Neoalkoxy Titanate and Zirconate Coupling Agent Additives in Thermoplastics

Ti or Zr coupling agents chemically bridge two dissimilar species such as an inorganic filler/particulate and organic polymer via proton coordination on non-silane reactive substrates such as CaCO₃ and carbon black without the need of water of condensation as with silanes. Minor amounts of thermally stable neoalkoxy titanate and zirconate additives provide a means for post reactor, in-situ metallocene-like repolymerization catalysis of a filled or unfilled polymer during the plastication phase resulting in: significantly faster thermoplastic processing at lower temperatures; lower polymer recrystallization time; and the copolymerization of dissimilar polymers. Examples: both 40% CaCO₃ filled and unfilled PP compounds experienced respective reductions of 35.5% and 42% in injection mold cycle time and 22% and 11% in process temperature; 17% “pyrophosphato titanate coupled conductive carbon black (CB)” in LDPE provides the same Positive Temperature Coefficient effect as 25% untreated CB; a 39.7% reduction in the recrystallization time of PPS; a ten-fold increase in the elongation of a PET/PC regrind alloy; and the regeneration of recycled blends of LDPE and PP regrinds. The catalysis effect is shown to be permanent and recyclable. Coupling agent liquid, powder and pellet forms; dosage; data and applications methodology in compounding, injection and blow molding are discussed. New and novel transparent and permanent antistatic agents based on the formation of bipolar layers of dissimilar trineoalkoxy zirconates are shown to be non-blooming, non-moisture dependent providing volume as well as surface ESD effects.