POLYOLEFIN FOAM COMPOSITION

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a polyolefin resin composition comprising polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol ester, primary aliphatic amide and secondary aliphatic amide. The invention relates to a polyolefin foam composition obtained by foaming said polyolefin resin composition in a physical foaming process in the presence of a physical blowing agent.

Claims

1. Polyolefin resin composition comprising polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol ester, primary aliphatic amide and secondary aliphatic amide.

2. A resin composition according to claim 1 characterised in that the glycerol ester is selected from glycerol-mono-ester, glycerol-di-ester and glycerol-tri-ester.

3. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the primary aliphatic amide is selected from palmitamide and/or stearamide.

4. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the secondary aliphatic amide is selected from the group consisting of N-substituted palmitamides.

5. A composition according to claim 4 characterized in that the secondary aliphatic amide is oleyl-palmitamide.

6. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the composition comprises a polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol-mono-ester, oleyl-palmitamide and stearamide.

7. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the composition comprises a polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol-mono-stearate, oleyl-palmitamide and stearamide.

8. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the composition comprises a polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol-mono-stearate, glycerol-mono-palmitate, oleyl-palmitamide and stearamide.

9. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the composition comprises a polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol-mono-ester, glycerol-di-ester, glycerol-tri-ester, oleyl-palmitamide and stearamide.

10. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the composition comprises a polyolefin and a mixture comprising glycerol-mono-stearate, glycerol-mono-palmitate, glycerol-di-stearate, glycerol-di-palmitate, glycerol-tri-stearate, glycerol-tri-palmitate, oleyl-palmitamide and stearamide.

11. A composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the polyolefin is low density polyethylene.

12. A polyolefin foam composition obtained by foaming a polyolefin resin composition according to claim 1 in a physical foaming process in the presence of a physical blowing agent.

13. A process for physical foaming of a polyolefin resin composition according to claim 1 in the presence of a blowing agent selected from hydrocarbon gasses such as isobutane, n-butane, iso pentane and n-pentane, LPG and/or a fluorohydrocarbon.

14. An article prepared using the composition according to claim 1.

15. Film, sheet, profile, rod, plank or tube prepared using the composition according to claim 1.

Description

EXAMPLE I

Production of LDPE Composition to be Foamed

[0086] 99.45% by weight LDPE (SABIC grade 2102TX00) were mixed at 180 degrees Celsius in compounder extruder at regular at 180 degrees Celsius with

[0087] 0.1% by weight of a mixture consisting of glycerol-mono-stearate, glycerol-mono-palmitate, glycerol-di-stearate, glycerol-di-palmitate, glycerol-tri-stearate and glycerol-tri-palmitate (ATMER 122)

[0088] 0.3% by weight oleyl-palmitamide (CRODAMIDE 203) and

[0089] 0.15% by weight stearamide (CRODAMIDE S)

EXAMPLE II

Foaming of the Polyolefin Resin Composition According to Example I.

[0090] The polyolefin composition according to Example I is added to a physical foam extruder. The composition to be foamed comprises

[0091] 87.1% by weight of the composition according to Example I,

[0092] 12% by weight isobutane

[0093] 0.5% by weight talc and

[0094] 0.4% by weight of a glycerol-mono-stearate and glycerol-mono-palmitate mixture (ATMER 129),

[0095] The temperatures of the melting zones were set on a ramping profile starting at 160 degrees running up-to 180 degrees C. Cooling temperatures were set on 100 degrees C.

[0096] A sheet (6 mm thickness) with a density of 33 kg/m.sup.3 was produced.

[0097] After producing the foam at 20 degrees Celcius via the regular physical extrusion process with isobutane, a 50% reduction in concentration of isobutane was reached after 4.8 days, as measured by Gas Chromatography.

[0098] At a concentration of 50% isobutane the degassing time was 4.8 days (t.sub.fdg=4.8 days).

Comparative Example A

Production of LDPE Composition to be Foamed

[0099] 98.0% by weight LDPE (SABIC grade 2102TX00) were mixed at 180 degrees Celsius in compounder extruder at regular at 180 degrees Celsius with 2% ATMER 7300 (50% masterbatch of glycerol-mono-stearate and glycerol-mono-palmitate mixture in LDPE).

Comparative Example B

Foaming of the Polyolefin Resin Composition According to Example A.

[0100] The polyolefin composition according to Example A is added to a physical foam extruder. The composition to be foamed comprises 89.5% by weight of the composition according to Example A, 10% by weight isobutane and 0.5% by weight talc.

[0101] The temperatures of the melting zones were set on a ramping profile starting at 160 degrees running up-to 180 degrees C. Cooling temperatures were set on 100 degrees C.

[0102] A sheet (6 mm thickness) with a density of 33 kg/m.sup.3 was produced.

[0103] After producing the foam at 20 degrees Celcius via the regular physical extrusion process with isobutane, a 50% reduction in concentration of isobutane was reached after 17.2 days, as measured by Gas Chromatography.

[0104] At a concentration of 50% isobutane the degassing time was 17.2 days (t.sub.fdg=17.2 days).

EXAMPLE III

Production of LDPE Composition to be Foamed

[0105] 99.45% by weight LDPE (SABIC grade 2102TX00) were mixed at 180 degrees Celsius in compounder extruder at regular at 180 degrees Celsius with

[0106] 0.1% by weight of a mixture consisting of glycerol-mono-stearate, glycerol-mono-palmitate, glycerol-di-stearate, glycerol-di-palmitate, glycerol-tri-stearate and glycerol-tri-palmitate, (ATMER 122)

[0107] 0.3% by weight oleyl-palmitamide (CRODAMIDE 203) and

[0108] 0.15% by weight stearamide (CRODAMIDE S).

EXAMPLE IV

Foaming of the Polyolefin Resin Composition According to Example III.

[0109] The polyolefin composition according to Example I is added to a physical foam extruder. The composition to be foamed comprises

[0110] 86.1% by weight of the composition according to Example III,

[0111] 13% by weight isobutane

[0112] 0.5% by weight talc and

[0113] 0.4% by weight of a glycerol-mono-stearate and glycerol-mono-palmitate mixture (ATMER 129).

[0114] The temperatures of the melting zones were set on a ramping profile starting at 160 degrees running up-to 180 degrees C. Cooling temperatures were set on 100 degrees C.

[0115] A sheet (2 mm thickness) with a density of 22 kg/m.sup.3 was produced.

[0116] After producing the foam at 10 degrees Celcius via the regular physical extrusion process with isobutane, a 50% reduction in concentration of isobutane was reached after 2.5 days, as measured by Gas Chromatography.

[0117] At a concentration of 50% isobutane the degassing time was 2.5 days (t.sub.fdg=2.5 days).

Comparative Example C

Production of LDPE Composition to be Foamed

[0118] 99.1% by weight LDPE (SABIC grade 2102TX00) were mixed at 180 degrees Celsius in compounder extruder at regular at 180 degrees Celsius with 0.9% by weight by weight of a glycerol-mono-stearate and glycerol-mono-palmitate mixture ATMER 129.

Comparative Example D

Foaming of the Polyolefin Resin Composition According to Example C.

[0119] The polyolefin composition according to Example C is added to a physical foam extruder. The composition to be foamed comprises 86.5% by weight of the composition according to Example C, 13% by weight isobutane and 0.5% by weight talc.

[0120] The temperatures of the melting zones were set on a ramping profile starting at 160 degrees running up-to 180 degrees C. Cooling temperatures were set on 100 degrees C.

[0121] A sheet (2 mm thickness) with a density of 22 kg/m.sup.3 was produced.

[0122] After producing the foam at 10 degrees Celcius via the regular physical extrusion process with isobutane, a 50% reduction in concentration of isobutane was reached after 6 days, as measured by Gas Chromatography.

[0123] At a concentration of 50% isobutane the degassing time was 6 days (t.sub.fdg=6 days).