CONCENTRATES OF SATURATED BICYCLIC DICARBOXYLATE SALTS AS POLYMER NUCLEATION ADDITIVES AND METHODS OF NUCLEATING THERMOPLASTICS

Concentrates (also known as masterbatches) of certain bicyclic dicarboxylate salt thermoplastic nucleating additives in order to facilitate use thereof in typical thermoplastic manufacturing procedures are provided. Such nucleating additives have been found to impart high peak crystallization temperatures to thermoplastics (such as polypropylene, as one example); however, when combined in masterbatch form in the past such a nucleation property was sacrificed due to unforeseen problems associated with polymer-containing concentrates (i.e., pellets, for example) of such additives. Thus, improvements in masterbatching of these bicyclic dicarboxylate salt thermoplastic nucleators have been accomplished to the level necessary to allow for concentrate use with concomitant effective nucleation effects at the same level (if not in excess thereof) of the utilization of such a nucleator added in powder form. Thermoplastic additive compositions and methods of producing thermoplastics with such nucleator additive concentrates are also contemplated within this invention.