Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A process for preparing a composition comprising an ethylene copolymer and a liquid hydrocarbon, the process comprising mixing an ethylene copolymer which is in the form of a solid powder with from 40 to 220 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of ethylene copolymer of a liquid hydrocarbon to form a blend of discrete solid particles comprising at least two ingredients, the resulting composition being capable of flowing freely, said liquid hydrocarbon being one which does not exude from a fused mass of ethylene copolymer and liquid hydrocarbon obtained by mixing 50 g of powdered copolymer with the liquid hydrocarbon in the range specified in a metal dish, heating the dish at 120° C. to fuse the polymer, cooling the dish, holding the dish at minus 20° C. for 18 hours and then allowing the dish to warm to room temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A process for preparing a composition comprising an ethylene copolymer and a liquid hydrocarbon, the process comprising mixing an ethylene copolymer which is in the form of a solid powder with from 40 to 220 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of ethylene copolymer of a liquid hydrocarbon to form a blend of discrete solid particles comprising at least two ingredients, the resulting composition being capable of flowing freely, said liquid hydrocarbon being one which does not exude from a fused mass of ethylene copolymer and liquid hydrocarbon obtained by mixing 50 g of powdered copolymer with the liquid hydrocarbon in the range specified in a metal dish, heating the dish at 120° C. to fuse the polymer, cooling the dish, holding the dish at minus 20° C. for 18 hours and then allowing the dish to warm to room temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ethylene copolymer is mixed with from 80 to 120 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of ethylene copolymer of said hydrocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the blend additionally comprises a filler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the filler is low density inorganic filler.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the filler is magnesium carbonate and/or calcium carbonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the filler has a specific surface area of 2.5 to 3.4 cm. 2 /mg.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the filler has a specific surface area of 2.5 to 3.4 cm. 2 /mg.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ethylene copolymer has a particle size not exceeding 1200 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 or 8, wherein the ethylene copolymer has a particle size with 80% of the particles not exceeding 700 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 or 8 wherein the ethylene copolymer is an ethylene-acrylate or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ethylene copolymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer comprising 10 to 40% by weight of copolymerised vinyl acetate units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein the copolymer comprises 18 to 28% by weight of copolymerised vinyl acetate units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blend additionally comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of modifier resins, waxes, plasticizers, antioxidants, thickeners, stabilisers, foaming agents, blowing agents, and, in the case of an aqueous dispersion, preformed copolymer latices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing is carried out in air and the process additionally comprises subsequently dispersing the resulting powder blend in water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing is carried out in the presence of water to provide an aqueous dispersion of said blend.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in 15, wherein said process comprises mixing an aqueous dispersion comprising said ethylene copolymer with an aqueous dispersion comprising said liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition comprising a blend of an ethylene copolymer and a liquid hydrocarbon in the form of a free-flowing dry powder prepared by the process claimed in claim 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition comprising a blend of an ethylene copolymer and a liquid hydrocarbon in the form of a free-flowing aqueous dispersion prepared by the process claimed in claim 15.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the composition additionally comprises up to 600 parts by weight of inorganic filler based on the weight of the ethylene copolymer present.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The use of a composition as claimed in claim 17 or 18 as a hot melt composition or in a coating process comprising the steps of applying the composition to a substrate, applying heat to fuse the blend, and cooling the resulting melt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composition comprising a blend of an ethylene copolymer and a liquid hydrocarbon in the form of a free-flowing aqueous dispersion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 15.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composition comprising a blend of an ethylene copolymer and a liquid hydrocarbon in the form of a free-flowing aqueous dispersion prepared by the process as claimed in claim 16.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in claims 21 or 22, wherein the composition additionally comprises up to 600 parts by weight of inorganic filler based on the weight of the ethylene copolymer present.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The use of a composition as claimed in claim 21 or 22 as a hot melt composition or in a coating process, comprising the steps of applying the composition to a substrate, applying heat to fuse the blend, and cooling the resulting melt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The use of a composition as claimed in claim 19 as a hot melt composition or in a coating process, comprising the steps of applying the composition to a substrate, applying heat to fuse the blend, and cooling the resulting melt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The use of a composition as claimed in claim 23 as a hot melt composition or in a coating process, comprising the steps of applying the composition to a substrate, applying heat to fuse the blend, and cooling the resulting melt.