AU2005209627B2 - A Medical Tube Comprising a Propylene Polymer Composition - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 DIVISIONAL APPLICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

AND

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Nicholson Street Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: "A Medical Tube Comprising a Propylene Polymer Composition" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Q:\OPER\PHH\12661190 7 SEPTEMBERDOC 8/9/05 P:PER\Rd\2008\l2661190 Ispadoc-14/03/200 -1- A MEDICAL TUBE COMPRISING A PROPYLENE POLYMER COMPOSITION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention related to a flexible medical tube made from a propylene polymer composition that is suitable for transporting medical fluids such as blood and infusion solutions. The propylene polymer composition may have excellent transparency, flexibility, scratch resistance, heat resistance and rubber elasticity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Polypropylenes include isotactic polypropylenes and syndiotactic polypropylenes. The isotactic polypropylenes give films that are inexpensive and possess high transparency, toughness, humidity resistance and heat resistance. Such films are therefore widely used as packaging materials. Of the isotactic polypropylene films, ethylene/propylene random copolymer films are particularly excellent in transparency but reduce the transparency and flexibility with increasing film thickness. For example, the film thickness is up to about 60 pm in order to obtain sufficient transparency such that the SF-1138 n 2 S packaging material does not deteriorate the appearance of OO content. Accordingly, production of thick polypropylene films high in transparency and flexibility has been difficult.

C- On the other hand, the syndiotactic polypropylenes are

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known to be obtained by low temperature polymerization in the l presence of a catalyst that includes a vanadium compound, an Ci ether and an organoaluminum. The polymers obtained by this method, however, possess low syndiotacticity and cannot exhibit the inherent syndiotactic properties.

In this connection, J. A. Ewen et al. were the first to find that high-tacticity polypropylenes having a syndiotactic pentad ratio of above 0.7 can be obtained by polymerization in the presence of a catalyst containing a transition metal catalyst with asymmetric ligands and an aluminoxane Am.

Chem. Soc., 1988, 110, 6255-6256) The polymers obtained by the method of J. A. Ewen et al.

have high syndiotacticity and are more elastic than the isotactic polypropylenes. However, such flexible forming materials cannot satisfy the flexibility, rubber elasticity and mechanical strength as required in the field where soft vinyl chloride and vulcanized rubbers are used.

Attempts have been widely made to improve the polypropylene's flexibility and impact resistance by incorporating an ethylene/propylene copolymer rubber or the SF-1138 3 like. Articles from the resin compositions obtained by this (1) 00 method show a certain level of flexibility and impact resistance, but the rubber elasticity and mechanical strength thereof are insufficient.

IND

Medical tubes include tubes for introducing or deriving tt a substance into or from a body, and catheters inserted into Ci the body for test or treatment. Specific examples of the medical tubes include catheters such as urinary catheters, stomach catheters and suction catheters, tubes such as infusion solution tubes, enteral feeding tubes, peritoneal dialysis tubes, blood transfusion tubes and tubes connected to a urinary catheter to guide urine to a urine collection bag, circuit tubes used in blood circuits for hemodialysis, artificial heart lungs and plasmapheresis, and tubes for transporting substances in the medical field. The transporting tubes for medical substances include tubes attached to multiple blood bags and tubes connecting an aspirator and a catheter. Many of the conventional medical tubes are made from polyvinyl chloride that is inexpensive and possesses excellent kink resistance and a certain level of flexibility (pliancy). However, alternative materials have been required out of consideration to the environment and the like.

The alternatives studied so far include styrene SF-1138 4 0^ elastomer compositions (JP-A-2000-63577, JP-A-2001-252348 00 and JP-A-2001-1432), thermoplastic polyurethane compositions (JP-A-H05-84293), and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene r compositions (JP-A-2000-334038 and JP-A-2001-104473). The fact, however, is that these compositions have low versatility V and practical utility due to insufficient flexibility and high C- costs.

To achieve the versatility and practical utility, studies have been made on copolymers of ethylene and a-olefins 0 of 3 or more carbon atoms, and acid copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate. However, none has satisfied performances required such as flexibility, heat resistance and kink resistance.

Of the polypropylenes such as the isotactic polypropylenes and syndiotactic polypropylenes, the isotactic polypropylenes are inexpensive and excellent in transparency and heat resistance, and are therefore widely used in various packaging materials and industrial materials. However, their flexibility is unsatisfactory. To solve this problem, compositions have been studied in which a flexible material such as an ethylenic elastomer is blended with polypropylene.

However, none has satisfied performances as required.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 1 P:.~PER\Rdl\200WM26i 190 lpadoc-14/03/2008 00 0 SThe invention seeks to provide a propylene polymer composition well balanced and excellent in transparency, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity.

I 5 Further, the present inventors made intensive studies 0 of medical tubes excellent in heat resistance, flexibility tl and kink resistance that are capable of solving the problems 0in the art, and have arrived at a medical tube having well

(N

balanced properties that is obtained from a specific propylene polymer composition.

The present invention therefore provides a medical tube comprising a propylene polymer composition comprising: 1 to 40 parts by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene; and (ii) 60 to 99 parts by weight of a syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer that consists of 99 to 55 mol% of a syndiotactic propylene component and 1 to 45 mol% of an ethylene component; wherein the composition has a Young's modulus (YM) of not more than 100 MPa as determined in accordance with JIS 6301.

In one embodiment, the propylene polymer composition used in accordance with the present invention satisfies all the following properties and the composition shows a loss tangent (tanb) peak at a temperature in the range of -20 to 25"C according to dynamic viscoelasticity measurement (10 rad/s) in a torsion mode, and the peak value is 0.5 or above; the storage elastic modulus G' at 20 0 C from the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement is in the range of 1.0x10 7 to 4.9x10 8 dyn/cm 2 the penetration temperature determined in POPER\Rdt\2008\2661190 Ip doc-14/03/2008 00 S-6- Saccordance with JIS K 7196 is in the range of 60 to 160 0

C;

and the composition has a permanent set of not more than 30% as determined after the composition fixed between \D 5 chucks 30 mm apart is 100% strained at a stress rate of mm/min, maintained for 10 minutes and released for

(N

V) minutes.

SThe propylene polymer composition comprises:

(N

1 to 40 parts by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene; and (ii) 60 to 99 parts by weight of a syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer that consists of 99 to 55 mol% of a syndiotactic propylene component and 1 to 45 mol% of an ethylene component (the total of the syndiotactic polypropylene and the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) is 100 parts by weight); wherein the composition has a Young's modulus (YM) of not more than 100 MPa as determined in accordance with JIS 6301.

A medical tube according to the present invention comprises the above propylene polymer composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the syndiotactic polypropylene has a 13C-NMR syndiotactic pentad ratio (rrrr) of 0.5 or above, and a melt flow index (MFI) in the range of 0.1 to 50 g/10 min; and the copolymer (ii) has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.01 to 10 dl/g as determined at 135 0 C in decalin, a GPC molecular weight distribution of not more than 4, and a glass transition temperature Tg of not more than -10 0

C.

The propylene polymer composition has well-balanced and excellent transparency, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity.

P:3OPER\Rh200 12661190 I p doc-14/0312008 00 -7- The propylene polymer composition and the medical tube made from the propylene polymer composition are excellent in the balance of transparency, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity, and possess IO 5 superior kink resistance that has been a problem in the art.

IT" BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 shows an evaluation jig used in the present invention. The evaluation jig is a hollow cylinder (1) having a hole 10 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height. A tube having an inner diameter of 2.1 mm and a length of 20 cm is looped by inserting both ends thereof into the jig, and the ends are slowly pulled down until a kink occurs in the loop. The loop length at the occurrence of kink is obtained as indicator of the kink resistance. The shorter the loop length, the higher the kink resistance.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Hereinbelow, the propylene polymer composition of the invention will be described in detail.

Propylene polymer composition In one embodiment, the propylene polymer composition used in accordance with the SF-1138 S8 present invention satisfies all the following properties 00 and the composition shows a loss tangent (tan5) peak at C( a temperature in the range of -20 to 25°C according to dynamic viscoelasticity measurement (10 rad/s) in a torsion mode, and tt the peak value is 0.5 or above; C1 the storage elastic modulus G' at 20°C from the dynamic viscoelasticity measurement is in the range of 1.0x10 to 4.9x10 8 dyn/cm 2 the penetration temperature determined in accordance with JIS K 7196 is in the range of 60 to 160 0 C; and the composition has a permanent set of not more than as determined after the composition fixed between chucks mm apart is 100% strained at a stress rate of 30 mm/min, maintained for 10 minutes and released for 10 minutes.

In the property the loss tangent (tan5) at -20 to 0 C is 0.5 or above, preferably in the range of 0.5 to and more preferably in the range of 0.6 to 2. When the loss tangent (tan6) at -20 to 250C is lower than 0.5, the composition tends to show insufficient flexibility or, even if having flexibility, tends to be poor in scratch resistance.

In the property the storage elastic modulus G' at is in the range of 1.0x10 7 to 4.9x10 8 dyn/cm 2 preferably in the range of 3.0x107 to 4.9x10 8 dyn/cm 2 and more preferably SF-1138 C^ in the range of 5.0xl07 to 4.9x10 8 dyn/cm 2

(D

Oo When the storage elastic modulus G' at 20 0 C is less than 1.0x10 7 the surface stickiness tends to occur to deteriorate handling properties. When the storage elastic modulus G'

ND

a" 5 exceeds 4.9xl0 8 the product having a large thickness tends V) to show insufficient flexibility and lower strain recovery from a folded state.

In the property the penetration temperature determined in accordance with JIS K 7196 is in the range of 60 to 160°C, preferably in the range of 60 to 150°C, and more preferably in the range of 80 to 140°C. When the penetration temperature is below 600°C, the composition cannot be applied to uses requiring heating and sterilization.

In the property the permanent set is not more than 30%, preferably not more than 25%, and still preferably not more than 20% as determined after a dumbbell specimen 50 mm in length, 15 mm in gauge length, 5 mm in width and 1 mmt in thickness that is fixed between chucks 30 mm apart is 100% strained at a stress rate of 30 mm/min, maintained for minutes and released for 10 minutes. When the permanent set exceeds 30%, the rubber elasticity tends to be low, and the composition cannot be applied to uses requiring stretching properties and recovery properties.

The propylene polymer composition of the invention does SF-1138 Vn not contain any of ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers and 00 aromatic hydrocarbon block copolymers Ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers (a) 1^ C The ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers that are not

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9 5 contained in the propylene polymer composition are composed Sof a low crystalline copolymeric segment and an amorphous 0C copolymeric segment wherein the low crystalline copolymeric segment contains a crystalline polyethylene segment that includes 5 to 40 mol% of a structural unit derived from an olefin .0 of 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 60 to 95 mol% of a structural unit derived from ethylene.

The ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers satisfy all the conditions 1 to 3: 1. The melting point (Tm) obtained from a DSC endothermic curve and the ethylene content (C2) determined by common NMR have a relation of: Tm (oC) 3.9 x C2 (mol%) 230.

2. The molecular weight distribution by GPC is in the range of 1 to 3. The component soluble in n-decane at room temperature constitutes 0 to 20 wt%.

The content of the 23°C n-decane soluble component in the ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers is measured as follows.

A 1-liter flask equipped with a stirrer is charged with 3 g of a polymer sample, 20 mg of 2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol SF-1138 n 11 Sand 500 ml of n-decane, and is heated on a 145°C oil bath to 00 dissolve the polymer sample. After the polymer sample has been dissolved, the solution is cooled to room temperature over a CI period of about 8 hours and is held on a 23°C water bath for 8 hours. The polymer precipitated is filtered out from the n-decane solution containing the dissolved polymer by means CI of a G-4 (or G-2) glass filter. The solution is then heated at 10 mmHg and 1500C to perform drying until a fixed amount is reached of the polymer dissolved in the n-decane solution.

The weight is obtained as the content of the 230C n-decane soluble component. The content of the 23 0 C n-decane soluble component in the ethylene/a-olefin block copolymer is expressed in percentage relative to the weight of the polymer sample.

The olefins of 3 to 20 carbon atoms include propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-l-pentene, 3-methyl-l-pentene, 1-octene, 3-methyl-l-butene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradodecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, l-eicosene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, norbornene, 5-ethyl-2-norbornene, tetracyclododecene and 2-ethyl-l,4,5,8-dimethano-l,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8aoctahydronaphthalene.

The copolymers may contain two or more kinds of the structural units derived from the C3-20 olefins or ethylene.

SF-1138 n 12 (1 The ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers may contain up

V))

00 to 5 mol% of a structural unit derived from a diene compound of 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

C1 The diene compounds include 1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, 4-methyl-i, 4-hexadiene, CO 5-methyl-, 4-hexadiene, 6-methyl-, 6-octadiene, 7-methyl-1,6-octadiene, 6-ethyl-1,6-octadiene, 6-propyl-1,6-octadiene, 6-butyl-1,6-octadiene, 6-methyl-i, 6-nonadiene, 7-methyl-1, 6-nonadiene, 6-ethyl-1,6-nonadiene, 7-ethyl-1,6-nonadiene, 6-methyl-1,6-decadiene, 7-methyl-1,6-decadiene, 6-methyl-1, 6-undecadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,9-decadiene, isoprene, butadiene, ethylidenenorbornene, vinylnorbornene and dicyclopentadiene.

Production of the ethylene/a-olefin block copolymers is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-H05-043770.

Aromatic hydrocarbon block copolymers (b) The aromatic hydrocarbon block copolymers that are not contained in the propylene polymer composition include aromatic vinyl/conjugated diene block copolymers (bl) having a block polymer unit derived from an aromatic vinyl and a block polymer unit derived from a conjugated diene, and hydrogenated products thereof (b2).

SF-1138 V 13 0 CA The aromatic vinyl/conjugated diene block copolymers 00 (bl) of the above structure are for example indicated by X (YX)n 0 or (XY)n (where n is an integer of 1 or greater).

r N In the styrene block copolymers, the aromatic vinyl block polymer units which are hard segments, are present as n crosslinking points for the conjugated diene block polymer C-I units to form a physically crosslinked structure (domain) The conjugated diene block polymer units present among the aromatic vinyl block polymer units are soft segments and have rubber elasticity.

The aromatic vinyls for the block polymer units (X) include styrene and styrene derivatives such as a-methylstyrene, 3-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 4-dodecylstyrene, 4-cyclohexylstyrene, 2-ethyl-4-benzylstyrene and 4-(phenylbutyl)styrene. The conjugated dienes for the block polymer units include butadiene, isoprene, pentadiene, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene and combinations thereof. When the conjugated dieneblock polymer units are derived from butadiene and isoprene, the isoprene- and butadiene-derived units are contained in an amount of 40 mol% or more. The conjugated diene block polymer unit maybe any of a random copolymer unit, a block copolymer unit and a tapered copolymer unit. The content of the aromatic vinyl polymer units may be determined by a common method such

I

SF-1138 V 14 aC as infrared spectroscopy or NMR spectroscopy. The 00 hydrogenated products (b2) of aromatic vinyl/conjugated diene block copolymers may be obtained by hydrogenating the above N4 aromatic vinyl/conjugated diene block copolymers (bl) by a common method. The hydrogenated products (b2) of the aromatic In vinyl/conjugated diene block copolymers generally have a hydrogenation ratio of 90% or above. The hydrogenation ratio is a value relative to the total content (100%) of carbon-carbon double bonds in the conjugated diene block polymer units (Y) The hydrogenated products (b2) of the aromatic vinyl/conjugated diene block copolymers include hydrogenated styrene/isoprene block copolymer (SEP), hydrogenated styrene/isoprene/styrene block copolymer

(SEPS;

polystyrene/polyethylene/propylene/polystyrene block copolymer) and hydrogenated styrene/butadiene block copolymer (SEBS; polystyrene/polyethylene/butylene/polystyrene block copolymer). Specific examples include products commercially available under the trade names of HYBRAR (manufactured by KURARAY CO., LTD.), KRATON (manufactured by SHELL CHEMICALS LIMITED), CALIFLEX TR (manufactured by SHELL CHEMICALS LIMITED), SOLPRENE (manufactured by Phillips Petroleum Company), EUROPRENE SOLT (manufactured by ANIC), TUFPRENE (manufactured by Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation), SOLPRENE-T (manufactured by JAPAN ELASTOMER CO., LTD.) JSR-TR SF-1138 Vn 0 0^ (manufactured by JSR CORPORATION), DENKASTR (manufactured by OO DENKI KAGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA), QUINTAC (manufactured by ZEON CORPORATION), KRATON G (manufactured by SHELL CHEMICALS LIMITED) and TUFTEC (manufactured by Asahi Kasei

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'h 5 Chemicals Corporation)

(N

V) The propylene polymer composition having the aforesaid C properties to preferably contains a propylene polymer anda syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) The propylene polymer is an isotactic polypropylene or a LO syndiotactic polypropylene, and is preferably a syndiotactic polypropylene. The propylene polymer composition contains the propylene polymer in an amount of 1 to 40 parts byweight, and preferably 5 to 30 parts by weight, and the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) in an amount of 60 to 99 parts by weight, and preferably 70 to 95 parts by weight. The syndiotacticpropylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) preferably has a propylene content of 99 to 55 mol%, more preferably 95 to and still preferably 90 to 70 mol%. The stereoregularity of the a-olefin segment may be atactic, isotactic or syndiotactic without limitation, and is preferably syndiotactic. The a-olefin content and stereoregularity can be known by common NMR. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the propylene polymer composition is a syndiotactic propylene polymer composition as described P:WPER~lR\OO3266I 190 rpadoc14,03/008 00 D -16- Sbelow.

Syndiotactic propylene polymer composition The propylene polymer composition of the invention M\ 5 comprises: O 1 to 40 parts by weight of a syndiotactic i polypropylene; and S(ii) 60 to 99 parts by weight of a syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer that consists of 99 to 55 mol% of a syndiotactic propylene component and 1 to 45 mol% of an ethylene component (the total of the syndiotactic polypropylene and the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) is 100 parts by weight); wherein the composition has a Young's modulus (YM) of not more than 100 MPa as determined in accordance with JIS 6301.

The propylene polymer composition may further contain a terpene resin or petroleum resin, or a hydrogenated derivative thereof (iii) that has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 to 10000. In the above case, the propylene polymer composition contains: 1 to 40 parts by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene; (ii) 59 to 98 parts by weight of a syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer that contains 99 to 55 mol% of a syndiotactic propylene component and 1 to 45 mol% of an SF-1138 17 e( (1 ethylene component; and

C)

00 (iii) 1 to 30 parts by weight of a terpene resin or petroleum resin, or a hydrogenated derivative thereof that has 1- C a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 to 10000; and 0\ 0 5 the composition has a Young's modulus (YM) of not more than 100 MPa as determined in accordance with JIS 6301.

c The components and (ii) contained in the propylene polymer. composition will be discussed below.

Syndiotactic polypropylene The syndiotactic polypropylene may contain a small amount of copolymerized units derived from ethylene or an a-olefin of 4 or more carbon atoms, in an amount of not more than 20 wt%, and preferably not more than 15 wt%.

The syndiotactic polypropylene can be prepared by using a catalyst, for example a metallocene catalyst disclosed in JP-A-H02-41303.

The syndiotactic pentad ratio (rrrr, pentad syndiotacticity) is 0.5 or above, preferably 0.6 or above, more preferably 0.7 or above, and particularly preferably 0.80 or above. The syndiotactic polypropylene with a syndiotactic pentad ratio of 0.5 or above is excellent in heat resistance and forming properties, and shows good characteristics as crystalline polypropylene.

The syndiotactic pentad ratio (rrrr) is obtained from SF-1138 S18 e, the formula 00 rrrr fraction Prrrr/PW (1) wherein Prrrr is an absorption intensity in a 13C-NMR spectrum >s assigned to the methyl group of the third unit in five sequential syndiotactic propylene units, and Pw is the total l of absorption intensities in a 13C-NMR spectrum assigned to (q all the methyl groups of the propylene units.

NMR measurement is carried out as follows: 0.35 g of a sample is dissolved in 2.0 ml of hexachlorobutadiene by LO heating. The solution is filtered through a glass filter (G2) and 0.5 ml of deuterated benzene is added to the filtrate. The mixture is placed in an NMR tube having an inner diameter of mm, and 13C-NMR measurement is carried out at 120 0 C using NMR apparatus GX-500 manufactured by JEOL. The measurement is performed 10,000 scans or more.

The melt flow index (MFI, 190 0 C, 2.16 kg load) of the syndiotactic polypropylene is desirably 0.1 to 50 g/10 min, preferably 0.1 to 30 g/10 min, and more preferably 0.1 to min. When MFI is in the above range, the syndiotactic polypropylene tends to show good flowability and be easily miscible with other components. Further, the composition obtained will give formed products having high mechanical strength.

The density of the syndiotactic polypropylene is P: PER\Rdt\2008\12661190 lrp.doc.-4/03/2008 00 0 -19- G desirably 0.86 to 0.91 g/cm 3 and preferably 0.865 to 0.90 g/cm 3 The syndiotactic polypropylene having this density tends to exhibit good forming properties and give formed products with sufficient flexibility.

\D 5 (ii) Syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer The syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer consists of a syndiotactic propylene component in an amount of 99 to 0 55 mol%, preferably 95 to 60 mol%, and particularly

(N

preferably 90 to 65 mol%, and an ethylene component in an amount of 1 to 45 mol%, preferably 5 to 40 mol%, and particularly preferably 10 to 35 mol%. Containing the ethylene and propylene components in the above amounts, the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) tends to show good compatibility with the syndiotactic polypropylene.

Further, the propylene polymer composition obtained will exhibit adequate transparency, flexibility, heat resistance and scratch resistance.

The intrinsic viscosity of the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) is desirably in the range of 0.01 to 10 dl/g, and preferably 0.05 to 10 dl/g as determined at 135 0 C in decalin. The syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) having this intrinsic viscosity will show superior characteristics such as weather resistance, ozone resistance, thermal aging resistance, low temperature

I

SF-1138 properties and dynamic fatigue resistance.

00 The syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) 0 desirably has a single glass transition temperature, and the C( glass transition temperature Tg is desirably -100C or less, 0\ 0 5 and preferably -150C or less as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The syndiotactic C propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) having the above glass transition temperature Tg has excellent cold resistance and low temperature properties.

.0 The GPC molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn in terms of polystyrene, Mw: weight-average molecular weight, Mn: number-average molecular weight) is preferably 4.0 or less.

The 13 C-NMR spectrum of the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer recorded using a 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene solution shows a peak near 20.2 ppm that has a relative intensity ratio of 0.3 or above, preferably or above, and particularly preferably 0.6 or above relative to the peak intensities assigned to all the methyl groups of the propylene units. When theratio is 0.3 or above, excellent transparency, scratch resistance and impact resistance can be achieved.

The syndiotactic structure can be determined as follows: 0.35 g of a sample is dissolved in 2.0 ml of hexachlorobutadiene by heating. The solution is filtered through a glass filter SF-1138 VS 21 1 (G2) and 0.5 ml of deuterated benzene is added to the filtrate.

00 The mixture is placed in an NMR tube having an inner diameter of 10 mm, and 13 C-NMR measurement is carried out at 1200C using 1^ C NMR apparatus GX-500 manufactured by JEOL. The measurement is performed 10,000 scans or more.

Production of syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) CI The syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii) can be produced using the same metallocene catalyst as used for preparation of the syndiotactic polypropylene or a catalyst described in Japanese Patent Application No.

2002-332243, although not limited thereto.

Terpene resin, petroleum resin or hydrogenated derivative thereof (iii) The terpene resin or petroleum resin, or the hydrogenated derivative thereof (iii) desirably has a weight-average molecular weight of 500 to 10000, preferably 500 to 7000, and more preferably 500 to 5000, and a glass transition temperature (Tg) obtained from a DSC endothermic curve in the range of to 1000C, preferably 40 to 1000C, and more preferably 50 to 1000C.

The terpene resin or petroleum resin, or the hydrogenated derivative thereof having the above characteristics shows high resistance to heat and discoloration, and enables the composition to exhibit high transparency, scratch resistance SF-1138 VB 22 and stress relaxation properties.

00 A formed product of the propylene polymer composition desirably has a degree of cloudiness (haze) of not more than CI 25%, and preferably not more than 20% as measured in accordance 0\ with ASTM D 1003.

The formed product of the propylene polymer composition C desirably has a Young' s modulus (YM) of not more than 100 MPa, and preferably not more than 80 MPa as determined in accordance with JIS 6301.

The propylene polymer composition of the invention generally has a melt flow rate (ASTM D 1238, 230 0 C, 2.16 kg load) of 0.0001 to 1000 g/10 min, preferably 0.0001 to 900 min, and more preferably 0.0001 to 800 g/10 min, and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.01 to 10 dl/g, preferably 0.05 to 10 dl/g, and more preferably 0.1 to 10 dl/g as determined at 135°C in decahydronaphthalene.

The melt tension (MT) of the propylene polymer composition is generally in the range of 0.5 to 10 g, and preferably 1 to 10 g, leading to excellent forming properties into films and tubes. The melt tension (MT) is a tension applied to a filament (strand) when the filament being extruded at 200 0 C and an extrusion speed of 15 mm/min is withdrawn at a constant rate (10 m/min) and is measured with a melt tension tester (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisaku-Sho, Ltd.).

SF-1138 S23 Production of propylene polymer composition 00 To produce the propylene polymer composition, the aforementioned components can be mixed in the specified C-i amounts by a number of known processes, for example by mixing 5 by means of a Henschel mixer, a V-type blender, a ribbon blender n or a Tumbler mixer, or by mixing as above and melt-kneading (C the mixture with a single screw extruder, a twin screw extruder, a kneader or a Banbury mixer, followed by granulating or pulverizing.

LO The propylene polymer composition may contain additives as required while still achieving the objects of the invention.

Examples of the additives include weathering stabilizers, heat stabilizers, antistatic agents, anti-slip agents, anti-blocking agents, anti-fogging agents, lubricants, pigments, dyes, plasticizers, anti-aging agents, hydrochloric acid absorbers and antioxidants. Further, "other copolymers" (elastomers) described hereinbelow may be used without departing from the scope of the invention and while still achieving the objects of the invention.

Other copolymers The propylene polymer composition may contain "other polymers" (elastomers or elastomer resins) as required.

Examples of the "other copolymers" include ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers ethylene/diene SF-1138 tfm 24 copolymers and ethylene/triene copolymers These OO copolymers may be used singly.or in combination of two or more kinds.

(C The "other copolymer" may be used in an amount of 0 to

\O

30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the syndiotactic

(N

n polypropylene polymer. Addition of the "other copolymer" in CA( the above amount enables the composition to give formed products having an excellent balance in flexibility, transparency and low temperature impact resistance.

Ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers (A) Preferred ethylene/co-olefin random copolymers for use in the invention are soft ethylene/a-olefin copolymers having a density of 0.860 to less than 0.895 g/cm 3 preferably 0.860 to 0.890 g/cm 3 and a melt flow rate (MFR; ASTM D 1238, 190 0 C, 2.16 kg load) of 0.5 to 30 g/10 min, preferably 1 to g/10 min.

The a-olefins to be copolymerized with ethylene include those of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 1-undecene, 1-dodecene, 1-hexadodecene, 1-octadecene, 1-nonadecene, 1-eicosene and 4-methyl-l-pentene. Of these, the a-olefins of 3 to 10 carbon atoms are preferred. The a-olefins may be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds.

SF-1138 Vm y The ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers desirably OO contain 60 to 90 mol% of a unit derived from ethylene and to 40 mol% of a unit derived from the C3-20 a-olefin.

r- C- The ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers may further contain a unit derived from other polymerizable monomer while

(N

S still achieving the objects of the invention.

C( Examples of such polymerizable monomers include vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinylcyclopentene, vinylcyclohexane and vinylnorbornane; vinyl esters such as 0 vinyl acetate; unsaturated organic acids such as maleic anhydride and derivatives of the unsaturated organic acids; conjugated dienes such as butadiene, isoprene, pentadiene and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene; and non-conjugated polyenes such as 1,4-hexadiene, 1,6-octadiene, 6-methyl-1,5-heptadiene, 7-methyl-1,6-octadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclohexadiene, dicyclooctadiene, methylenenorbornene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-methylene-2-norbornene, 5-isopropylidene-2-norbornene, 6-chloromethyl-5-isopropenyl-2-norbornene, 2,3-diisopropylidene-5-norbornene, 2-ethylidene-3-isopropylidene-5-norbornene and 2-propenyl-2,2-norbornadiene.

The ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers may contain SF-1138 in 26 S the unit derived from the above polymerizable monomer in an 00 amount of 10 mol% or less, preferably 5 mol% or less, and more preferably 3 mol% or less.

Cq Specific examples of the ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers include ethylene/propylene random copolymer, Sethylene/1-butene random copolymer, C( ethylene/propylene/l-butene random copolymer, ethylene/propylene/ethylidenenorbornene random copolymer, ethylene/1-hexene random copolymer and ethylene/l-octene 0 random copolymer. Of these, the ethylene/propylene random copolymer, ethylene/1-butene random copolymer, ethylene/1-hexene random copolymer and ethylene/l-octene random copolymer are particularly preferable. These copolymers may be used in combination of two or more kinds.

The ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers used in the invention generally have a degree of crystallinity of not more than 40%, preferably in the range of 0 to 39%, and more preferably 0 to 35% according to X ray diffractometry.

The ethylene/a-olefin random copolymers may be produced by known methods using vanadium catalysts, titanium catalysts or metallocene catalysts.

The ethylene/a-olefin random copolymer may be contained in the propylene polymer composition in an amount of 0 to 40 wt%, and preferably 0 to 35 wt%. Containing the SF-1138 VB 27 (1 ethylene/a-olefin random copolymer in this amount, the

C)

00 composition can give formed products having an excellent balance in toughness, hardness, transparency and impact 1^ C resistance.

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0 5 Ethylene/diene copolymers (E) The ethylene/diene copolymers used as elastomers in C the invention are random copolymers of ethylene and dienes.

The dienes to be copolymerized with ethylene include non-conjugated dienes such as dicyclopentadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, cyclooctadiene, methylenenorbornene and ethylidenenorbornene; and conjugated dienes such as butadiene and isoprene. Of these, butadiene and isoprene are preferred.

These dienes may be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds.

The ethylene/diene copolymers desirably contain a diene-derived structural unit in an amount of 0.1 to 30 mol%, preferably 0.1 to 20 mol%, and more preferably 0.5 to 15 mol%.

The iodine value thereof is desirably in the range of 1 to 150, preferably 1 to 100, and more preferably 1 to 50. The ethylene/diene copolymers desirably have an intrinsic viscosity of 0.01 to 10 dl/g, preferably 0.05 to 10 dl/g, and more preferably 0.1 to 10 dl/g as determined at 135 0 C in decahydronaphthalene. The ethylene/diene copolymers can be produced by known methods.

SF-1138 mV 28 The ethylene/diene copolymer may be contained in the 00 propylene polymer composition in an amount of 0 to 40 wt%, and preferably 0 to 35 wt%. Containing the ethylene/diene 4C- copolymer in this amount, the composition can give formed products having an excellent balance in toughness, hardness,

(N

Stransparency and impact resistance.

Ethylene/triene copolymers (F) The ethylene/triene copolymers used as elastomers in the invention are random copolymers of ethylene and trienes.

The trienes to be copolymerized with ethylene include non-conjugated trienes such as 6,10-dimethyl-1,5,9-undecatriene, 4,8-dimethyl-1,4,8-decatriene, 5,9-dimethyl-i,4,8-decatriene, 6,9-dimethyl-l,5,8-decatriene, 6,8,9-trimethyl-1,5,8-decatriene, 6-ethyl-10-methyl-l,5,9-undecatriene, 4-ethylidene-1,6-octadiene, 7-methyl-4-ethylidene-l,6-octadiene, 4-ethylidene-8-methyl-l,7-nonadiene (EMND), 7-methyl-4-ethylidene-1,6-nonadiene, 7-ethyl-4-ethylidene-l,6-nonadiene, 6,7-dimethyl-4-ethylidene-l,6-octadiene, 6,7-dimethyl-4-ethylidene-l,6-nonadiene, SF-1138 S 29 i 4-ethylidene-, 6-decadiene, 00 7-methyl-4-ethylidene-l,6-decadiene, 7-methyl-6-propyl-4-ethylidene-1,6-octadiene, C4 4-ethylidene-1, 7-nonadiene, 5 8-methyl-4-ethylidene-l,7-nonadiene and VS 4-ethylidene-1,7-undecadiene; and conjugated trienes such as C- 1,3,5-hexatriene. These trienes may be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds.

The trienes may be produced by known methods as disclosed in EP 0691354 Al and WO 96/20150.

The ethylene/triene copolymers desirably contain a triene-derived structural unit in an amount of 0.1 to 30 mol%, preferably 0.1 to 20 mol%, and more preferably 0.5 to 15 mol%.

The iodine value thereof is desirably in the range of 1 to 200, preferably 1 to 100, and Imore preferably 1 to The ethylene/triene copolymers desirably have an intrinsic viscosity of 0.01 to 10 dl/g, preferably 0.05 to 10 dl/g, and more preferably 0.1 to 10 dl/g as determined at 135°C in decahydronaphthalene.

The ethylene/triene copolymers can be produced by known methods. The ethylene/triene copolymer may be contained in the propylene polymer composition in an amount of 0 to 40 wt%, and preferably 0 to 35 wt%. Containing the ethylene/triene copolymer in this amount, the composition P:'OPERR l\200\12661190 Ipdc-14/03/2005 00 Scan give formed products having an excellent balance in toughness, hardness, transparency and impact resistance.

Formed products The propylene polymer composition used in accordance IND 5 with the present invention can be used widely in conventional applications of polyolefins. In particular, V" the polyolefin composition can be formed into products of various shapes such as sheets, unoriented or oriented films and filaments.

Examples of the formed products include those manufactured by known thermoforming processes such as extrusion, injection molding, blown-film extrusion, blow molding, extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, press molding, vacuum forming, calendering and foam molding.

Several examples will be presented below to describe the formed products.

Extruded products according to the present invention are not particularly limited in shape and product variety, and examples thereof include sheets, (unoriented) films, pipes, hoses, wire coatings and tubes, with sheets (skin materials), films and tubes being preferred.

Extrusion of the propylene polymer composition can employ a common extruder and extrusion conditions. For example, the propylene polymer composition can be molten in a single screw extruder, a kneading extruder, a ram extruder SF-I138 S31 e( or a gear extruder and be extruded through a predetermined die 00 into a desired shape.

Injection molded products can be manufactured by CI injection molding the propylene polymer composition into

\O

S various shapes under known conditions using a common injection molding apparatus. The injection molded products of the S propylene polymer composition of the invention are antistatic and excellent in transparency, flexibility, heat resistance, impact resistance, surface gloss, chemical resistance and .0 abrasion resistance to find wide applications in automobile interior trim materials, automobile exterior materials and containers.

Blow molded products can be made by blow molding the propylene polymer composition under known conditions using a common blow molding apparatus. For example, extrusion blow molding produces a hollow product by a series of steps in which the propylene polymer composition in a molten state at a resin temperature of 100 to 300"C is extruded through a die to form a tubular parison, the parison is fixed in a mold of a desired shape, and air is blown to fit the parison into the mold at a resin temperature of 130 to 300 0 C. The draw (blowing) ratio is desirably about 1.5 to 5 times in the lateral direction.

Injection blow molding produces a hollow product by a series of steps in which the propylene polymer composition is SF-1138 32 injected at a resin temperature of 100 to 3000C into a parison

C/)

00 mold to form a parison, the parison is fixed in a mold of a desired shape, and air is blown to fit the parison into the r- CN mold at a resin temperature of 120 to 3000C. The draw (blowing) ratio is desirably 1.1 to 1.8 times in the longitudinal direction and 1.3 to 2.5 times in the lateral direction. The blow molded products of the propylene polymer composition possess high transparency, flexibility, heat resistance and impact resistance and have superior moisture proofness.

LO Press molded products include those by mold stamping.

For example, such products are produced by press molding a substrate and a skin material simultaneously to integrate them (mold stamping forming) in which the propylene polymer composition constitutes the substrate.

i'he mold stamping formed products include automobile interior materials such as door trims, rear package trims, seat back garnishes and instrument panels.

Medical tubes of the propylene polymer composition can be manufactured using a common extruder and under known extrusion conditions. For example, the propylene polymer composition can be molten in a single screw extruder, a kneading extruder, a ram extruder or a gear extruder and be extruded through a circular die, followed by cooling.

The medical tubes may have a laminated structure SF-1138 33 S according to need such as prevention of adsorption of chemicals 00 to the inner surface or impartment of heat resistance, without impairment of the medical tube performance.

N- According to the present invention, there can be obtained the propylene polymer composition capable of giving formed Sproducts well balanced and excellent in transparency, impact (1 resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity.

The medical tubes of the propylene polymer composition according to the present invention have well balanced properties such as transparency, kink resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity, and adequately satisfy the performance expected as medical tubes.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be hereinafter described in greater detail by Examples, but it should be construed that the invention is in no way limited to those Examples.

The conditions for testing properties are as follows.

[Evaluation of kink resistance] The evaluation employed a jig that was a hollow cylinder having a hole 10 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height. A tube having an inner diameter of 2.1 mm and a length of 20 cm was looped by inserting both ends thereof into the jig, and P:OPER\PHHI12661190 amcnd.doc-0809/05 S-34the both ends were slowly pulled down until a kink occurred 00 in the loop. The loop length at the occurrence of kink was obtained as indicator of the kink resistance. The shorter the loop length, the higher the kink resistance.

(N

DO 5 (See Fig. 1.) [Measurement of dynamic viscoelasticity]

(N

V3 A specimen was twisted (torsion mode) at 10 rad/s over San area 10 mm width and 38 mm length and was heated from

(N

-100 to 100 0 C at a heating rate of 2°C/min; the loss tangent tan6 and storage elastic modulus G' were measured at each temperature by means of Rheometrics RDS-II.

[Tensile test] 1. Permanent set A dumbbell specimen 50 mm in length 15 mm in gauge length, 5 mm in width and 1 mmt in thickness that was fixed between chucks 30 mm apart was 100% strained (to a distance of 60 mm between the chucks) at a stress rate of 30 mm/min, maintained for 10 minutes and released for 10 minutes. The length was measured and the permanent set was determined from the formula: Permanent set =(L-LO)/LO x 100 2. Young's modulus A JIS No. 3 dumbbell specimen was tested for the Young's modulus with a span of 30 mm, at a stress rate of 30 mm/min and 23°C in accordance with JIS K 6301.

SF-1138 B e( [Heat resistance] 00 Penetration temperature A test specimen 1 mm thick was heated at a rate of 5 0 C/min Cq and a plane indenter 1.8 mm in diameter was pressed at 2 kg/cm 2

\O

in accordance with JIS K 7196. The penetration temperature S was determined from a TMA curve.

C1 [Haze A test specimen 1 mm thick was tested with digital turbidity meter NDH-20D manufactured by NIPPON DENSHOKU to .0 determine the haze.

[Abrasion resistance test] A test specimen 2 mm in thickness was tested with a "Gakushin" abrasion tester manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisaku-Sho, Ltd., as follows. The tip of a 45R SUS abrasion indenter weighing 470 g was covered with a cotton duck No. and was caused to abrade the specimen at 23 0 C, reciprocating 100 times at a reciprocating rate of 33 reciprocating motions per minute and with a stroke of 100 mm. The gloss change A Gloss between before and after the abrasion was determined by: (Gloss before abrasion Gloss after abrasion) AGloss x 100 Gloss before abrasion [Melting point (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg)] An endothermic curve was obtained by DSC, and the temperature at a maximum peak point was obtained as Tm. The measurement was performed as follows. A specimen was loaded SF-1138 kn 36 into an aluminum pan and heated to 2000C at a rate of 100 0 C/min.

00 The temperature was maintained at 200°C for 10 minutes and then lowered to -150°C at a rate of 10 0 C/min. Then the temperature CA was raised at 10 0 C/min to obtain the endothermic curve.

[Intrinsic viscosity The intrinsic viscosity was measured at 1350C in decalin.

CI [Mw/Mn] Mw/Mn was measured by GPC (gel permeation chromatography) in an orthodichlorobenzene solvent at 1400C.

LO (Synthetic Example 1) (Synthesis of syndiotactic polypropylene) (i-1) Bulk polymerization of propylene was performed according to a method disclosed in JP-A-H02-274763, with use of a catalyst composed of diphenylmethylene (cyclopentadienyl) fluorenyl zirconium dichloride and methylaluminoxane and 1i the presence of hydrogen. The resultant syndiotactic polypropylene had a melt flow index of 4.4 g/10 min, a GPC molecular weight distribution of 2.3, a 13C-NMR syndiotactic pentad ratio of 0.823, and Tm of 127°C and Tc of 57°C according to differential scanning calorimetry.

(Synthetic Example 2) (Synthesis of syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer) (ii-1) A 1.5-liter autoclave vacuum dried and purged with SF-1138 m 37 C1 nitrogen was charged with 750 ml of heptane at room temperature.

00 A 1.0 mmol/ml toluene solution of triisobutylaluminum (hereinafter abbreviated to TIBA) was added in an amount of CI 0.3 ml to achieve the amount of 0.3 mmol in terms of aluminum

I\

0 5 atom. Thereafter, 50.7 liters (at 25 0 C and 1 atmospheric pressure) of propylene was fed with stirring, and the temperature was raised to 30 0 C. The system was then pressurized with ethylene to 5.5 kg/cm 2 G. Subsequently, a heptane solution (0.0002 mM/ml) of diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl) fluorenyl zirconium dichloride and a toluene solution (0.002 mM /ml) of triphenylcarbenium-tetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate synthesized by common processes were added in amounts of 3.75 ml and 2.0 ml respectively to initiate copolymerization of propylene and ethylene. The catalyst concentrations relative to the system were 0.001 mmol/liter for diphenylmethylene (cyclopentadienyl)fluorenyl zirconium dichloride and 0.004 mmol/liter for triphenylcarbenium-tetra(pentafluorophenyl) borate.

During the polymerization, the internal pressure was maintained at 5.5 kg/cm 2 G by continuously supplying ethylene.

After 30 minutes from the initiation of the polymerization, the polymerization reaction was terminated by addition of methyl alcohol, followed by degassing. The polymer solution SF-1138 V3 38 was recovered and was washed using an equivalent amount (1:1) 00 of an aqueous solution containing 5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid per liter of water, and thereby the catalyst 1^ C residues were transferred to the aqueous phase. The 0\ 0 5 catalyst-mixed solution was allowed to stand, and the aqueous phase was separated and removed. The residue was washed twice c with distilled water to complete separation of the polymerization liquid phase from the aqueous phase. The polymerization liquid phase thus separated was brought into contact with a three-fold amount of acetone with vigorous stirring to precipitate the polymer. After washing had been adequately performed with acetone, the solid phase (copolymer) was collected by filtration and was dried at 130 0 C and 350 mmHg for 12 hours in a stream of nitrogen. The resultant propylene/ethylene copolymer weighed 50 g and had an intrinsic viscosity at 135C indecalinof 2.4 dl/g, a glass transition temperature Tg of -28 0 C, an ethylene content of 24.0 mol% and aGPCmolecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 2.9. Any fusion peak was not substantially observed under the aforementioned DSC conditions.

(Synthetic Example 3) (Synthesis of syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer) (ii-2) A 2000-ml polymerizer sufficiently purged with nitrogen SF-1138 tn 39 e( was charged with 833 ml of dry hexane and triisobutylaluminum 00 (1.0 mmol) at room temperature. The internal temperature of the polymerizer was raised to 900C, and the pressure in the C1 system was increased to 0.66 MPa by feeding propylene and was adjusted to 0.69 MPa with ethylene. Subsequently, a toluene solution of 0.001 mmol of diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl) C1 (octamethyldihydrobenzoylfluorenyl) zirconium dichloride and 0.3 mmol in terms of aluminum of methylaluminoxane (manufactured by Tosoh Finechem Corporation) was added into the polymerizer. Polymerization was carried out at an internal temperature of 90°C for 20 minutes while maintaining the system pressure at 0.69 MPa with ethylene, and was terminated by addition of 20 ml of methanol, followed by degassing. The polymerization solution was poured into 2 liters of methanol to precipitate the polymer, and the polymer was vacuum dried at 130°C for 12 hours. The resultant polymer weighed 46.4 g and had an intrinsic viscosity of 2.31 dl/g, a glass transition temperature Tg of -24'C, an ethylene content of 19.0 mol% and a GPC molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 2.3. Any fusion peak was not substantially observed under the aforementioned DSC conditions.

[Example 1] parts by weight of the syndiotactic homopolypropylene obtained in Synthetic Example 1, and 90 parts by weight SF-1138 e( of the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-1) of

V)

00 Synthetic Example 2 were kneaded together to give a propylene polymer composition. The results are shown in Tables 1 and (c 2.

NO

[Example 2] The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, except that the C syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-l) was replaced with the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-2) obtained in Synthetic Example 3. The results are shown in 0L Tables 1 and 2.

[Example 3] 9 parts by weight of the syndiotactic homopolypropylene obtained in Synthetic Example 1, 81 parts by weight of the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-l) of Synthetic Example 2, and 10 parts by weight of a hydrugenated terpene resin (P125 manufactured by YASUHARA CHEMICAL CO., LTD., Tg=68 0 C, average molecular weight: 1100) (iii-l) were kneaded together to give a propylene polymer composition. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[Example 4] The procedure of Example 3 was repeated, except that the syndiotactic homopolypropylene was replaced with a propylene random copolymer (Polypro F337D manufactured by Sumitomo Mitsui Polyolefin Co., Ltd.). The results are shown SF-1138 S41 in Tables 1 and 2.

00 [Comparative Example 1] 9 parts by weight of the syndiotactic homopolypropylene CI obtained in Synthetic Example 1, 81 parts by weight of 0\ 0 5 an ethylene/butene copolymer (TAFMER A4085 manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.), and 10 parts by weight of a C hydrogenated terpene resin (P125 manufactured by YASUHARA CHEMICAL CO., LTD., Tg=68 0 C, average molecular weight: 1100) (iii-l) were kneaded together to give a propylene polymer .0 composition. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

SF-1138 2005209627 08 Sep 2005 Table 1 Items jEx. 1 x E2 Ex 3I x Comp.

I- I x. I x I Ex.1 Syndiotactic propylene 10 10 9 9 MFR (g/10 min)=4.4 r. r -r .r=0 .83- Tm= 12 7'C Tc=57 0

C

Mw/Mn=2. 3 Isotactic propylene/ethylene random copob'-mer (F337D) 9 MFR (g/10 min)=7 TM=13 1 0 Syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer Cii-l) 90 81 81 C2=24 mol% Tm: not observed Tg=-28 0

)C

Mw/Mn=2 .9 Syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-2) C2=19 mol% dl/g Tm: not observed Tg=-2 4 0

C

Mw/Mn=2 .3 Ethylene/butene random copolymer (A4085) 81 MFR (g/10 min)=7 Density=0.885 g/cm 3 Hydrogenated terpene resin (P125) 10 10 Tg=68 0 2005209627 08 Sep 2005 S F- 113 8 Table 2 Items Ex.1 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Comp.

iiI Ex. 1 Dynamic viscoelasticity Loss tangent tan5 peak 1.0, -12-C 1.0, -9-C 1.2, -7-C 1.5, -0CO3 2- (peak value, temperature 0

C)

Storage elastic modulus G x10 7 9.2 9.7 7 3.1 4 .3 (dyn/cm 2 20 0

C)

Penetration temperature 91 98 83 71 Permanent set 6 6 7 15 Young's modulus (YM) (MPa) 18 18 15 9 22 Transparency (haze) 5 5 5 17 Wear resistance (A Gloss) ()20 18 25 37 SF-1138 in 44 q [Example Ib] 00 10 parts by weight of the syndiotactic homopolypropylene 0 obtained in Synthetic Example 1, and 90 parts by weight 1^ C of the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-1) of

CO

0 5 Synthetic Example 2 were kneaded together to give a propylene Spolymer composition. The composition was extruded using a C tube forming machine (manufactured by PLA GIKEN CO., LTD.) constituted of a single screw extruder 40 mm in diameter fitted with a tube die, under the following conditions: -Extruder temperature setting: C1/C2/C3/C4/H/D1/D2=190/200/200/200/200/200/200 (oC) *Forming speed: 10 m/min *Tube size: 2.1 mm in inner diameter and 3.0 mm in outer diameter The results of the measurements are shown in Table lb.

[Example 2b] The procedure of Example Ib was repeated, except that the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-l) was replaced with the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-2) obtained in Synthetic Example 3. The results of the measurements are shown in Table lb.

[Example 3b] 9 parts by weight of the syndiotactic homopolypropylene obtained in Synthetic Example 1, 81 parts by weight of SF-1138 V e( (1 the syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-1) of 00 Synthetic Example 2, and 10 parts by weight of a hydrogenated terpene resin (P125 manufactured by YASUHARA CHEMICAL CO., C LTD., Tg=68 0 C, average molecular weight: 1100) (iii-1) were

O

C 5 kneaded together to give a propylene polymer composition. A tube was formed under the same conditions as in Example 1. The CI results are shown in Table lb.

[Example 4b] The procedure of Example 3b was repeated, except that the syndiotactic homopolypropylene was replaced with a propylene random copolymer (Polypro F337D manufactured by Sumitomo Mitsui Polyolefin Ltd.) The results are shown in Table lb.

[Comparative Example Ib] 9 parts by weight of the syndiotactic homopolypropylene obtained in Synthetic Example 1, 81 parts by weight of an ethylene/butene copolymer (TAFMER A4085 manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.), and 10 parts by weight of a hydrogenated terpene resin (P125 manufactured by YASUHARA CHEMICAL CO., LTD., Tg=68 0 C, average molecular weight: 1100) (iii-1) were kneaded together to give a propylene polymer composition. A tube was formed under the same conditions as in Example lb. The results are shown in Table lb.

SF-1138 2005209627 08 Sep 2005 Table lb Items IEx. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Comp Ex. 1 Syndiotactic propylene 10 10 9 9 Isotactic propylene/ethylene random copolymer (F337D) Syndiotactic propylene/ethylene 90 81 81 copolymer (ii-1) Syndiotactic propylene/ethylene copolymer (ii-2) Ethylene/butene random copolymer (A4085) r Hydrogenated terpene resin (P125) 10 10 Measurement items Dynamic viscoelasticity Loss tangent tan6 peak 1.0, -12 0 C 1.0, -9 0 C 1.2, -7 0 C 1.5, -10°C 0.3, -250C (peak value, temperature OC) Storage elastic modulus G'x10 7 9.2 9.7 7 3.1 4.3 (dyn/cm 2 Penetration temperature (oC) 91 98 83 71 Permanent set 6 6 7 15 Young's modulus (YM) (MPa) 18 18 15 9 22 Transparency (haze) 5 5 5 17 Kink resistance (mm) 22 20 23 32 PIO)PER\RdM200126611 9 d0-1410312008 00 -47- INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The propylene polymer composition used in accordance with the present invention can give formed products well balanced and excellent in transparency, impact resistance, INO 5 flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity.

SThe medical tubes of the propylene polymer composition according to the present invention have well balanced properties such as transparency, kink resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity, and adequately satisfy the performance expected as medical tubes.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (5)

1. A medical tube comprising a propylene polymer composition comprising: 5 (iii) 1 to 40 parts by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene; and l (iv) 60 to 99 parts by weight of a syndiotactic Spropylene/ethylene copolymer that consists of 99 to 55 mol% of a syndiotactic propylene component and 1 to 45 mol% of an ethylene component; wherein the composition has a Young's modulus (YM) of not more than 100 MPa as determined in accordance with JIS

6301.

2. The medical tube according to claim 1, wherein the syndiotactic polypropylene has a syndiotactic pentad ratio (rrrr) determined by 13 C-NMR of 0.5 or above, and a melt flow index (MFI) in the range of 0.1 to 50 g/10 min; and the copolymer (ii) has an intrinsic viscosity [77] of 0.01 to 10 dl/g as determined at 135 0 C in decalin, a molecular weight distribution determined by GPC of not more than 4, and a glass transition temperature Tg of not more than -10 0 C.

3. The medical tube according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the propylene polymer composition satisfies all the following properties and (A)the composition shows a loss tangent (tan6) peak at a temperature in the range of -20 to 25 0 C according to dynamic viscoelasticity measurement (10 rad/s) in a torsion mode, and the peak value is 0.5 or above; (B)the storage elastic modulus G' at 20 0 C from the P:OPERtdI\2008\12661190 Ispadoc-14/03/2008 00 D -49- dynamic viscoelasticity measurement is in the range of 1.0x10 7 to 4.9x10 8 dyn/cm 2 (C)the penetration temperature (oC) determined in Saccordance with JIS K 7196 is in the range of 60 to 160 0 C; \D 5 and 0 (D)the composition has a permanent set of not more than (N l 30% as determined after the composition fixed between chucks 0 30 mm apart is 100% strained at a stress rate of 30 mm/min, (N maintained for 10 minutes and released for 10 minutes.

4. The medical tube according to claim 3, wherein penetration temperature determined in accordance with JIS K 7196 is in the range of 80 to 160 0 C.

5. A medical tube according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.