Polymers from hydroxy acids and polycarboxylic acids
AssigneeSouthern Research Institute
InventorsAugusto C. Ibay, Linwood P. Tenney
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Abstract
Copolymers from a hydroxy acid and a polycarboxylic component, method of preparation thereof, and use thereof are provided.
Claims68
A copolymer from a hydroxyalkanoic acid containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms and polycarboxylic component selected from the group consisting of non-polymeric polycarboxylic acid containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms, activated derivative thereof, water soluble homo-or copolymer of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, activated derivative thereof, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of said hydroxyalkanoic acid is about 99.95 mole % to about 90 mole % based upon the total moles of said hydroxyalkanoic acid and the reactive carboxylic moieties of the polycarboxylic component;
- and correspondingly said reactive carboxylic moieties of said polycarboxylic component is about 0.05 mole % to about 10 mole % based upon the total of said hydroxyalkanoic acid and said reactive moieties of polycarboxylic component. The end groups of said polymer are at least 90% carboxyl groups.
A copolymer from a hydroxycarboxylic acid and polycarboxylic component selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acid, activated derivative thereof, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of said hydroxycarboxylic acid is about 99.95 mole % to about 90 mole % based upon the total moles of said hydroxycarboxylic acid and the reactive carboxylic moieties of said polycarboxylic component;
- and correspondingly said reactive carboxylic moieties of said polycarboxylic component is about 0.05 mole % to about 10 mole % based upon the total of said hydroxycarboxylic acid and reactive carboxylic moieties of said polycarboxylic component, and a metallic compound.
A copolymer from a hydroxycarboxylic acid and polycarboxylic component selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acid, activated derivative thereof, and mixtures thereof, wherein the relative amount of said hydroxycarboxylic acid and polycarboxylic component is such that said copolymer has a maximum melting point of about 180.degree. C., an average number molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 10,000, and at least about 90% of the terminal groups being carboxyl groups.
A copolymer from a hydroxycarboxylic acid and a polycarboxylic component selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acid, activated derivative thereof, and mixtures thereof, wherein the relative amount of said hydroxycarboxylic acid and polycarboxylic component is such that said copolymer has maximum melting point of about 180.degree. C.;
- and a metallic compound.
A process for producing a copolymer which comprises:
- a) subjecting a hydroxycarboxylic acid to polycondensation,
- b) adding a polycarboxylic component prior to or during said polycondensation,
- c) causing said polycarboxylic component and hydroxycarboxylic acid to form a polymer;
- wherein said polycarboxylic component is selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acid, activated derivative thereof, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the relative amount of said hydroxycarboxylic acid and polycarboxylic component is such that said copolymer has a maximum melting point of about 180.degree. C.
The copolymer of claim wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid, .beta.-hydroxybutyric acid, .delta.-hydroxybutyric acid, .alpha.-hydroxyvaleric acid, .epsilon.-hydroxycaproic acid and mixtures thereof.
The copolymer of claim wherein said hydroxy carboxylic acid contains only one primary reactive hydroxy group or only one secondary reactive hydroxyl group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.