GB852010A - Improvement in the polymerisation of olefinic compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

In processes for the polymerisation and copolymerisation of compounds of formula R1 R2 C=CR3 R4 where R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen atoms, saturated or unsaturated linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radicals, heterocyclic radicals, halogen substituted hydrocarbon radicals, halogen atoms or ester, ether or -CN groups, the compounds are brought into contact with a catalyst system comprising a boron trialkyl and up to 3% by weight of the compounds to be polymerized of a free radical polymerization catalyst. The compounds may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, iso-olefins, diene hydrocarbons, styrene, nuclear-substituted styrenes, vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene fluoride, trichloroethylene, trifluoroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, trifluorochloroethylene, vinyl acetate, vinyl ethers, esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids and their halogen substitution products, allyl halides and esters, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and N-vinyl pyridine. The boron trialkyl may be boron triethyl or boron tri-n-butyl. The free radical catalyst may be benzoyl peroxide, lauryl peroxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide or a , a 1-azodiisobutyronitrile. Polymerization may be effected in bulk, inert organic media such as n-hexane, or in aqueous emulsion or suspension. Specification 820,675 is referred to.