GB688755A - Improvements in or relating to the production of interpolymers of styrene and nuclear alkyl- or halogen-substituted styrene with esters of fatty oil acids - Google Patents

Abstract

Interpolymers are prepared by heating styrene or a nuclear alkyl- or halogen-substituted styrene with an unpolymerized non-conjugated polyhydric alcoholic mixed ester at a temperature not less than 100 DEG C., e.g. under reflux, whilst passing oxygen through the mixture. Specified styrene derivatives are o- and p-methyl, o-, m- and p-ethyl, p-isopropyl and o- and p-chloro styrenes. The mixed ester may be a blown or unblown drying or semi-drying oil, e.g. linseed, perilla, chia, soya bean, sunflower and safflower oils, or a synthetic oil produced by esterifying glycerol or pentaerythritol with drying or semi-drying oil fatty acids, e.g. elaeostearic, licanic, linolenic, linoleic and ricinoleic acids, alone or admixed with other saturated or unsaturated monobasic fatty acids, e.g. sorbic, cinnamic, acrylic, methacrylic and crotonic acids, or the half esters of maleic and fumaric acids. A mixed ester containing conjugated fatty oil acid radicles, e.g. wood oil, may be included so long as the mixture is predominantly non-conjugated. The reaction may be carried out at superatmospheric pressure, in mass or in the presence of xylene, white spirit, aromatic white spirit or a terpene, e.g. dipentene. The styrene or the terpene may be added either continuously or intermittently. The lower molecular weight products may be removed by precipitation with petroleum ether, to yield (in example 1) a copolymer having an oil content of 14 per cent. Specification 573,809 is referred to.