Organic peroxides and their use in the preparation of epoxide groups-containing (co)polymers

A process for the modification of (co)polymers by the introduction of epoxide groups into said (co)polymers, said process employing an organic peroxide, in which process the peroxide is brought into contact with the (co)polymer and the peroxide is decomposed, characterized in that the peroxide is selected from organic peroxides of the formula:

• ##STR10## wherein p=0 or 1
• n=1, 2, 3 or 4;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different and represent alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms or together represent a pentamethylene bridge;
• R.sup.3, R.sub.4 and R.sup.5 may be the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms;
• when p=0 and n=1,
• R=a t-alkyl group substituted or not with a hydroxyl group and containing 4-18 carbon atoms,
• p-menth-8-yl,
• a t-alkenyl group containing 5-18 carbon atoms,
• 1-vinylcyclohexyl or a group of the formula ##STR11## wherein m=0, 1 or 2 and R.sup.6 represents an isopropenyl group or a 2-hydroxyisopropyl group;
• when p=0 and n=2,
• R=an alkylene group with 8-12 carbon atoms which at both ends has a tertiary structure, an alkynylene group with 8-12 carbon atoms which at both ends has a tertiary structure,
• a group of the formula ##STR12## wherein x=0 or 1 and R.sup.6 has the above-indicated meaning or a group of the formula ##STR13## wherein R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 may be the same or different and represent alkyl groups substituted or not with an alkoxy group or an alkoxycarbonyl group and containing 1-10 carbon atoms or together represent an alkylene bridge substituted or not with one or more methyl groups and containing 4-11 carbon atoms;
• when p=0 and n=3,
• R=1,2,4-triisopropylbenzene-.alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha."-triyl or 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene-.alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha."-triyl;
• when p=0 and n=4,
• R=2,2,5,5-hexanetetrayl;
• when p=1 and n=1,
• R=an alkyl group substituted or not with a chlorine atom,
• an alkoxy group, a phenyl group or a phenoxy group and containing 1-18 carbon atoms,
• an aklenyl group containing 3-18 carbon atoms,
• a cyclohexyl group substituted or not with one or more alkyl groups containing 1-4 carbon atoms or cyclododecyl;
• when p=1 and n=2,
• R=an alkylene group containing 2-12 carbon atoms, ##STR14## wherein y=1-5;
• when p=1 and n=3,
• R=a group of the formula R.sup.9 C(CH.sub.2 --).sub.3 wherein R.sup.9 represents an alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms.