Process for improving thermoplastic hydrocarbon polymers with polysulfonazide and free radical catalyst

Claim 2

A process for improving the subsequent processing properties of a high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer while retaining characteristics which provide luster to fibers produced therefrom comprising: heating said polymer to a temperature above the melting point thereof; and reacting both a free radical initiator which generates free radicals at said temperature for lowering the melt viscosity of said polymer by polymer chain scission and a polysulfonazide cross-linking agent for crosslinking shortened polymer chains with said polymer.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said free radical initiator is a peroxidic compound.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein said free radical initiator is 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(t-butylperoxy) hexane.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein said cross-linking agent is a polysulfonazide having the general formula R(SO 2 N 3 ) n wherein R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene, halogenated alkylene, arylene, aralkylene and alkarylene radicals, and n is an integer in the range of from about 2 to about 8.

Claim 6

The process of claim 4 wherein said crosslinking agent is 1,3-benzene bis(sulfonazide).

Claim 7

The process of claim 2 wherein said free radical initiator is reacted with said polymer in an amount in the range of from about 0.03% to about 2.0% by weight of said polymer.

Claim 8

The process of claim 4 wherein said crosslinking agent is reacted with said polymer in an amount in a range of from about 1.0% to about 0.2% by weight of said polymer.

Claim 9

A process for improving the subsequent processing properties of a high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer while retaining characteristics which provide luster to fibers produced therefrom comprising: heating said polymer to a temperature in the range of from about the melting point thereof to about 275° C.; combining both a free radical initiator which generates free radicals in said temperature range for lowering the melt viscosity of said polymer by polymer chain scission and a polysulfonazide crosslinking agent for crosslinking shortened polymer chains with said polymer, said free radical initiator being combined with said polymer in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.0% by weight of said polymer and said cross-linking agent being combined with said polymer in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 0.2% by weight of said polymer; and passing the resulting mixture through a screw extruder.

Claim 10

A process for improving the subsequent processing properties of a high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer while retaining characteristics which provide luster to fibers produced therefrom comprising: heating said polymer to a temperature in the range of from about the melting point thereof to about 275° C.; combining both a free radical initiator which generates free radicals in said temperature range for lowering the melt viscosity of said polymer by polymer chain scission and a polysulfonazide crosslinking agent for crosslinking shortened polymer chains with said polymer, said free radical initiator being combined with said polymer in an amount in the range of from about 0.3% to about 2.0% by weight of said polymer and said cross-linking agent being combined with said polymer in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 0.2% by weight of said polymer; and passing the resulting mixture through a screw extruder.

Claim 11

The process of claim 8 wherein said free radical initiator is a peroxidic compound.

Claim 12

The process of claim 9 wherein said free radical initiator is 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(t-butylperoxy) hexane.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein said crosslinking agent is a polysulfonazide having the general formula R(SO 2 N 3 ) n wherein R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene, halogenated alkylene, arylene, aralkylene and alkarylene radicals and n is an integer in the range of from about 2 to about 8.

Claim 14

The process of claim 11 wherein said crosslinking agent is 1,3-benzene bis(sulfonazide).

Claim 15

The process of claim 8 wherein said high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer is polypropylene.

Claim 16

The process of claim 13 wherein said polymer is heated to a temperature of about 190° C.

Claim 17

The process of claim 14 wherein said free radical initiator is 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(t-butylperoxy) hexane.

Claim 18

The process of claim 15 wherein said free radical initiator is combined with said polymer in an amount of about 0.07% by weight of said polymer.

Claim 19

The process of claim 16 wherein said crosslinking agent is 1,3-benzene bis(sulfonazide).

Claim 20

The process of claim 17 wherein said crosslinking agent is combined with said polymer in an amount of about 0.13% by weight of said polymer.