GB475570A - Polymerised esters of methacrylic acid and compositions containing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Isobutyl methacrylate is polymerized by means of heat, light, and/or a catalyst, e.g. as described in Specification 15271/14, [Class 2 (iii)], for the polymerization of vinyl esters. Suitable catalysts are oxygen, ozone, an organic peroxide, an ozonide, aluminium sulphate, boron fluoride, mineral acids, e.g. hydrochloric or sulphuric acid, organic acids, e.g. acetic or methacrylic acid, the anhydrides or acid halides of organic acids, or metal salts of fatty or resinic acids, e.g. cobalt linoleate or or resinate, or manganese oleate or resinate. The polymerization may be effected in the presence or absence of a solvent for both monomer and polymer, in the presence of a solvent for the monomer and a non-solvent for the polymer, or the monomer may be emulsified and then polymerized. The polymerizate may be mixed with other polymers, e.g. polymeric acrylic or methacrylic acid lower alkyl esters, or the monomeric esters may be mixed prior to polymerization. Plasticizers or other modifying agents which may be added to the polymers or to the monomers before polymerization comprise tricresyl phosphate; camphor; phthalates, such as ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, or benzyl phthalate, or phthalates of the mixed type, such as cyclohexyl-butyl, benzyl-butyl, or butyl-lauryl phthalate; esters of other dibasic acids, such as the ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, or benzyl esters of succinic, fumaric, tartaric, adipic, and sebacic acids; esters of monobasic acids, such as the butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, benzyl, or lauryl esters of lauric, laevulinic, benzoic, benzoylpropionic and benzoylbenzoic acids; esters of polyhydric alcohols, e.g. glycol and glycerine, such as glycol benzoate, glycol laevulinate, triacetin, tripropionin, and tributyrin; the ether alcohol esters of the polycarboxylic acids, e.g. methoxyethyl and ethoxyethyl phthalate; substituted toluene sulphonamides, such as ethyl p-toluene sulphonamide; substituted amides, such as tetraethyl phthalamide, tetrabutyl succinamide and tetrabutyl adipamide; hydrocarbons, such as dixylylethane; halogenated hydrocarbons, such as chlorinated diphenyls and dichlordibenzyl; ether compounds, such as dicresoxyethyl ether; drying, non-drying or semi-drying oils such as castor, cotton seed, or linseed oil; synthetic and natural resins; waxes; bitumens; cellulose derivatives, e.g. cellulose nitrate and ethyl cellulose; dyes; and powdered substances, e.g. zinc oxide. The products may be employed in lacquering, painting, or impregnating materials, as substitutes for horn or amber, or for the production of films, interlayers for safety glass, adhesives, or artificial threads. The partially polymerized products containing unchanged monomer may be used directly or in solution for coating, painting, or impregnating porous substances such as wood, paper, textile fabric, or artificial stone. Isobutyl methacrylate is prepared by heating a mixture of isobutanol and methyl methacrylate in the presence of concentrated sulphuric acid and hydroquinone.