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 amorphous olefinic copolymer which is optionally maleated. The blends demonstrate improved barrier properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. 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 amorphous olefinic copolymer. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polyketone polymer is of 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 method of claim 2 wherein the amorphous olefinic copolymer is an amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the barrier property water vapor transmission rate is less than about 5 wt % loss/year before retort. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 wherein the maleated amorphous olefinic copolymer is a maleated amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein the barrier property water vapor transmission rate is less than about 5 wt % loss/year before retort. 
     
     
       7. A polymer blend composition comprising a major proportion of a linear alternating polyketone polymer and a lesser proportion of an amorphous olefinic copolymer. 
     
     
       8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the 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. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 8 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. 
     
     
       10. The composition of claim 8 wherein, in the polyketone polymer, y is zero. 
     
     
       11. The composition of claim 8 wherein the amorphous olefinic copolymer is an amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer. 
     
     
       12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       13. The composition of claim 11 wherein the ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim 11 wherein the ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises about 20 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       15. The composition of claim 8 wherein the amorphous olefinic copolymer is a maleated amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer. 
     
     
       16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the maleated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       17. The composition of claim 15 wherein the maleated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       18. The composition of claim 15 wherein the maleated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises about 20 wt % of the total blend. 
     
     
       19. A composition comprising a blend of: a major proportion of a linear 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 ##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, and   from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt %, based on the total blend, a maleated amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymer.   
     
     
       20. The composition of claim 19 wherein, in the linear alternating polymer, y is zero.