# US 4,394,483 A · Saponification of ethylene copolymers suspended in ketone

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- Number: US 4,394,483 A
- Document ID: US4394483A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/326,565
- Filed: 1981-12-02
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1980-12-06
- Assignees: Ruhechemie Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Victor J. Hobes; Wolfgang Payer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394483A

## CPC

- C08F 8/44: Preparation of metal salts or ammonium salts
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS

## Abstract

A method for the production of certain ethylene copolymers which comprises saponifying a granular feedstock which includes a polymer of at least 50% ethylene, 2 to 50% of certain esters of C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 alkene carboxylic acids, 0 to 30% vinyl esters of certain aliphatic carboxylic acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and up to 3% of C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 alkene carboxylic acids. In particular, the improvement comprises maintaining the feedstock at a particle size range of 0.1 to 8.0 mm, and suspending it in 1-10 parts of a ketone to 1 part of the feedstock, the ketone being of the formula. ##STR1## wherein R and R' are individually an alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and carrying out the saponification at a temperature of 40.degree. to 75.degree. C. in the presence of at least one alkaline saponifying agent. The resulting compounds are useful as adhesives and coating materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a process for the production of ethylene copolymers comprising by weight
(1) more than 60% polyethylene,
(2) 0 to 20% polyesters of C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 alkenecarboxylic acids with C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 primary alcohols,
(3) 1 to 20% C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 polyalkenecarboxylic acids, ps comprising saponifying a feedstock comprising by weight a granular polymer or
(a) at least 50% ethylene,
(b) 2 to 50% esters of C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 alkenecarboxylic acids with C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 primary alcohols,
(c) 0 to 30% vinyl esters of saturated monobasic, aliphatic carboxylic acids with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and
(d) up to 3% C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 alkenecarboxylic acids,
the improvement which comprises said feedstock having a particle size of 0.1 to 8.0 mm, and being suspended in a liquid phase consisting essentially of a ketone, there being 1 part of said feedstock to 1-10 parts of said ketone, said ketone being of the formula ##STR3## wherein R and R.sup.1 are individually a straight or branched chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and
carrying out the saponification of the polyester of alkenecarboxylic acids with primary alcohols at 40.degree. to 75.degree. C. in the presence of at least one alkaline saponifying agent, while retaining the granular structure thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein one part of said feedstock is suspended in 2 to 8 parts by weight of said ketone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said ketone is acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said agent is an alkali metal hydroxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said particle size is 1.0 to 5.0 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said ketone swells but does not dissolve said feedstock at a temperature below the temperature at which melting of said feedstock starts.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said saponification is carried out for 0.5 to 10 hours.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7 wherein said saponification is carried out for 0.5 to 5 hours.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8 wherein said saponification is carried out for 2 to 4 hours.