Degradable hydrocarbon polymers

Claim 2

A composition comprising a first component selected from the group consisting of chelates of a metal which is titanium or zirconium with a beta diketone, and a second component selected from the group consisting of (a) a benzoyl compound of the formula: ##STR3## and (b) acetonaphthone where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aroyl benzoylphenyl, and pyridyl groups and such groups substituted with a member of the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy, each of said components being present in an amount sufficient that the mixture thereof is more effective to decrease the time of degradation of a polymer of an olefin having having 2 to 3 carbon atoms than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the second component is (a).

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 2 wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are hydrogen and the rest are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, benzoyl and phenyl and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, phenyl, halophenyl and phenoxy.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the second component is a mono ketone and R 6 is lower alkyl, phenyl or halophenyl.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 4 wherein each component is present in an amount of 5 to 95% of the total of the two components.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the diketone is 2,4-pentanedione.

Claim 8

A polymeric composition having a controllable degradation rate in sunlight and air comprising (1) a polymer which is a member of the group consisting of polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms and (2) a two component additive system, the first component of said additive being selected from the group consisting of chelates of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, and the second component of the additive being selected from the group consisting of (a) a benzoyl compound of the formula: ##STR4## and (b) acetonaphthone where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, and aryl, and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aroyl benzoylphenyl, and pyridyl groups and such groups substituted with a substituent from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy, said additive system being present in an amount effective to decrease the time of degradation of the polymer than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 9

A polymeric composition having a controllable degradation rate in sunlight and air comprising (1) a polymer which is a member of the group consisting of polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms and (2) a two component additive system, the first component of said additive being selected from the group consisting of chelates of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, and the second component of the additive being selected from the group consisting of (a) a benzoyl compound of the formula: ##STR4## and (b) acetonaphthone where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, and aryl, and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aroyl benzoylphenyl, and pyridyl groups and such groups substituted with a substituent from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy, said additive system being present in an amount effective to decrease the time of degradation of the polymer than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 10

A polymer composition according to claim 7 wherein the metal of the first component is selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, copper, zirconium and tin.

Claim 11

A polymeric composition according to claim 8 wherein the second component of the additive system is (a).

Claim 12

A polymeric composition according to claim 9 wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are hydrogen and the rest are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, benzoyl and phenyl and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, phenyl, halophenyl and phenoxy.

Claim 13

A composition according to claim 9 wherein the polymer is polyethylene, the two component additive system is present in an amount of 0.001-10% of the total of polymer and additive system and each component of the additive system is present in an amount of 5 to 95% of the additive system.

Claim 14

A composition according to claim 9 wherein the polymer is polypropylene, the two component additive system is present in an amount of 0.001-10% of the total of polymer and additive system and each component of the additive system is present in an amount of 5 to 95% of the additive system.

Claim 15

A polymer composition according to claim 7 wherein the metal of the first component is selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, copper, zirconium and tin and the diketone is 2,4-pentanedione.

Claim 16

A polymeric composition according to claim 13 wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are hydrogen and the rest are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, benzoyl and phenyl and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, phenyl, halophenyl and phenoxy.

Claim 17

A composition according to claim 7 wherein the two component additive system is present in an amount of at least 1 ppm of the polymer.

Claim 18

A composition according to claim 15 wherein each component of the additive system is present in an amount of 5 to 95% of the additive system.

Claim 19

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is iron.

Claim 20

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is cobalt.

Claim 21

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is titanium.

Claim 22

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is zirconium.

Claim 23

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the metal is titanium.

Claim 24

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the metal is zirconium.

Claim 25

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is nickel.

Claim 26

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is chromium.

Claim 27

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is vanadium.

Claim 28

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal is tin.

Claim 29

A composition according to claim 7 wherein R 6 is pyridyl.

Claim 30

A composition according to claim 7 wherein the first and the second component is (a) and R 6 is pyridyl.

Claim 31

A composition according to claim 7 wherein carbon atoms and the metal of the first component is selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, titanium, vanadium, manganese, copper, zirconium and tin.

Claim 32

A composition according to claim 29 wherein the diketone is 2,4-pentanedione.

Claim 33

A composition according to claim 9 wherein the diketone is 2,4-pentanedione.

Claim 34

A composition according to claim 7 wherein the metal is titanium, zirconium or tin.

Claim 35

A composition according to claim 32 wherein the metal is titanium.

Claim 36

A composition according to claim 32 wherein the metal is zirconium.

Claim 37

A composition according to claim 32 wherein the metal is tin.

Claim 38

A polymeric composition having a controllable degradation rate in sunlight and air comprising a polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms and a two component additive system, the first component of said additive being benzil and the second component of the additive being a chelate of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, said additive system being present in an amount more effective to decrease the time of degradation of the polymer than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 39

A polymeric composition having a controllable degradation rate in sunlight and air comprising a polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms and a two component additive system, the first component of said additive being benzil and the second component of the additive being a chelate of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, said additive system being present in an amount more effective to decrease the time of degradation of the polymer than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 40

A composition comprising a first component which is benzil and a second component which is a chelate of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, each of said components being present in an amount sufficient that the mixture thereof is more effective to increase photodegradation of a polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 41

A composition comprising a first component which is benzil and a second component which is a chelate of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, each of said components being present in an amount sufficient that the mixture thereof is more effective to increase photodegradation of a polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 42

A composition according to claim 29 wherein the second component of the additive is (a) and R 6 is alkyl, aryl or benzoylphenyl.

Claim 43

A composition according to claim 38 wherein the metal is titanium or zirconium.

Claim 44

A composition according to claim 38 wherein the polymer is polyethylene.

Claim 45

A composition according to claim 38 wherein the polymer is polypropylene.

Claim 46

A composition comprising a first component selected from the group consisting of chelates of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, and a second component selected from the group consisting of (a) a benzoyl compound of the formula: ##STR5## and (b) acetonaphthone where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of a pyridyl group and such group substituted with a member of the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy, each of said components being present in an amount sufficient that the mixture thereof is more effective to decrease the time of degradation of a polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 47

A composition comprising a first component selected from the group consisting of chelates of a metal capable of existing in at least two valence states with a beta diketone, and a second component selected from the group consisting of (a) a benzoyl compound of the formula: ##STR5## and (b) acetonaphthone where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy and R 6 is selected from the group consisting of a pyridyl group and such group substituted with a member of the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy, each of said components being present in an amount sufficient that the mixture thereof is more effective to decrease the time of degradation of a polymer of an olefin having 2 to 3 carbon atoms than a corresponding amount of either member of the two component additive system by itself.

Claim 48

A composition according to claim 42 where R 6 is pyridyl.