GB852019A - Improvements in and relating to polymerization - Google Patents

Abstract

Polymers of unsaturated esters of epoxycyclohexylmethanols of formula: <FORM:0852019/IV(a)/1> where R1 to R6 represent hydrogen or alkyl groups and R represents an alkenyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, may be prepared by reacting the esters with themselves or with one or more unsaturated monomers containing at least one ethylenic double bond and/or acetylenic triple bond. The polymerization may be effected in bulk, in solution, e.g. in acetone, in aqueous suspension, e.g. in the presence of hydroxyethyl cellulose, or in aqueous emulsion, e.g. in the presence of sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate, in the presence of catalysts, e.g. acetyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide and potassium persulphate. Many suitable monomers are listed and examples describe the homopolymerization of (12) 3, 4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl crotonate and (13) 3, 4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl acrylate and the copolymerization of 3, 4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl crotonate with (1,2 and 8) vinyl chloride, (3) acrylonitrile, (4) vinyl acetate (5) ethyl acrylate, (6) vinylidene chloride, (7) chlorostyrene, (9) vinylchloride and acrylonitrile, (10) vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, and (11) vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, and of 3, 4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl acrylate with (14 and 15) vinyl chloride, (16) methyl methacrylate and (17) chlorostyrene. The polymers may be cured in the presence of curing agents, e.g. polybasic inorganic and organic acids, polyphenols and polyamines. The polymers may be used in protective coatings, linings, laminates or for impregnating cloth. Films may be cast from solutions, e.g. in benzene, cyclohexanone, dimethyl formamide and methyl isobutyl ketone, containing phosphoric acid, and cured by heating.