Copolymers of ethylene oxide with long chain epoxides

#This invention relates to crystalline polymers of ethylene oxide with a minor amount of a second alkylene epoxide.

#Poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer is a known material of commerce. It is readily soluble in water and aqueous acid media. Aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) have very poor viscosity stability to mechanical shear, however. In fact, the viscosities of severely sheared solutions are not sufficiently greater than that of water to give the polymer much value as a thickener. It is useful primarily as a water-soluble film former and friction reducing agent.

#Copolymers of epoxide monomers are also well known. Materials such as water-soluble poly(ethylene oxide)-co(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide-epichlorohydrin are important items of commerce useful as detergents and surfactants. In addition, the possibility of copolymerizing two or more epoxides of relatively long chain length is suggested in such U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,312,637; 3,441,521; and 3,484,388. The copolymers contemplated by the cited prior art patents are generally rubbery, water-insoluble materials capable of being molded, extruded and otherwise formed.

#The invention is illustrated by the following examples. Parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

#A catalyst solution was prepared by placing 400 ml. of 25% triethylaluminum solution in anhydrous toluene in a nitrogen purged reaction vessel, maintaining a nitrogen blanket in the reaction. The temperature was maintained at about 0.degree. C. and 432 grams of the tetrahydrofuran was added with agitation. After ten minutes, 1.44 grams of oxygen-free water was added dropwise with agitation, followed by 40 grams of 2,4-pentanedione and 81.6 grams of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. After another ten minutes agitation, the solution was allowed to come to room temperature. It was then aged for one hour at 95.degree. C. For each of the reaction runs 1 through 28, 4 parts of this catalyst solution was used.

#To an argon filled reactor bottle was charged 174.2 parts of anhydrous toluene. The specified amount of long chain alkylene epoxide was added, either in liquid form or dissolved in toluene if a solid. Condensed ethylene oxide--22 parts--was added to the reactor, followed by the catalyst solution. Reaction was allowed to continue for 3 to 4 hours at 40.degree. C., at which time a small amount of tertiary butyl alcohol was added to stop polymerization. Unreacted ethylene oxide was vented, and the reaction solution was diluted with 174 parts of toluene, then precipitated with 1980 parts of hexane. The product is then washed several times with hexane and vacuum dried, yielding a powdery white product.