Organoborane polyoxyalkylenepolyamine complexes and adhsesive compositions made therewith

A polymerizable acrylic composition comprising:

• a) a blend of acrylic monomers comprising alkyl acrylate monomer and alkyl methacrylate monomer;
• b) an organoborane polyamine complex having the structure ##STR14## wherein:
• R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and phenyl-containing groups;
• Am is polyoxyalkylenepolyamine and has a structure selected from the group consisting of
• H.sub.2 NR.sup.4 O--(R.sup.5 O).sub.w --(R.sup.6 O).sub.x --(R.sup.5 O).sub.y --R.sup.4 NH.sub.2 and ›H.sub.2 NR.sup.4 O--(R.sup.5 O).sub.w !.sub.z --R.sup.7,
• wherein:
• R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are alkylene groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and which may be the same or which may be different;
• R.sup.7 is the residue of a polyol;
• the values of w, x, and y are selected such that the organoborane polyamine complex is a liquid at room temperature;
• z is 3 or 4;
• and
• the value of v is selected such that the ratio of nitrogen atoms to boron atoms in the complex is about 1:1 to 2:1;
• and;
• c) an effective amount of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid for liberating the organorborane in the complex to initiate polymerization of the acrylic monomer.

A method of initiating the polymerization of an acrylic monomer, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one acrylic monomer;
• b) blending the at least one acrylic monomer with a polymerization initiator system comprising:
• i) a complex comprising organoborane and polyoxyalkylenepolyamine;
• and
• ii) an effective amount of a compound that is reactive with amine for liberating the organoborane to initiate polymerization of the at least one acrylic monomer;
• and
• c) initiating polymerization of the at least one acrylic monomer.