GB587391A - Improvements in or relating to the polymerization and interpolymerisation of low molecular weight olefines - Google Patents

Abstract

Solid and semi-solid polymers of ethylene and interpolymers thereof with one or more other compounds containing at least one ethylenic double bond, are manufactured by subjecting ethylene alone or mixed with the other compound or compounds to an elevated pressure in contact with a liquid phase and as a catalyst a per-compound which is insoluble therein, the catalyst being present or introduced in a dispersed or emulsified state and the reaction being preferably carried out with agitation and removal of heat. The other compound containing at least one ethylenic double bond may be an olefine containing more than two carbon atoms or a substituted olefine, e.g. isobutylene, styrene or a substituted styrene, or an ester in which either the acid radical and/or the alcohol radical has at least one ethylenic double bond. The process may be carried out in a continuous manner, a p dispersion of the catalyst being supplied to the reaction vessel. The liquid phase may be aqueous, the catalyst being an organic percompound such as benzoyl, acetyl or acetyl benzoyl peroxide, or may be non-aqueous, e.g. benzene or iso-octane, the catalyst being an inorganic per-compound such as potassium persulphate. In the examples, ethylene either alone or together with isobutylene is heated under pressure in contact with an aqueous emulsion of benzoyl peroxide. Specifications 471,590, 497,643 and 8070/40 (as open to inspection under Sect. 91) are referred to. According to the Provisional Specification, the process of polymerizing or interpolymerizing in contact with an aqueous emulsion of an organic per - compound is applied to low molecular weight olefines in general, e.g. propolyene.