Initiator
AssigneeTicona LLC
InventorsMichael Hoffmockel, Michael Haubs, Horst Röschert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An initiator for cationic polymerization comprises a salt of a protic acid as well as a protic add. The molar ratio of protic acid to salt is in the range from 1:0.01 to 1:2000. The initiator is used for example for cationic homo- or copolymerization of trioxane, and permits stable and flexible operation of the polymerization.
Claims19
1-9. (canceled)
A process for cationic copolymerization in the presence of an initiator comprising:
- i) feeding a monomer and a base to a mixing appliance, the monomer comprising trioxane;
- ii) feeding a protic acid in molar excess, based on the base, to the mixing appliance, wherein the protic acid reacts with the base in i) to form a salt such that excess protic acid is present as well as salt;
- iii) polymerizing the monomer in the presence of the initiator that comprises the protic acid and the salt;
- wherein the salt comprises the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts of protic acids and/or substituted ammonium salts of protic acids, wherein the cations of the ammonium salts have the general formula (I)
- where R1-R4 are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, and isobutyl, or an aryl group selected from the group consisting of phenyl and 4-methoxyphenyl.
A polyacetal polymer formed by polymerizing an initiator comprising at least one protic acid and at least one salt of a protic acid, wherein said at least one protic acid is sulfuric acid, tetrafluoroboric acid, perchloric acid, fluorinated alkyl sulfonic acid, chlorinated alkyl sulfonic acid or aryl sulfonic acid, and wherein said salt of protic acid is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of protic acid and/or a substituted ammonium salt of protic acid, the cations of the ammonium salt having the general formula (I)
- where R′-R4 are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group or an aryl group;
- and
- at least one monomer comprising trioxane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.