GB583173A - Manufacture of polymers containing oxygen - Google Patents

Abstract

Aliphatic monolefinic hydrocarbons are interpolymerized with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-yielding substance in the presence of a peroxy compound at elevated temperature and pressure, if desired in the presence of a non-polymerizable liquid. Mono-olefines specified are ethylene, propylene and isobutylene. The formaldehyde-yielding substance may be formalin, paraformaldehyde, polyoxymethylene, trioxane, formals such as methylal and hexamethylene tetramine. Catalysts for the decomposition of these substances, e.g. sulphuric and phosphoric acids, zinc and ferric chlorides and sodium hydroxide may be used. Suitable temperatures and pressures are 50 DEG to 150 DEG C. and 20 to 1500 atmospheres. Suitable peroxy-compounds are hydrogen, benzoyl, lauroyl, succinyl, acetyl benzoyl, dipropionyl, barium, diphthalic acid and diethyl peroxides, perbenzoic acid, potassium and ammonium persulphates and sodium and potassium percarbonates. The reaction medium may be water, dioxane, benzene, toluene, iso-octane, cyclohexane, methanol, ethanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol, methyl formate or acetate or ethyl acetate. Salts of oxy-acids of sulphur with reducing properties, e.g. sodium bisulphite or dithionate may be present as described in Specification 583,166. The reaction vessel should be made of or lined with silver, stainless steel, aluminium, glass, porcelain or enamel. The process may be carried out batch-wise or continuously. Those products which are wax-like are useful as synthetic waxes. Films and fibres may also be made from the products. The interpolymers may be sulphonated to produce detergents, esterified, e.g. with acetic anhydride, adipyl chloride or hexamethylene diisocyanate, converted to xanthates or acetals or treated with bifunctional reagents to produce cross-linked products. Some of the interpolymers are insoluble, others are soluble in benzene, dioxane, pyridine, toluene, chloroform, acetone, methanol, water and acetic acid.