Method for reducing residual monomer in a polymer matrix
AssigneeFina Technology, Inc.
InventorJay Reimers
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Abstract
Residual monomer in a polymer matrix may be reduced by a method including admixing a polymer matrix comprising an amount of residual monomer and a conjugated diene. This method can be carried out under reaction conditions such that the amount of residual monomer is reduced. The monomer comprises at least one electron withdrawing substituent and the conjugated diene comprises at least one electron donating substituent. This method is particularly useful for reducing the amount of residual styrene monomer in polystyrene homopolymer and copolymer compositions.
Claims29
A method for reducing residual monomer in a polymer matrix comprising:
- preparing or obtaining a thermoplastic polymer matrix comprised of a homopolymer, a copolymer, or mixture thereof, and an amount of unreacted residual monomer;
- admixing said polymer matrix and a conjugated diene under reaction conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of residual monomer, wherein the monomer comprises at least one electron withdrawing substituent;
- and
- wherein said polymer matrix and said conjugated diene are admixed during devolatilization of the polymer or blended with the polymer matrix after devolatilization.
A thermoplastic polymer matrix comprised of a homopolymer, a copolymer, or mixture thereof, and an amount of unreacted residual monomer, wherein the monomer comprises at least one electron withdrawing substituent, and wherein said polymer matrix is admixed with conjugated diene comprised of at least one strong or moderate electron donating substituent, at least two weak electron donating substituents, or an adduct of a conjugated diene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.