions interact with positively charged particles in the air for settling, so as to quickly remove the particles.

A flame-retardant antibacterial composite polypropylene filter material and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The filter material includes the following components in weight percent: 70-90 wt % of isotactic polypropylene, 3-10 wt % of a functional negative ion-releasing material, 3-10 wt % of a nano-antibacterial agent, 2-5 wt % of graphene oxide, 0.5-5 wt % of a flame retardant and 1-3 wt % of a dispersant. The filter material of the present invention can be prepared into network, fabric and other forms by the melt-blending extrusion, which can be applied for air pollutant removal in different environments. The functional negative ion-releasing material is a piezoelectric material, which can spontaneously produce negative oxygen ions, without consumption of energy or producing secondary pollution such as ozone. The released negative oxygen ions interact with positively charged particles in the air for settling, so as to quickly remove the particles.

Provided are strain-hardened polymers. The polymers may include a plurality of polyether units (e.g., isotactic polypropylene oxide units) and one or more crystalline domains. The strain-hardened polymers may have a higher initial engineering yield stress and/or enthalpy of fusion than native polymer (e.g., polypropylene oxide that has not been strain-hardened). The strain-hardened polymers may be made by catalytic methods using bimetallic catalysts. Also provided are uses of the strain-hardened polymers.

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.

Provided are strain-hardened polymers. The polymers may include a plurality of polyether units (e.g., isotactic polypropylene oxide units) and one or more crystalline domains. The strain-hardened polymers may have a higher initial engineering yield stress and/or enthalpy of fusion than native polymer (e.g., polypropylene oxide that has not been strain-hardened). The strain-hardened polymers may be made by catalytic methods using bimetallic catalysts. Also provided are uses of the strain-hardened polymers.

A fiber-reinforced polymer composition that contains a polymer matrix and a plurality of long reinforcing fibers that are distributed within the polymer matrix is provided. The polymer matrix contains a propylene polymer and constitutes from about 30 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the composition. The fibers constitute from about 10 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the composition. Further, the polymer composition exhibits a spiral flow length of about 450 millimeters or more as determined in accordance with ASTM D3123-09 and a volatile organic content of about 100 micrograms per gram or less as determined by VDA 277.

A blend that includes (a) a continuous phase comprising isotactic polypropylene and (b) a dispersed phase comprising a poly-(ethylene-alt-propylene)-b-poly(ethylene-ran-ethyl ethylene) diblock copolymer. The amount of diblock copolymer is less than 20 wt % based on the total weight of the blend.

Described herein are polymer blends comprising (a) a propylene impact copolymer comprising a polypropylene component present in a continuous phase and a first elastomeric component present in a disperse phase; and (b) a second elastomeric component, and the interfacial tension between the second elastomeric component and the impact copolymer is at least 1.2 mN/m. The polymer blends of present invention provides improved gloss and impact properties.