Water soluble copolymers prepared using phosphorus containing chain transfer agents
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsNatalie A. Solov, William S. Carey
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Abstract
Processes for making acrylic acid/allyl ether copolymers are provided wherein hypo phosphorous acid and its salts are used as chain transfer agents during the polymerization process. The hypo phosphorous acid feed time is regulated in comparison to the feed time of the acrylic acid feed at a duration of about 0–75% hypo phosphorous acid feed:total acrylic acid feed time. Phosphorus containing copolymers made by the processes are also disclosed.
Claims11
A process for utilizing hypophosphorous acid or its salts thereof as a chain transfer agent in the aqueous polymerization of acrylic acid with allyloxy monomers to form an acrylic acid copolymer, comprising:
- a) charging the allyloxy monomer initially to the polymerization reactor;
- b) metering into the polymerization reactor the hypophosphorous acid and acrylic acid feeds in a staggered fashion such that the hypophosphorous acid feed is from 0% to 75% the duration of the acrylic acid feed;
- c) simultaneously charging a water-soluble initiator to the polymerization reactor wherein the duration of the initiator feed is from 0% to 150% the duration of the acrylic acid feed, wherein at least 75 mole % of the hypophosphorous acid charged is incorporated into the resulting polymer matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.