Patent ID: 7323529
Filing Date: 2008-01-29
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
1. A continuous process for making a copolymer composition containing residues of at least one olefinic monomer comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one pressurized stirred tank reactor (STR) having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; (b) feeding one or more monomer compositions to an STR by way of at least one of the inlets, wherein at least one monomer composition comprises one or more monomers having the following structure (I): wherein R 1 is linear or branched C 1 to C 4 alkyl and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, linear, cyclic or branched C 1 to C 20 alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralky, any of which can optionally include one or more functional groups; (c) feeding one or more initiator compositions to the STR by way of one or more of the inlets; (d) maintaining the STR hydrolytically full such that there is substantially no air or vapor space in the reactor; (e) maintaining the monomer compositions in (b) and the initiator compositions in (c) in the STR for a residence time sufficient to effect conversion of the monomers to a copolymer composition; and (f) discharging the copolymer composition by way of the outlet; wherein the monomers and initiators are introduced to the STR at essentially the same rate as the copolymer is withdrawn from the STR and any unreacted monomers of structure (I) are removed from the copolymer and used as part of at least one of the monomers compositions in (b).