IN SITU MOISTURE GENERATION AND USE OF POLYFUNCTIONAL ALCOHOLS FOR CROSSLINKING OF SILANE-FUNCTIONALIZED RESINS

摘要

Polymer compositions comprise a (i) silane-fknctionalized polymer, e.g., a polyethylene grafted with vinyl triethoxy silane, (H) polyfunctional alcohol e.g., a,a,a',a'~ tetramethyl-I,3-benzenediethanol and, optionally, (iii) acid, e.g., an alkylated aryl disulfonic acid. The use of polyfunctional alcohols in the absence of a strong acid yields a light- crosslinking of the silane-functionalized polymer and this, in turn, provides a polymer melt with improved extensional properties such as elongational viscosity and melt strength. The use of a polyfunctional alcohol in combination with a blocked strong acid provides a slow rate of crosslinking during melt processing and a high degree of ultimate crosslinking after the polymer composition has been shaped or molded.