Hydroxyalkylated high performance curable polymers

A composition which comprises a crosslinked or chain extended polymer of the formula

• wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is
• or mixtures thereof, B is
• wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20,
• wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, at least some of said crosslinking or chain extension occuring through groups of the formula
• wherein R1 is an alkyl group or an arylalkyl group, R2 is an alkyl group or an arylalkyl group, and R3 is an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group.

A process which comprises the steps of:

• (a) reacting a haloalkylated polymer of the formula
• wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is
• or mixtures thereof, B is
• wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20,
• wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with water and a base, thereby forming a polymer with hydroxyalkyl groups;
• and (b) converting the hydroxyalkyl groups to unsaturated ester groups.

A process which comprises the steps of:

• (a) reacting a polymer of the formula
• wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is
• or mixtures thereof, B is
• wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20,
• wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20,
• or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, with formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde and a base, thereby forming a photopatternable polymer with hydroxymethyl groups;
• and (b) converting the hydroxymethyl groups to unsaturated ester groups.