Polymers and a process for the preparation thereof

Abstract

Abstract Polymers are made by subjecting a mixture of a polymerizable monomeric olefinic compound and a linear polymer of M.W. at least 1 X 104, in the absence of oxygen, and optionally in the presence of an inert solvent or diluent, and/or light, to an agitation treatment sufficient to degrade the linear polymer whereby a polymer is obtained in the molecular structure of which the olefinic compound forms a part. The agitation treatment used may be high speed stirring, e.g. 4000 r.p.m., shaking, e.g. at 330 strokes per minute, milling, kneading, grinding, ultrasonic vibrations, e.g. at a frequency of 500 kilocycles, and passage through a filter or capillary tubes at high linear velocity, e.g. under a pressure of 1000 lb./sq. inch at the rate of about 100 parts per minute. The linear polymers may be cellulose acetate or nitrate or propionate or butyrate or acetobutyrate, ethyl or butyl or propyl cellulose, phenol-aldehydes, resorcinol-formaldehyde, alkyd resins, e.g. polyesters of glycol and phthalic acid, 1 : 3-pentanediol and succinic acid, glycol and glutaric acid, linear polyamides, e.g. by reacting trimethyladipic acid with hexamethylenediamine, polymers of ethylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran, polymers of carbonic acid esters of unsaturated diols such as butadiene-3 : 4-carbonate, polymers of diethyl fumarate or maleate, polymers of butadiene - 1 : 3, 2 : 3 - dimethyl butadiene-1 : 3, piperylene, isoprene, chloroprene, styrene, alpha - methylstyrene, dichlorostyrene, vinyl naphthalene, vinyl phenol, acrylic acid, alphamethyl and butyl acrylic acid, methyl and propyl acrylates, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, vinylidene chloride and bromide, vinyl chloride and bromide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, or chloroacetate, or benzoate, or laurate, or valerate, or caproate, divinyl succinate, divinyl adipate, vinyl allyl phthalate, vinyl methallyl pimelate, vinyl methyl glutarate, vinyl acrylate, vinyl crotonate, vinyl methacrylate, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl butyl ether, vinyl allyl ether, vinyl butyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, isobutylene and copolymers of vinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride, methacrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate, styrene/vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride/ethacrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate / methyl - styrene/methacrylonitrile, vinylidene chloride/vinyl chloride/methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate/vinyl butyrate / methyl methacrylate / methacrylonitrile. The monomeric olefinic compounds may be the monomers of the polymers mentioned above from butadiene-1 : 3 to isobutylene and in addition allyl acetate or butyrate, diallyl phthalate, diallyl adipate, diallyl succinate, allyl chloride, methallyl chloride, allyl acrylate, allyl crotonate, methallyl methacrylate and allyl ketones and ethers. The polymers may be made in batches, semi-continuously or continuously. The inert solvents or diluents specified are water, benzene, toluene, cyclohexanone, cyclohexane, xylene, hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, dibutyl ether and mixtures. The polymer may be moulded, and machined, e.g. into buttons, table tops and containers, or used in the molten state, or in a solvent solution, as an impregnant, or a laminating or coating agent.

Inventors

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