Tackifiers and a process to obtain tackifiers

Abstract

Novel tackifier resins having a M.sub.n of 5,000 or less and a T.sub.g of 0.degree. C. or above are produced by combining a metallocene catalyst with an alpha-olefin and a cyclic monomer. New adhesives are produced by blending the novel tackifier with a base polymer.

Description

Claims

1. A method for producing a tackifier resin, said method comprising copolymerizing at least one alpha-olefin and at least one cyclic olefin in the presence of a metallocene catalyst system under conditions suitable for the production of a copolymer having a M.sub.n of 5000 or below and a T.sub.g of 0.degree. C. or above.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the conditions are suitable for production of a copolymer having a M.sub.n in the range of from 200 to 2000.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the conditions are suitable for production of a copolymer having a T.sub.g of greater than 30.degree. C.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the conditions are suitable for production of a copolymer containing about 20 to about 95 mole % of the cyclic olefin.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the conditions are suitable for production of a copolymer having a M.sub.w /M.sub.n of 3 or less.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallocene catalyst system comprises a metallocene transition metal compound and an activator.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the metallocene catalyst system comprises a cyclopentadienyl transition metal compound selected from the group consisting of:

dimethylsilanyl bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride;

dimethylsilanyl bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride;

bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride;

bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride;

dimethylsilanyl bis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride;

rac-dimethylsilyl-bis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dimethyl;

dimethylsilanyl bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl;

dimethylsilanyl bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl;

bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl;

bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl;

dimethylsilanyl[(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(dodecyl-amino)]titanium dichloride; and

cyclopentadienyl (t-butoxy)zirconium dichloride.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the metallocene catalyst system comprises an activator of methylalumoxane or dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) boron.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the alpha-olefin contains from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the cyclic olefin is selected from the olefins represented by the following formulae: ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.a through R.sup.s is independently hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, or halohydrocarbyl; ac and dc are integers of 2 or more, and bc and cc are integers of 0 or more.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the cyclic olefin is a trimer or a dimer of a cyclic olefin.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the alpha-olefin is propylene and the cyclic olefin is dicyclopentadiene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, or norbornene.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of hydrogenating the tackifier resin.

14. A tackifier resin consisting essentially of at least one alpha-olefin and from about 20 to about 95 mole % of at least one cyclic olefin, said alpha-olefin and cyclic olefin copolymerized in the presence of a metallocene catalyst system under conditions suitable for the production of a copolymer having a T.sub.g of 0.degree. C. or more and a M.sub.n of 5000 or less.

15. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the tackifier produced has an M.sub.n in the range of from 200 to 2000.

16. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the tackifier produced has a T.sub.g of greater than 30.degree. C.

17. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the tackifier produced has a T.sub.g of 35.degree. C. or more.

18. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the tackifier resin produced has a M.sub.w /M.sub.n of 3 or less.

19. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the alpha-olefin contains from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

20. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the cyclic olefin is selected from the olefins represented by the following formulae: ##STR2## wherein each R.sup.a through R.sup.s is independently hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, or halohydrocarbyl; ac and dc are integers of 2 or more, and bc and cc are integers of 0 or more.

21. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the cyclic olefin is a trimer or a dimer of a cyclic olefin.

22. The tackifier resin of claim 14 wherein the alpha-olefin is propylene and the cyclic olefin is dicyclopentadiene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, or norbornene.

23. The tackifier resin of claim 14, said tackifier resin having been hydrogenated.

24. The tackifier resin of claim 14 further having a Saybolt color of 15 or more.

25. An adhesive comprising a base polymer and a tackifier resin said tackifier resin consisting essentially of at least one alpha-olefin and from about 20 to about 95 mole % of at least one cyclic olefin, said alpha-olefin and cyclic olefin copolymerized in the presence of a metallocene catalyst system under conditions suitable for the production of a copolymer having a T.sub.g of 0.degree. C. or more and a M.sub.n of 5000 or less.

26. The adhesive of claim 25, wherein the base polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, polychloroprene rubber, polyisoprene, polyisobutylene and its copolymers, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene termonomer rubber, butyl rubber, polystyrene, polybutadiene and styrenic block copolymers.

27. The adhesive of claim 25 wherein the alpha-olefin contains from 3 to 8 carbon atoms and the cyclic olefin is selected from the olefins represented by the following formulae: ##STR3## wherein each R.sup.a through R.sup.s is independently hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, or halohydrocarbyl; ac and dc are integers of 2 or more, and bc and cc are integers of 0 or more.

28. The adhesive of claim 25 further comprising additive, said additive comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of an oil, a plasticizer, a wax, and a stabilizer.

29. The adhesive of claim 25 wherein the alpha-olefin is propylene and the cyclic olefin is dicyclopentadiene, norbornene, or 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene.

30. An article of manufacture comprising the adhesive of claim 25.