Process for preparing copolymers of ethylene and vinyl esters or mixtures with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsMax J. Wisotsky, Norman Tunkel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Polymers of 1,000 to 50,000 and preferably of 1,000 to 2,900 number average molecular weight, comprising 3 to 40 molar proportions of ethylene per molar proportion of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, are prepared by free radical catalysts in a solvent at temperatures of less than 130.degree.C. in order to minimize ethylene branching, for use as wax crystal modifying agents, e.g. pour depressants and flow improvers for distillate mineral oil, e.g. middle distillate fuel oil.
Claims3
A method of copolymerizing about 3 to 20 molar proportions of ethylene per molar proportion of vinyl acetate to form a pour depressant copolymer having less than 6 methyl terminating side branches per 100 methylene groups and having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 2,900, which comprises copolymerizing said ethylene and vinyl acetate in cyclohexane as solvent at a temperature of about 70.degree. to 130.degree.C. using dilauroyl peroxide catalyst and under pressure of 500 to 3,000 psi.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.