What is claimed is:
1. A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) composition comprising crosslinked polyvinylbutyral (PVBX) and a thermoplastic polymer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a continuous phase of the TPE having dispersed therein the elastomeric PVBX.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the PVBX is present in an amount of from about 25 wt % to about 95 wt %.
3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the PVBX is present in an amount of from about 50 wt % to about 90 wt %.
4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the PVBX is present in an amount of from about 75 wt % to about 90 wt %.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein PVBX is the product of the crosslinking reaction between modified PVB and crosslinking agents selected from the group consisting of: polycarboxylic acids or functional equivalents thereof; diisocyanates; and diisocyanate oligomers.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the continuous phase is at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from polymers in the group consisting of: polypropylenes; polyethylenes; polyvinylchlorides; polystyrenes; polyamides; polycarbonates; poly(acrylic acid); polyacrylates; poly(methy methacrylates); styrenic copolymers; polyvinylidene chlorides; polyesters; polyacetals; copolyesters; and polysulfones.
7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the continuous phase is polypropylene or polyvinylchloride.
8. The composition claim 7 wherein the continuous phase is polypropylene.
9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is present in an amount of from about 75 wt % to about 5 wt %.
10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is present in an amount of from about 50 wt % to about 10 wt %.
11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is present in an amount of from about 25 wt % to about 10 wt %.
12. A process for preparing a composition comprising a PVBX elastomer dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer continuous phase comprising the step of using a crosslinking agent in a crosslinking reaction to crosslink a modified non-blocking PVB composition in the presence of a thermoplastic polymer to form PVBX as a dispersed elastomer in the thermoplastic polymer phase.
13. The process of claim 12 wherein the crosslinking agent is an agent selected from the group consisting of: polycarboxylic acids or functional equivalents thereof; diisocyanates; and diisocyanate oligomers.
14. The process of claim 13 wherein a catalyst is used to catalyze the crosslinking reaction.
15. A process for preparing a composition comprising a PVBX elastomer dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer continuous phase comprising the steps of: (1) combining PVB, a thermoplastic polymer, and a PVB modifying agent; (2) modifying PVB in the presence of the thermoplastic polymer to form a modified non-blocking PVBthermoplastic polymer mixture and (3) using a crosslinking agent to crosslink the modified non-blocking PVBthermoplastic polymer composition to form PVBX as a dispersed elastomer in the thermoplastic polymer phase.
16. An elastomeric crosslinked polyvinylbutyral composition (PVBX) obtained by a process comprising the steps: (1) heating PVB in the presence of a modifying agent to obtain a non-blocking PVB composition (2) heating the modified PVB composition in the presence of a PVB crosslinking agent and a catalyst, wherein the conditions are sufficient for a crosslinking reaction to take place between PVB and the crosslinking agent, to obtain the elastomeric PVBX.
17. An article prepared from the TPE composition of claim 1.
18. The article of claim 17 wherein the article is a hose, tube liner, seal, sheet, belt, wire and cable jacket, wheel, shoe sole, film, or grip.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising the steps of previously mixing, at a temperature of not more than 120\xb0 C., an elastomer component of bromide of isobutylene-p-ethylstyrene and a cross-linking agent, and then dispersing the thus-prepared elastomer component in a nylon resin in a twin-screw mixing extruder, whereby the elastomer component is then cross-linked.
2. A pneumatic tire having a thermoplastic elastomer composition according to claim 1 as an air permeation preventive layer.