Novel polymers of alkyl methacrylates
AssigneeRohm and Haas Company
InventorsSheldon N. Lewis, Richard A. Haggard
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Abstract
Polymers of esters of methacrylic acid having an average chain length of about 6 to about 50 mers are prepared by an anionic polymerization reaction, carried out in the presence of a chain-regulating alcohol and a catalytic amount of an alkoxide anion, in which control of the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer are achieved by regulating the ratio of the total quantity of alcohol employed to the total monomer charge. These polymers, their hydrolysis products, and their derivatives have a wide variety of applications, including use as components in films, coatings, fibers, impregnants, adhesives, printing inks, and binders, and use as modifiers, plasticizers, melt flow improvers, and leveling agents.
Claims18
An anionically-polymerized addition homopolymer or copolymer of at least one ester of methacrylic acid selected from the group consisting of (C.sub.1 -C.sub.24) alkyl esters of methacrylic acid, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkylamino (C.sub.2 -C.sub.4) alkyl esters of methacrylic acid, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12) alkoxyalkyl esters of methacrylic acid, (C.sub.7 -C.sub.12) aryloxyalkyl esters of methacrylic acid, (C.sub.7 -C.sub.12) aralkoxyalkyl esters of methacrylic acid, and (C.sub.7 -C.sub.10) aralkyl esters of methacrylic acid, and, in a copolymer, other anionically copolymerizable monomers, wherein n, the average chain length of the homopolymer or copolymer, is about 6to 50 mers;
- the polymerization being carried out, in the presence of an alcohol and a catalytic amount of an alkoxide, using controlled rates of addition of at least one of the ester, the alcohol and the alkoxide.
In a process for preparing polymers of esters of methacrylic acid, the improvement which comprises carrying out the polymerization in the presence of an alcohol and a catalytic amount of an alkoxide, using controlled rates of addition of at least one of the ester, the alcohol and the alkoxide;
- producing a polymer wherein n.sup.-, the average chain length of the polymer is about 6 to 50 mers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.