Title of Invention

"A PHOTODEGRADABLE POLYMERIC COMPOSITION AND A PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURE"

Abstract

A degradable polymeric composition comprising in addition to the polyolefin, a hydrophilic polymer containing carboxylic acid groups which is modified by long chain alcohols as a degradant and a facilitating agent for said composition in conjunction with degradation thereof is described. The composition mainly contains a degradant such as styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) preferably esterified SMA wherein esterification is carried out by long chain alcohol. It optionally contains compatabilizer, which may be exemplified by polyolefins modified by functional monomers Further a process for the manufacture of the said degradable polymeric composition, is illustrated. The process comprising the following steps: (i) preparing polymer that is hydrophilic in nature, containing carboxylic acid groups and which is modified by using higher aliphatic alcohols, capable of imparting compatibility to Polyolefin being used as virgin polymer, (ii) blending, by any known methods, the polymer thus obtained in step (i) with the said polyolefin being used as virgin polymer, so as to ensure uniform dispersion, followed by converting in to forms of varied shapes, if so desired, by any known methods.

Full Text

THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A PHOTODEGRADABLE POLYMERIC COMPOSITION AND A PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURE. FIELD OF THE INVENTION: Particularly, the invention relates to a photodegradable polymeric composition containing a virgin polymer component and certain degradants (hereinafter defined) as a facilitating agent for photodegradation of the said composition. More particularly, the invention relates to a polymeric composition containing polyolefin or its copolymer or their blend, which may include without restriction, polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), as virgin polymer. Polyolefins or its copolymer having processing temperature less than 170 C are preferred. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a polymeric composition that contains transition metal derivative of a hydrophilic polymer, containing carboxylic acid groups as a degradant. Specifically, the degradant used could be transition metal derivative of SMA. Further, the transition metals include, without limitation, iron, cobalt, nickel, or manganese preferably iron. These derivatives of SMA copolymer act as photoinitiator, and are generally used as an additive. Yet more particularly, the invention relates to a polymeric composition that has good storage stability, good mechanical properties and better processability. The invention specifically relates to a polymeric composition that is much cheaper than the existing compositions as the photoinitiators used, are often synthesized from cheaper raw material. The composition thus prepared gets degraded when exposed to sunlight or source of UV light. The degradant used enhances the process of degradation with exposure to light via photodegradation. Thus the plastics, when are dumped on the ground get easily degraded and converted to innocuous material in presence of soil and hght. Further the composition can be made directly in the form of various shapes using any known methods or prepared in the form of master batch formulation. The films prepared by using the composition of the present invention can be used as a mulch or in a row cover applications as it lose significant amount of its tensile strength in about 30 to 90 days. The invention also provides a process for manufacturing the composition of this invention. The process makes use of easily available cheaper raw material. Further, the process does not require any sophisticated infrastructure or stringent process conditions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Plastics are used extensively in almost every field. Among the various applications, plastics are used mostly in packaging. The use of plastics has given rise to improved methods of packaging goods. For example, polyethylene and polypropylene plastic films, bags, bottles, Styrofoam cups, blister packages, and the like provide stable, relatively unbreakable, chemically resistant lightweight packaging. Conventional plastics used for packaging include, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terphthalate, and polyvinyl chloride. Plastics have also found wide spread use in other disposable products such as, for example, disposable personal care products such as diapers, disposable work tools/ instruments/garments, and other disposable garments. Plastics with a fairly long life are also used as a green house material. While plastics with a life of about 30 to 80 days are found useful as mulch or in row cover applications. The many advantages of plastics have lead to their increased usage in a variety of products. This increased usage, however, has resulted in accumulation of huge amount of solid waste, since the plastic must be disposed of after it is used and thereby has created a serious environmental problem. As a result of the stability and durability of plastics, however, they tend to remain in our environment for a long lime, without decomposing after disposal. It has been estimated that over 50 percent of the annual tonnage of all manufactured synthetic polymers are applied as packaging materials and that 90 percent of this ends up as a component of urban garbage. It has also been estimated that recalcitrant plastic accumulates in our environment at a rate of 25 million tons per year. Burning of plastics is an unsatisfactory disposal solution, since this tends to discharge smoke that adds to air pollution and destruction of the ozone layer. Similarly plastics are not readily degraded or decomposed by natural means, such as degradation by micro-organisms, which degrade most other forms of organic matter and return such matter to the biological life cycle. Thus, burial in a waste site is also not an effective means of disposal. Composting is also not advisable due to non-degradable nature of the plastics. The resulting accumulation of plastics in our environment has tended to result in landfills becoming filled to capacity; unsightly litter destroying the scenery and landscape; and destruction of the living environment for marine life and other forms of life in turn impairing ecosystem as a whole. In an effort to resolve the environmental problem, several techniques have been adopted to attribute the degradable characteristics to the polymer. It is achieved by copolymerisation of ethylene with monomers like vinyl ketone, methyl iso-propyl ketone, methyl vinyl ketone and carbon monoxide. A reference can be made to-Li, S.K.L.; Guillet, G.E.J. Polym Sc (Polym Chem), 1980, 18, 2221. The problem can also be solved by incorporating additives in transition metal. The plastic will continue to oxidize in the dark after an initial exposure to ultraviolet light. U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,855 discloses thermoplastic polymers or copolymers of a-olefins containing one or more transition metals. The polymer compositions are degraded under the action of sunlight and/or ultraviolet light and may also be subject to thermal degradation. US Patent No. 4,017,469 teaches preparation of photodegradable polyolefinic composition. The composition comprises (1) polyolefin, (2) iron in the form of alkaU metal trioxalatoferrate and (3) photosensitizing organic compound selected from aromatic ketones and aldehyde. U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,720 discloses a degradable plastic composition that includes an organic polymeric material having dispersed therein at least one organic derivative of a transition metal and at least one readily autoxidizable organic material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,666 discloses a degradable polyolefin resin comprising a polyolefin, a fatty acid or ester of a fatty acid and a monohydric aliphatic alcohol, and optionally an inorganic filler. The resins are molding resins and degrade when subjected to sunlight. US Patent No. 4,017,667 describes photodegradable polyolefin composition containing an N- halo benzenesulfonamide as photosensitizing agent. US Patent No. 4,012, 565 relates to photodegradable polyolefin composition, which contains N-halo hydantoin as an additive to accelerate photodegradation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,851 discloses a degradable plastic composition comprising an organic polymeric material having dispersed therein at least one ethylenically unsaturated alcohol or ethylenically unsaturated ester derived therefrom as a readily autoxidizable substance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,606 discloses a plastic composition containing an organic photosensitizer certain ways with the polymeric compositions used to make plastics to increase the rate at which the plastic is degraded to environmentally friendly compounds. These additives, commonly called degradants, increase the rate of degradation of the plastic. The degradation could be photodegradation, biological degradation, and/or chemical degradation. However, blending of the degradants with the virgin polymer affects the other properties of the plastics such as mechanical strength and resistance to moisture. As the term indicates, Photodegradation involves reaction with atmospheric oxygen particularly in the presence of light. Typically, a photosensitizing agent is employed in order to accelerate the rate of degradation. The photosensitizing agent absorbs ultraviolet light (e.g., from sunlight) and in the photo-excited state, then undergoes a chemical reaction that leads to the generation of free radicals, which leads to an auto-oxidation and eventual disintegration of the plastic. Photodegradation has generally involved two technological approaches: (a) introduction of photosensitive functional group into the polymer; or (b) adding of photosensitive reagents to the polymer. Introducing autooxidisable group in the synthetic polymer may accelerate the thermal oxidation that follows the initial photochemical initiation step. The oxidisable groups may be copolymerised or grafted with functional monomer. The relevant prior art known to the inventor includes the following patents: US patent No 3,935,141 and literature published as early as 1989 teaches incorporation of cerium salts into polyethylene essentially containing an antioxidant such as titanium dioxide to accelerate photodegradation. It also suggests addition of other adjuvants. U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,759 discloses a degradable plastic containing an organic photosensitizer and at least one organic derivative of a transition metal. Degradation is initiated by a photo-oxidative reaction of the photosensitizer and is sustained by the organic derivative of a and at least one readily autoxidizable organic substance. Exposure of the polymeric material to an artificial source of light or sunlight initiates a chemical degradation process. The initial photochemical reaction is followed by susbequent reactions that are essentially thermal (i.e., non-photochemical). The readily autoxidizable substance accelerates the thermal autoxidation step that follows the initial photochemical step. U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,853 discloses a controllably degradable vinyl polymer composition that contains a complex of two different metals. A combination of iron and nickel compounds provides enhanced photodegradation of the polymer composition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,255 discloses a plastic composition containing a photosensitizes Exposure of the plastic composition to natural sunlight or artificial sources of ultraviolet light initiates degradation of the composition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,318 discloses a photodegradable styrene resin that comprises a styrene resin and at least one photo-degradable agent selected from benzophenone, anthroquinone, fluorene, xanthone, phenylalkyl ketones, phenacyl halides, and derivatives of these compounds and optionally at least one photodegradable accelerator. U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,488 discloses thermoplastic polymer compositions that include a biodegradable substance, such as starch; a transition metal compound; and a fatty acid or ester of a fatty acid. The compositions may further include one or more other transition metal compounds to catalyze degradation of the polymer. The polymer compositions are degraded under the action of heat and/or ultraviolet light. U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,645 discloses that the addition of camphorquinone to polyethylene accelerates the photodegradation of the polymer when the polymer is exposed to ultraviolet light. U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,939 discloses a polymeric composition with enhanced reactivity toward oxidative and/or photo-oxidative degradation. The rate of degradation is enhanced by incorporating at least one alkoxylated ethylenically unsaturated compound as an organic photosensitizer. The compositions may further include other readily oxidizable substances. US Patent No. 5,096,941 advocates incorporation of cerium stearate in polyolefins to promote thermo-oxidation and photo-oxidation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,193 discloses a polyethylene copolymer modified to contain chromomorphic moieties, which absorb at wavelengths greater than 200 nm, such as para-substituted benzenes and anthracenes, chemically bonded thereto. The copolymer, when added to virgin polyethylene renders the composition more susceptible to ultraviolet radiation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,906 discloses an extrudable elastomeric composition composed of an elastomer A-B-A' block copolymer, where A and A' are each a thermoplastic polymer endblock and B is a conjugated diene monomer having a low degree of residual ethylenic unsaturation, a polyolefin, and an effective amount of transition metal compound distributed in the blend of the polyolefin and block copolymer. The elastomeric composition degrades in thermally oxidative environments. U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,107 discloses a degradable polymer composition consisting essentially of a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising primarily polylactic acid or a copolymer of lactic acid and another hydroxy-carboxylic acid and starch and/or modified starch. The varying the amount of starch and/or modified starch controls the degradation rate of the polymer composition. U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,093 discloses a biodegradable polyethylene composition. The composition includes starch chemically bonding to polyethylene with a coupling agent, a radical initiator, a Lewis acid, an autooxidizing agent, and a plasticizer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,503 discloses a film of a biodegradable polyolefin resin. The resin contains fillers selected from the group including inorganic carbonate, synthetic carbonates, nepheline syenite, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum trihydrate, diatamaceous earth, mica, natural or synthetic silicas, calcined clay, or mixtures thereof and a metal carboxylate as a prodegradant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,304 discloses a chemically degradable/compostable additive package or concentrate that is added to polyolefins. The additive package is a combination of a metal carboxylate and an aliphatic poly hydroxy-carboxyl acid. WO 88/09354 discloses a degradable polymer composition that is a blend of a normally stable chemically saturated polymer and a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer or copolymer, an anti-oxidant active over a limited period of time, and a latent pro-oxidant, such as an organic salt of a transition metal. WO 92/11298 discloses a photodegradable thermoplastic composition that includes a first transition metal compound, a second transition metal compound, and an aromatic ketone. The second transition metal compound acts as a catalyst with the first transition metal compound to enhance degradation of the thermoplastic material. The aromatic ketone has a synergistic effect that increases photodegradation of the plastic. WO 94/13735 discloses degradable thermoplastic compositions. The compositions include a thermoplastic polymer component combined with a directly biodegradable component, an oxidizable component, transition metal additives, and an aromatic ketone. The polymeric material degrades in three stages. The first stage is biological removal of the directly biodegradable component, which results in mass reduction and a highly porous material. The second stage is chemical and results in oxidative shortening of the long polymer chains to decrease their molecular weight and the third stage involves biological metabolism of the low molecular weight fragments. rhe resultant disadvantages in the utilization of various raw materials as accelerating agents for polyolefins include, without restriction, factors such as toxicity, discoloration, lack of easy accessibility, high cost, less efficient, requirement of sophisticated infrastructure and the large amounts employed in order to be effective. The prior art problem of providing a photodegradable polyolefin composition having desired chemical, physical and mechanical properties has now been substantially solved by the present invention and the above-described disadvantages are substantially overcome. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one of the main objects of the present invention is to provide polyolefin compositions, which are photodegradable. Other object of the present invention is to provide a material for polyolefin compositions which will not substantially adversely affect the chemical and/or physical and/or mechanical properties of said compositions during the useful life thereof Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymeric composition containing polyolefin or its copolymer or their blend, which may include without restriction, polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), as virgin polymer. Polyolefins or its copolymer having processing temperature less than 170 C are preferred. Still other object of the present invention is to provide a polymeric composition that contains modified hydrophilic polymer containing carboxylic acid groups, as a degradant. Further, it has been found that the foregoing objects can be obtained by the incorporation of transition metal derivative of the said hydrophilic polymer, particularly transition metal derivative of SMA in polyolefins. This enables to subsequently provide photodegradable plastic compositions, which exhibit outstanding chemical, physical and mechanical properties during the useful life thereof The transition metal used for preparing derivatives may be such as iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese or mixture thereof Still another object of the present invention is to provide a polymeric composition that has good storage stability, good mechanical properties and better processability. Yet other object of the present invention is to provide a polymeric composition that is much cheaper than the existing compositions. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a composition wherein the degradant used enhances the process of degradation with exposure to light via photodegradation. Thus the plastics, when are dumped on the ground get easily degraded and get converted to innocuous material in presence of soil and light. Further the composition can be made in the form of various shapes using any known methods or prepared in the form of master batch formulation. A further object of the present invention is to provide an (degradable) accelerating agent, which is economic compatible to polyolefins and easy to incorporate into polyolefin plastics. The invention relates to and has among its objects the provisions of novel polymeric composition capable of weathering and disintegrating through photo-oxidation. Further objects of the invention will be evident from the following description: STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a degradable polymeric composition comprises, in addition to the polyolefin or its copolymer or its blend, transition metal derivative of a polymer containing carboxylic acid group as a degradant and a facilitating agent for said composition in conjunction with degradation thereof One of the embodiment of the present invention is that the polyolefin used may be such as or its copolymer or their blend, which may include without restriction, polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), its copolymer or blend as virgin polymer. Other embodiment of the present invention is that the use of transition metal derivative of a polymer containing carboxylic acid groups as a degradant. Preferably the said polymer may be styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) and more preferably transition metal derivative of styrene maleic anhydride (TSMA). Specifically the SMA is derivatised using transition metal exemplified by iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese or mixture thereof Iron derivative of SMA is more preferable. Another embodiment of the present invention is that the composition may contain up to 1% ofTSMA. Still other embodiment of the present invention is that the amount ofTSMA may be in the range of 0.1 to 0.5% by wt. of polyolefin its copolymer or blend. Still another embodiment of the present invention is that the TSMA may be prepared by any known methods. Typically the SMA is treated with solution of transition metal halide. Preferably iron chloride is used to synthesize TSMA (Fe). Yet other embodiment of this invention is that the SMA may be prepared by free radical precipitation polymerization. In accordance with this invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of the degradable polymer comprising, (i) preparing by any conventional methods a polymer containing carboxylic acid groups and is capable of imparting compatibility to Polyolefin or its copolymer or blend being used as virgin polymer, (ii) derivatising by any known methods the said polymer using transition metal, (ii) blending, by any known methods the derivatised polymer thus obtained in step (ii) with the said polyolefin or its copolymer being used as virgin polymer, so as to ensure uniform blending/dispersion, followed by converting in to forms of varied shapes, if so desired, by any known methods. The polyolefin used as virgin polymer may be such as polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), its copolymer or blend. The hydrophilic polymer that is capable of imparting compatibility to Polyolefin or its copolymer or blend being used as virgin polymer, used may be styrene maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA). The transition metal derivative of a hydrophilic polymer used may be such as transition metal derivative of styrene maleic anhydride (TSMA) The transition metal used for derivatisation of SMA may be such as iron, cobalt, nickel or manganese preferably iron. The SMA may be prepared by precipitation polymerisation technique. The polymerisation may be effected at a temperature in the range of 50 C to 120 C preferably in the range of 70 C to 100 C more preferably 80 C to 90 C for a period of 2 to 4 hours. The SMA thus prepared may be separated by any conventional method such as distillation, precipitation. The derivatisation may be carried out using solution of transition metal haHde preferably iron chloride. The derivatisation may be conducted at room temperature and for a period of 2 to 4 hours. The derivatised polymer may be isolated using centrifugation, filtration or decantation. The blending may be carried out by using single or twin screw extrusion technique, preferably by single screw extrusion technique at a temperature ranging fi"om 150 C to 170 C at a specified out put rate. Further the composition can be made directly in the form of various shapes using any known methods or prepared in the form of master batch formulation. Typically a master batch contains between about 1 to 5 preferably 1 percent of the degradants by weight of the polymer The various techniques used for converting the composition to produce a final article of desired shapes may be such as extrusion, film blowing, or molding. The films may be prepared by film blowing technique. The films were exposed to Xenon arc lamp weatherometer along with control sample, which did not contain any of this additive. Films were regularly taken out from weatherometer and carbonyl index was checked by using FTIR spectra of the films. The Carbonyl index was calculated by taking the ratio of peaks obtained at 1715 and 1885 cm-1 The variation is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing accompanying this specification. The composition containing TSMA (Fe) showed much rapid increase in carbonyl index as compared to other composition. EXAMPLE 2 The compositions as prepared in example 1 were exposed to natural weathering. The conditions were maintained according to ASTM D1435 99. The exposure was done for 140 days starting from the month of November. The test was carried out in New Delhi, India and samples were exposed at an angle equal to the latitude of the place. Films were regularly taken out from exposure site and carbonyl index of the films were determined after every 30 days, using FTIR spectra. The Carbonyl index was calculated by taking the ratio of peaks obtained at 1715 and 1885 cm"'. The variation is shown in figure 2 accompanying this specification. The composition containing iron SMA showed much rapid increase in carbonyl index as compared to other composition ADVANTAGES 1. The polymer is tailored to degrade through exposure to light or UV (Ultra Violet) source. 2. Uses readily and abundantly available cheap raw material. 3. Has enhanced compatibility. 4. Has good storage stability. The following examples show representative photodegradable polymeric composition of the present invention and the process for its synthesis. However, it should be understood that they are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modification, which is obvious to the persons working in this field, may fall within the scope of the present invention. Most of the above mentioned ratios and process parameters are exemplary and may be varied, those that are not critical, as is evident to one ordinary skill in the art. EXPERIMENTAL LLDPE (Film grade F20S009, MFI 0.9) used for modification, was supplied by GAIL, India. Styrene used for synthesis of SMA was supplied from GS Chemicals, India. Styrene was made inhibitor free by washing with aqueous alkali solution (5%) and subsequently washed with distilled water to make it alkali free. Inhibitor free styrene was dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and used for synthesis. Maleic anhydride and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) from CDH, India, decanol, methyl ethyl ketone and petroleum ether from Qualigen Chemicals, Glaxo, India and were used without any further purification. Synthesis SMA was synthesized by precipitation polymerization using 1:1 molar ratio of styrene and maleic anhydride at 80°C for 3 hours using xylene as solvent and BPO as free radical initiator in nitrogen atmosphere with continuous stirring. The reaction was carried out in a glass reaction kettle equipped with a glass mechanical stirrer, a nitrogen inlet tube and a cooling condenser. The monomer mixture along with initiator was added slowly over a period of 2 hours to ensure controlled polymerization and the reaction was carried out for another 1 hour to ensure complete polymerization. SMA was precipitated as fine white powder during polymerization. SMA powder was filtered, washed with petroleum ether and was dried in a thermostat at 80°C. Example I 1:1 molar ratio of styrene and maleic anhydride was reacted at 80°C-100 °C for 2.5-4 hours using xylene as solvent and BPO as free radical initiator in nitrogen atmosphere with continuous stirring. The reaction was carried out in a glass reaction kettle fitted with mechanical stirrer SMA was precipitated as fine white powder during polymerization. SMA powder was filtered, washed with petroleum ether and was dried in a thermostat at 80°C. SMA (lOOg) as prepared herein above was dissolved in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. To this solution Aqueous ferric chloride solution (prepared by dissolving 79 g of anhydrous ferric chloride in 200 ml of water) was added. The brown precipitate formed was filtered and dried in thermostat oven at 50°C. TSMA (Fe) thus obtained was used as photoinitiator in LLDPE. 2 % TSMA (Fe) was mixed with film grade LLDPE (MFI ~ 0.9) in a single screw extruder. The masterbatch was fiirther diluted with LLDPE so that final composition of TSMA (Fe) lies in range 0.1-0.5%. The compositions were made into form of film by blowing technique. (Table Removed) 5. Has a good mechanical property. 6. Has better processability 7. Very efficient. 8. Economical as compared to the commercially available polymers. 9. Does not require any sophisticated infrastructure or stringent process conditions. WE CLAIM: 1. A degradable polymeric composition comprises, (i) polyolefin, or its copolymer and 1 to 50 % by weight of polyolefin, an optionally esterified hydrophilic polymer with carboxylic acid groups wherein the hydrophilic polymer with carboxylic acid groups is a styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) and esterification is done by higher aliphatic alcohol. 2. A polymeric composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polyolefin used is selected from polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or its copolymer or its blend. 3. A polymeric composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amount of SMA/ESMA in the polymeric composition is in the range of 5 to 50 wt.%, preferably 20 to 30 wt % of polyolefin. 4. A polymeric composition as claimed in claim 3 wherein the higher aliphatic alcohol employed for esterification is alcohol with C >7 and selected from butanol, pentanol, hexanol, decanol, dodecanol; Preferably decanol. 5. A polymeric composition as claimed in claim 1 optionally contains polyolefins modified/grafted by a class of functional monomers as compatabilizer where in the monomer used for grafting is selected from acrylic acid and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and the polyolyfin used for grafting is such as PE,HDPE, LDPE or LLDPE.. 6. A polymeric composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amount of ESMA is below 30 % when used along with the compatabilizer. 7. A process for the manufacture of the degradable polymeric composition, a subject matter of claim 1, comprising, (i) polymerizing styrene with maleic anhydride in 1: 1 molar ratio at a temperature between 50 to 120°C to produce SMA, esterifying the said SMA (hydrophilic polymer containing carboxylic acid groups) by using higher aliphatic alcohols at a temperature ranging from 80 to 120 for 2 to 4 hrs, isolating ESMA thus produced and (ii) blending, by any known methods, the ESMA thus obtained in step (i) with the said polyolefin being used as virgin polymer at a temperature between 50 to 70°C, so as to ensure uniform dispersion, followed by converting in to forms of varied shapes, if so desired, by any known methods. 8. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the polyolefin used as virgin polymer is polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or its copolymer or its blends. 9. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the polymerization effected to produce SMA is precipitation polymerization technique. 10. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the polymerization is effected at a temperature in the range of 70 C to 100°C for a period of 2.5 to 3 hours. 11. A process as claimed in claim7 wherein the separation of SMA is effected by any centrifugation, filtration or decantation preferably by filtration either with pressure or suction. 12. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the higher alcohol used for esterification is selected from butanol, pentanol, hexanol, decanol, dodecanol, preferably decanol. 13. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the esterification is conducted at a temperature in the range of 70 C to 100 C more preferably 75 C to 85 C. 14. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the isolation of esterified polymer is carried out by distillation and re-precipitation. 15. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the blending is carried out by using single or twin screw extrusion technique, preferably by single screw extrusion technique. 16. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the compatabilizer optionally be blended with the polymeric composition, is selected from PE-GMA, HDPE-GMA, LDPE- GMA or LLDPE-GMA preferably the PE-GMA. 17. A process as claimed in claim 7 wherein the composition is in the form of master batch formulation or in the form of various shapes. 18. A process as claimed in claims 7 wherein the conversion of composition into various shapes is carried out by extrusion, film blowing, or molding.

Documents:

787-DEL-2004-Abstract-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-abstract.pdf

787-DEL-2004-Claims-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-claims.pdf

787-DEL-2004-Correspondence Others-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-correspondence-others.pdf

787-del-2004-correspondence-po.pdf

787-DEL-2004-Description (Complete)-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-description (complete).pdf

787-DEL-2004-Drawings-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-drawings.pdf

787-DEL-2004-Form-1-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-form-1.pdf

787-del-2004-form-18.pdf

787-del-2004-form-2.pdf

787-DEL-2004-Form-3-(22-08-2012).pdf

787-del-2004-gpa.pdf