Microgel-containing composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition containing thermoplastic materials and crosslinked microgels that have not been crosslinked by high-energy radiation, to a process for its preparation, to its use in the production of thermoplastically processable molded articles, and to molded articles produced from the composition.

1 . Composition comprising at least one thermoplastic material (A) and at least one microgel (B) based on homopolymers or random copolymers that has not been crosslinked by high-energy radiation.  
     
     
         2 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein primary particles of the microgel (B) exhibit approximately spherical geometry.  
     
     
         3 . Composition according to  claim 2 , wherein variation in diameters of an individual primary particle of the microgel (B), defined as  
         [(d1−d2)/d1]×100,  
       wherein d1 and d2 are any two diameters of any desired section of the primary particle and d1>d2, is less than 250%.  
     
     
         4 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein primary particles of the microgel (B) have an average particle size of from 5 to 500 nm.  
     
     
         5 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the microgels (B) comprise at least about 70 wt. % portions that are insoluble in toluene at 23° C.  
     
     
         6 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the microgels (B) have a swelling index in toluene at 23° C. of less than about 80.  
     
     
         7 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the microgels (B) have glass transition temperatures of from −100° C. to +50° C.  
     
     
         8 . Composition according to  claim 7 , wherein t the microgels (B) have a glass transition temperature of greater than about 5° C.  
     
     
         9 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the microgels (B) are prepared by emulsion polymerization.  
     
     
         10 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic materials (A) have a Vicat softening temperature of at least 50° C.  
     
     
         11 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material (A) is selected from thermoplastic polymers (A1) and thermoplastic elastomers (A2).  
     
     
         12 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material (A) and the microgel (B) have a difference in glass transition temperature is from 0 to 250° C.  
     
     
         13 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein thermoplastic material (A)/microgel (B) have a weight ration from 1:99 to 99:1.  
     
     
         14 . Composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the weight ratio thermoplastic material (A)/microgel (B) is from 10:90 to 90:10.  
     
     
         15 . Composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the weight ratio thermoplastic material (A)/microgel (B) is from 20:80 to 80:20.  
     
     
         16 . Composition according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one conventional plastics additive.  
     
     
         17 . Composition according to  claim 1 , prepared by mixing at least one thermoplastic material (A) and at least one microgel (B) based on homopolymers or random copolymers that has not been crosslinked by high-energy radiation.  
     
     
         18 . Composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the microgel (B) contains functional groups.  
     
     
         19 . Process for the preparation of compositions according to  claim 1  comprising mixing at least one thermoplastic material (A) and at least one microgel (B) based on homopolymers or random copolymers that has not been crosslinked by high-energy radiation.  
     
     
         20 . Process for the preparation of compositions according to  claim 20 , wherein the microgel (B) is prepared before it is mixed with the thermoplastic material (A).  
     
     
         21 . A molded article comprising a composition according to  claim 1.