Crosslinkable ethylene copolymer powders and processes

摘要

The present invention relates to crosslinkable microfine ethylene copolymer powders which are substantially spherical in shape and range in size from about 10 up to about 500 microns and to the process of crosslinking the powders to reduce their melt flow rate. The powders are crosslinked by contacting with water in the presence of a silanol condensation catalyst at temperatures from ambient up to about 110 DEG C. The reduction in melt flow rate is accomplished without substantially changing the powder characteristics, i.e., particle size and particle size distribution.