GB699648A - Improvements in or relating to the polymerisation of polyfunctional monomers - Google Patents

Abstract

Synthetic resins are prepared by mixing divinyl benzene or an unsaturated ester of a non-hydroxylic carboxylic acid which contains at least two polymerizable ethylenic linkages with a saturated aliphatic aldehyde, the amount of aldehyde being at least 50 per cent by weight of monomer, and heating the mixture to form an ungelled composition containing a fusible polymer in an amount which is at least one-fourth the quantity by weight of the monomer originally mixed. Preferably 0.4 to 4 parts by weight of an organic peroxide, such as benzoyl or diacetyl peroxide, is added for each 100 parts of monomer. The aldehyde may be butyraldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde or 2-ethyl hexaldehyde, and the polymer may be precipitated from the reaction mixture by the addition of an ether, alcohol or aliphatic hydrocarbon. Unsaturated esters which may be used are diallyl maleate, fumarate, succinate and phthalate, divinyl succinate and sebacate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, and allyl acrylate, methacrylate or crotonate. Two or more of the polyfunctional monomers may be copolymerized and one or more may be copolymerized with one or more monofunctional monomers such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, styrene, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and butyl methacrylate. In some instances, such as the polymerization of diallyl maleate in the presence of butyraldehyde, the aldehyde appears to enter into the resin-forming reaction. The resins may be further polymerized to the thermosetting state by heating at 100-250 DEG C. or by exposing them to ultra-violet light. The fusible polymers of the invention may be used for the preparation of moulding compositions, surface coatings and laminated articles. Specification 571,496 is referred to.