GB630632A - New polymerisable compositions and polymers thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Copolymers are prepared by the polymerization of the methacrylic di-esters of a mixture of glycols having the general formula HO-(CH2-CH2-O)nH, where n is an integer generally from 1 to 20, said mixture of glycols having an average molecular weight between 185 and 275 and preferably between 185 and 215. The comonomeric compositions are prepared by esterification of an appropriate mixture of the glycols with the acid (see Group IV (b)) or by mixing the performed esters. Polymerization may be effected by the action of heat, light, ozone, peroxy compounds and the like and in bulk, aqueous dispersion or emulsion or in a suitable solvent. Prior to polymerization, there may be added to the mixture other monomers or their polymers or copolymers such as acrylic and alkacrylic esters, for example methylacrylate, methyl-, ethyl- and butyl-methacrylate and methyl ethacrylate, and their derivatives; vinyl esters, for example vinyl acetate; vinyl halides, for example vinyl chloride and vinyl ester-halides; and cellulose derivatives, for example cellulose nitrate and acetate; also pigments, dyes, fillers, polymerization inhibitors and activators and solvents. The comonomer compositions may be cast into shaped articles possessing high heat distortion temperatures; they may be used in the construction of shoe stiffeners and to form scratch-resistant surface coatings on optical pieces; also they yield laminating and bonding compositions for bonding plywood and fibrous materials, e.g. glass fibres. In examples: (1) methacrylic di-esters of a mixture of polyethylene glycols (average M.W. 200) are heated with benzoyl peroxide to form a hard transparent copolymer; (2) a 50 : 50 mixture of the methacrylic di-esters of diethylene glycol and of a mixture of polyethylene glycols (average M.W. 400) is polymerized in a glass cell by means of heat in the presence of benzoyl peroxide. The properties of the resulting sheet are compared with those of sheets obtained similarly from the methacrylic di-esters of diethylene glycol and of mixtures of polyethylene glycols having average molecular weights of 180, 281, 324 and 400 respectively. Specification 423,790 is referred to.ALSO:Methacrylic di-esters are prepared by reacting a mixture of glycols having the formula HO-(CH2-CH2-O)nH, wherein n is an integer generally from 1 to 20, said mixture of glycols having an average molecular weight between 185 and 270, with methacrylic acid using the proportions to yield di-esters. The reaction may be carried out in a hydrocarbon solution using for example, benzene, hexane, heptane, toluene or methyl cyclohexane, in the presence of an acid catalyst such as sulphuric acid or p-toluene sulphonic acid and a polymerization inhibitor, for example hydroquinone, resorcinol or pyrogallol. If desired, the solution may be treated with activated carbon and a filter aid to remove resinous material and improve the colour. The mixture of esters, which may also be made by mixing preformed esters, may be polymerized to a co-polymer (see Group IV (a)). In an example, a mixture of polyethylene glycols of average molar weight 200\sB15 is heated with methacrylic acid in benzene solution in presence of sulphuric acid and hydroquinone in a flask equipped for removal of the water of esterification and return of the benzene carrier and the reaction product is worked up by aqueous sodium hydroxide and water washing and distillation to remove solvent so yielding a comonomeric mixture of methacrylic di-esters of the glycols. Specification 423,790 is referred to.