GB968960A - Production of oxygen-containing waxes by oxidation of low molecular weight ethylene polymers with oxygen or gases containing molecular oxygen - Google Patents

Abstract

Oxygen-containing waxes are produced by oxidising with oxygen or free-oxygen containing gases an ethylene polymer of molecular weight 2,000-20,000 in the presence of at least 50% of a saturated C2- 6 carboxylic acid and a catalyst dissolved in the reaction mixture comprising 0.1-1% of one or more manganese and/or cobalt salts and 0.1-1% of halide ions, at 110-140 DEG C. until the polymer has an acid number of 5-90. The oxygen may be used in the form of air. The catalyst may comprise a permanganate, a manganous and/or cobaltons salt, e.g. acetates, stearates, naphthenates, chlorides or bromides and halide ions which may be provided by adding 0.1-0.7% hydrochloric acid to the polymer at below 75 DEG C. The ethylene polymers may be copolymers with carbon monoxide and contain 10-30 carbonyl groups/1,000 C atoms or prepared by thermal degradation of polyethylene. The carboxylic acid may be acetic, propionic, valeric or caproic. The process may be carried out at up to 100 Atm. pressure. An emulsifier, e.g. sulphonates of or oxyalkylated fatty alcohols or aliphatic esters of phosphoric acid, may be used. The waxes may be used alone as emulsions for producing polishes and to finish textiles and paper.