Polyketone polymer blends

Abstract

Improved compositions comprise polymer blends of a linear alternating polymer of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon with an ethylene/propylene/non-conjugated diene terpolymer, and, optionally, an acidic polymer containing moieties of an α-olefin and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The blends demonstrate improved barrier properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A polymer composition comprising a major proportion of a linear alternating polyketone polymer and a lesser proportion of an ethylene/propylene/non-conjugated diene terpolymer. 
     
     
       2. The composition of claim I wherein the polyketone polymer is represented by the repeating formula ##STR2## wherein G is a monomer of an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon of at least 3 carbon atoms polymerized through the ethylenic unsaturation and the ratio of y:x is no more than about 0.5. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the ethylene/propylene/nonconjugated diene terpolymer is EPDM. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 3 wherein, in the polyketone polymer, G is a monomer of propylene and the ratio of y:x is from about 0.01 to about 0.1. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 3 wherein, in the polyketone polymer, y is zero. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 3 wherein the EPDM comprises from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim 3 wherein the EPDM comprises from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       8. The composition of claim 4 wherein the EPDM comprises about 20 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 3 wherein the polymer blend composition includes, as an added component, from about 2 wt % to about 10 wt %, based on the total blend, of an acidic polymer incorporating moieties of an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. 
     
     
       10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the acidic polymer is present at about 5 wt % and comprises a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid. 
     
     
       11. A composition comprising a blend of: a major proportion of a linar alternating polyketone polymer of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, wherein the linear alternating polyketone polymer is represented by the repeating formula ##STR3##  wherein G is a monomer of an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon of at least 3 carbon atoms polymerized through the ethylenic unsaturation and the ratio of y:x is no more than about 0.5;   from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt %, based on the total belnd, of EPDM; and   about 5 wt %, based on the total blend, of an acidic copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid.   
     
     
       12. The composition of claim 11 wherein, in the polyketone polymer, y is zero. 
     
     
       13. The composition of claim 11 wherein the EPDM comprises about 20 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim 11 wherein the acidic copolymer is partially neutralized with a non-alkali metal. 
     
     
       15. A method for improving the barrier properties of a linear alternating polyketone polymer of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon by incorporating therein an effective amount of an ethylene/propylene/non-conjugated diene terpolymer. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein the polyketone polymer is of the repeating formula ##STR4## wherein G is a monomer of an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon of at least 3 carbon atoms polymerized through the ethylenic unsaturation, and the ratio of y:x is no more than about 0.5. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15 wherein the ethylene/propylene/non-conjugated diene terpolymer is EPDM. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 15 wherein the method includes incorporating into the polyketone polymer from about 2 wt % to about 10 wt %, based on the total blend, of an acidic polymer incorporating moieties of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 wherein the acidic copolymer is partially neutralized with a non-alkali metal. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 18 wherein the barrier property water vapor transmission rate is less than about 4 wt % loss/year before retort.