Process for preparing chain extended polymers and graft and block copolymers

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for forming chain extended polymers and graft and block polymers and copolymers which comprises the steps of: (a) forming an intimate mixture of one or more polymers and one or more effective phosphorus (III) chain extension reagent compounds; wherein at least one of said effective chain extension reagents has bonded to the phosphorus (III) atom at least one group which is a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic moiety that is bonded through a nitrogen of the heteroaromatic moiety to the phosphorus (III) atom by a single bond; and (b) heating said mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form said extended chain polymer or copolymer. Further embodiments relate to polymers and copolymers prepared in accordance with the process of this invention as well as articles formed from these polymers and polymer compositions comprising the polymeric materials of this invention.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.