Method of producing mercaptan terminated polymers with increased reactivity and reduced odor
AssigneeProducts Research & Chemical Corp.
InventorsHakam Singh, Jack W. Hutt
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Abstract
A method for producing mercaptan terminated liquid polymers with increased chemical reactivity and reduced odor is disclosed which involves heating the polymeric liquid material under conditions which avoid oxidation and depolymerization of the material while removing at least 50 weight percent of low molecular weight mercaptan compounds to produce a stripped polymer material having an increased cure rate and reduced obnoxious mercaptan odor.
Claims18
A method for increasing the cure rate of a liquid mercaptan terminated polymer to a solid elastomer, said liquid mercaptan terminated polymer containing from about 0.5 weight percent to about 3 weight percent low molecular weight mercaptan compounds having a molecular weight of less than about 300 and having an obnoxious smell, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating said mercaptan terminated polymer at about 135.degree. to 175.degree. C. and for a sufficient length of time to vaporize at least about 50 weight percent of said low molecular weight obnoxious semlling mercaptan containing compounds, but not to decompose said liquid mercaptan terminated polymer, to thereby obtain a stripped liquid mercaptan terminated polymer having an increased cure rate and a reduced obnoxious mercaptan odor;
- separating the vapor containing low molecular weight mercaptan compounds from said stripped liquid mercaptan terminated polymer.
A method for increasing cure rate of a liquid mercaptan terminated polymer to a solid elastomer, said liquid mercaptan terminated polymer containing from about 0.5 weight percent to about 3 weight percent of low molecular weight mercaptan compounds having a molecular weight less than about 300 and having an obnoxious smell, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a film of said liquid mercaptan terminated polymer having a thickness of less than about 6 mm;
- heating said film to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient length of time to vaporize at least about 50 weight percent of said low molecular weight obnoxious smelling mercaptan compounds, but not decomposing said liquid mercaptan terminated polymer, thereby obtaining a stripped liquid mercaptan terminated polymer having an increased cure rate and a reduced obnoxious mercaptan odor;
- and
- separating the vapor containing low molecular weight mercaptan compounds from said stripped liquid mercaptan terminated polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.