Copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and allyl glycidyl ether

A copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and allyl glycidyl ether, having pendant epoxy groups, an inherent viscosity of about 0.25 to about 0.38 as measured in butyronitrile at 25.degree. C, and an epoxide equivalent within the range of about 0.65 to about 0.74 epoxide equivalent per 100 grams of polymer and polymerizable to higher molecular weights through said epoxy groups by the action of a cationic catalyst;

• said copolymer being derived from reaction of a mixture of said monomers consisting of about 4 to 5 moles of glycidyl methacrylate per mole of allyl glycidyl ether in the presence of a catalyst effective to initiate polymerization through ethylenic unsaturation of the monomers and in a solvent at a temperature below 100.degree. C, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, dimethyl ether of diethylene glycol, monochlorobenzene, O-chlorotoluene, O-dichlorotoluene, acetonitrile, butyronitrile and mixtures thereof.

A method for the preparation of a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and allyl glycidyl ether, having pendant epoxy groups, an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.25, as measured in butyronitrile at 25.degree. C, and an epoxide equivalent of at least about 0.65 epoxide equivalent per 100 grams of polymer which comprises forming a mixture consisting of from about 4 to 5 moles of glycidyl methacrylate per mole of allyl glycidyl ether in the presence of a polymerization catalyst effective to initiate polymerization through ethylenic unsaturation of the monomers and a solvent and heating said mixture at a temperature below about 100.degree. C for a period sufficient to copolymerize said monomers.

A method for the preparation of a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and allyl glycidyl ether, having pendant epoxy groups, an inherent viscosity of from about 0.25 to about 0.38, as measured in butyronitrile at 25.degree. C, and an epoxide equivalent of from about 0.65 to 0.74 epoxide equivalent per 100 grams of polymer, which comprises forming a mixture consisting of from about 4 to 5 moles of glycidyl methacrylate per mole of allyl glycidyl ether in the presence of benzoyl peroxide and a solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, dimethyl ether of diethylene glycol, monochlorobenzene, o-chlorotoluene, o-dichlorotoluene, acetonitrile, butyronitrile and mixtures thereof and heating said mixture at a temperature below about 100.degree. C for a period sufficient to copolymerize said monomers.