Process for cationic polymerization
AssigneeArizona Chemical Company
InventorsJacques Salvetat, Annick Debresie
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Abstract
The specification discloses a process for cationic polymerization of vinyl aromatic monomers, adhesive compositions containing polymers made by the process and use of the polymers as processing aids for thermoplastic polymers. In the process, a vinyl aromatic monomer is dissolved in an organic solvent containing a complex comprising an in situ formed ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a Lewis acid to provide a polymer having a softening point above about 125.degree. C. and a polydispersity index above about 2.0. Surprisingly, the Lewis acid/acrylate complex causes the reaction to proceed with reduced exothermicity and enables an increase in the softening point and yield as compared with a polymer made without the complex or using other complexes.
Claims40
A process for polymerizing monomer which comprises dissolving monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl aromatic monomers, dicyclopentadiene compounds, terpene compounds, ethylene, isobutylene, vinyl ether monomers and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing in an organic solvent, providing in the solvent a catalyst complex consisting essentially of an ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a Lewis acid, and reacting the monomer in the solvent containing the catalyst complex at a temperature ranging from about 5.degree. to about 50.degree. C. to produce a polymeric resin thereof having a softening point above about 125.degree. C., a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 1100 to about 4000 and a polydispersity index of from about 2.0 to about 4.5.
A process for cationic polymerization of vinyl aromatic monomer which comprises dissolving a vinyl aromatic monomer in an organic solvent which contains a catalyst complex consisting essentially of an ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a Lewis acid, and reacting the monomer in the solvent containing the complex at a temperature ranging from about 5.degree. to about 50.degree. C. to produce a resin thereof having a softening point above about 125.degree. C., a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 1100 to about 4000 and a polydispersity index of from about 2.0 to about 4.5.
A process for cationic polymerization of styrenic monomer which comprises dissolving styrene and/or alpha-methyl styrene in an organic solvent containing 2-ethylhexylacrylate or butylacrylate and contacting the solution with gas-phase boron trifluoride to cause in situ formation of a catalyst complex of the boron triflouride and acrylate and reacting the monomer in the presence of the in situ complex to provide a polymeric resin having a ring and ball softening point above about 125.degree. C. and a polydispersity index above about 2.0.
A processing aid for thermoplastic polymers which is made by dissolving styrene and/or alpha-methylstyrene in an organic solvent containing 2-ethylhexyl acrylate or butyl acrylate and contacting the solution with gas-phase boron trifluoride to cause in situ formation of a catalyst complex of the boron triflouride and acrylate and reacting the monomer in the presence of the catalyst complex to provide the processing aid which exhibits a ring and ball softening point above about 125.degree. C. and a polydispersity index above about 2.0.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.