GB679374A - Process for the production of new copolymers of vinyl phenols - Google Patents

Abstract

Copolymers are made by copolymerizing a mono-vinyl phenol having at least one unsubstituted carbon in the o- or p-position with an acetal or semi-acetal of an unsaturated aldehyde, e.g. acrolein, a -alkyl-, a -aryl- and a -haloacroleins, with methyl, ethyl, iso- or n-propyl and n-butyl alcohols. Vinyl phenols specified are o-, m- and p-vinyl phenols, 3-vinyl-5-methyl-, 2-vinyl-3-methyl-, 3-vinyl-4-methyl-, 2-vinyl-4-methyl-, 2-methyl-4-vinyl- and 2-vinyl - 6 - methyl - phenols. A third monomer, e.g. styrene, a -methyl styrene, nuclear alkyl- or halo-styrenes, vinyl and vinylidene halides, acrylic, a -methacrylic and a -chloracrylic acids and their esters and nitriles and methyl vinyl ketone may be present. Polymerization is preferably effected in the presence of a peroxide, e.g. benzoyl or lauroyl peroxide, or perester catalyst, with or without heat or ultra-violet irradiation, in the presence or absence of a solvent for both the monomers and polymers, at low temperature using aluminium chloride as catalyst, or in emulsion, using persulphates with or without sodium sulphite as catalyst. The fusible soluble copolymers, e.g. in the form of filaments, foils, coatings or mouldings, may be hardened by hydrolysis with mineral acids, by heating above 100 DEG C. or by ultra-violet irradiation, whereby the aldehyde groups are liberated and cross-linking occurs. In an example, films of the copolymer, cast from a solution in benzene and methylated spirit, were converted to the infusible, insoluble state by heating at 130 DEG C. for 14 hours or by immersion in hydrochloric acid.