Acrylic polymers

Abstract: An acrylic molded product comprising an acrylic polymer coagulated material having excellent characteristics in impact resistance, optical properties, and hydrothermal resistance; an acrylic polymer coagulated material used for the preparation thereof; an composition comprising thereof; and a process for manufacture thereof; characterized by using an emulsion polymerization and a polymer with multiphase structured material comprising a hard phase and a soft phase and being freeze-coagulated.

Description: This invention relates to a molded product with excellent impact resistance comprising an acrylic polymer coagulated material with multiphase structure, an acrylic polymer coagulated material used for the manufacture thereof, a composition thereof, and a manufacturing process for preparing said acrylic polymer coagulated materials and said compositions thereof. Discontinuous dispersion of elastic rubbery phase in hard resin has been generally used to improve impact resistant properties of acrylic resin, styrene resin or vinyl chloride resin. Introducing of diene type rubber has been generally applied, and introducing acrylic rubbers has also been used because of their outstanding weatherabilities. As for modifier resins using acrylic rubbers, various polymers with multiphase structure disclosing a combination of soft phase and hard phase based on core/shell structure have been studied (JP-B-54-18298, 55-27576 and 62-41241). Emulsion polymerization methods have been widely applied for producing said modifier resins, which need an isolating process for separating the polymer from the polymer latex. For this purpose, adding an inorganic salt, such as aluminum chloride or magnesium sulfate, adding an acid, such as sulfuric acid, or spray drying have been used. However, these methods have drawbacks such as fall in productivity and moldability, because of the difficulties in handling characteristics caused by very fine powder state. Also molded products using these polymers have drawbacks such as degrading in optical properties by thermal coloration, in hydrothermal resistance shown as whitening when dipped in hot water. In order to improve the handling characteristics of a polymer, JP-A-58-1742 shows that mixing a slurry of an impact modifier polymer and a slurry of hard inelastic polymer and then drying can control blocking at drying. However, the improvement in blocking by this method is not satisfactory and further no improvement was found in thermal coloration and in hydrothermal resistance when dipped in hot water. In order to improve thermal coloration, JP-A-61-108629 discloses a process comprising polymerizing with an emulsifier having a group selected from the group consisting of -SO 3 M and -COOM, wherein M is sodium or potassium and isolating the formed polymer by the addition of an aqueous magnesium sulfate solution to the latex, and JP-A-63-227606 discloses a process comprising polymerizing with an emulsifier having a group selected from the group consisting of -PO 3 M 2 , and -PO 2 M wherein M represents an alkali or an alkali earth element and isolating the formed polymer by the addition of an aqueous magnesium sulfate solution. Although some improvements have been recognized, the level of improvement is not satisfactory. Also, the isolated polymers show inferior handling characteristics caused by very fine powder state, and no improvement was found in hydrothermal resistance. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a molded product comprising an acrylic polymer coagulated material having excellent characteristics in impact resistance, optical properties and hydrothermal resistance; an acrylic polymer coagulated material used for the manufacture thereof; a composition thereof; and a manufacturing process for preparing them. This object could be achieved on the basis of the finding that an acrylic polymer coagulated material with multiphase structure obtained by emulsion polymerization and freeze-coagulation can solve the above mentioned problems. That is, the present invention relates to an acrylic polymer coagulated material as claimed in claim 1, compositions as claimed in claims 5 or 6, a manufacturing process for preparing the product of claim 1, cf. claim 4, and a molded product of claim 7 comprising the materials or compositions of claims 1 to 3, an acrylic polymer coagulated composition of claim 5, the composition of claim 6 or a mixture thereof. The polymer with multiphase structure constituting the acrylic polymer coagulated material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as coagulated material) of the present invention, being obtained by emulsion polymerizing, comprises (1) an outer-most phase being a hard phase comprising 40 to 100% by weight of at least one acrylate unit, 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith, the polymer of the hard phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, has a Tg of 25°C or more; and (2) at least one inner phase being a soft phase comprising 40 to 99.9% by weight of at least one acrylate unit, 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith and 0.1 to 5% by weight of a polyfunctional monomer unit, the polymer of the soft phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, has a Tg of less than 25°C. The percentage of the outer-most phase based on the polymer with multiphase structure is not particularly limited, but the range of 10 to 80% by weight of the outer phase is preferable to obtain an uniform dispersion of the polymer particles with multiphase structure in a molded product by melt kneading. Tg of the outer-most phase is preferably 50°C or more for obtaining a molded product with satisfactory heat resistance. Further the outer-most phase preferably has a regulated molecular weight because the coagulated material of the present invention must have a satisfactory heat-melt fluidity in molding or in the case of using a modifier for synthetic resins, especially in the latter case the compatibility of the coagulated material with plastic resins is important. The regulation of molecular weight, using a chain transfer agent such as mercaptan, is acceptable. Also, the percentage of soft phase based on the polymer with multiphase structure is not particularly limited, but the range of 10 to 80% by weight of the soft phase, i.e. the polymer of the soft phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, having a Tg of less than 25°C is preferable to obtain a molded product with a satisfactory impact resistance. Equally, Tg of the soft phase is preferably 0°C or less. The inner phase of the polymer with multiphase structure can be any structure which comprises a soft phase only or a multiphase structure comprising a soft phase and a hard phase which comprises 40 to 100% by weight of at least one methacrylate unit, 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith, and 0 to 5% by weight of a polyfunctional monomer unit, and has a Tg of 25°C or more. For example, the polymers with multiphase structure containing the outer-most phase are constituted, from the inner phase e.g., as a two-phase structure of soft phase/hard phase, a three-phase structure of hard phase/soft phase/hard phase, or four-phase structures of soft phase/hard phase/soft phase/hard phase and hard phase/soft phase/ soft phase/hard phase. In the present invention, monomer units comprised by the hard phase of the polymer with multiphase structure include methacrylates, such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and mixtures of any of the foregoing, preferably methyl methacrylate; other monomers copolymerizable therewith include acrylates such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate and benzyl acrylate, aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl toluene and α-methyl styrene, N-substituted maleimide compounds such as N-cyclohexyl maleimide, N-o-chlorophenyl maleimide and N-tert-butyl maleimide, vinyl cyanide compounds such as acrylonitrile and methacrylo-nitrile, and mixtures of any of the foregoing; polyfunctional monomers including allyl methacrylate, allyl acrylate, triallyl cyanurate, allyl cinnamate, allyl sorbite, diallyl maleate, diallyl phthalate, triallyl trimellitate, diallyl fumarate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, divinyl benzene, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. Also monomer units comprised in the soft phase of the polymer with multiphase structure include acrylates such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate and benzyl acrylate, and mixtures of any of the foregoing, preferably butyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; other monomers copolymerizable therewith include diene compounds such as 1,3-butadiene, 2,3-dimethyl butadiene and isoprene, aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl toluene, and α-methyl styrene, methacrylates such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate and cyclohexyl methacrylate, vinyl cyanide compounds such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile, and mixtures of any of the foregoing; polyfunctional monomers including allyl methacrylate, allyl acrylate, triallyl cyanurate, allyl cinnamate, allyl sorbite, diallyl maleate, diallyl phthalate, triallyl trimellitate, diallyl fumarate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, divinyl benzene, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate and 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. The particle sizes of the polymer with multiphase structure prepared by emulsion polymerization are not particularly limited but lie in the range of 0.01 to 0.5µm, preferably in the range of 0.05 to 0.3µm for having an excellent impact resistance. The acrylic polymer coagulated material of the invention is characterized by being freeze-coagulated. The polymers isolated by spray-drying, and coagulating with acid or salt can not be used for the present invention because of its inferior handling characteristics and extrusion instability. In the present invention, the terms "latex", "freeze-coagulation", and "coagulated material" are defined as follows. The term "latex" means fine spherical polymer particles dispersed in water, obtained by emulsion polymerization, having a particle size in diameter of 0.01 to 0.5µm with a protective layer of surfactant, on the particle surface. The term "freeze-coagulation" means the isolation of polymer particles with multiphase structure formed by emulsion polymerization from latex in a demulsified and coagulated state through the aggregation and compression of the polymer particles by freezing the latex. The term "coagulated material" means lamellar pseudocrystal solids with a particle size of 20 to 2000 µm through the aggregation and compression of polymer particles with multiphase structure by freezing latex, and the material is a substance in a state dispersed in freezed water or isolated from latex by melting and dehydrating after freezing. The coagulated material of the present invention can more preferably have an average particle size in the range of 50 to 1000µm, If the average particle size is less than 20µm the separation characteristics for filtration become poor, and if it is 2000µm or more, the dispersibility at melt kneading becomes poor. The coagulated material with an average particle size of 20 to 2000µm has superior handling characteristics. The polymer with multiphase structure constituting the coagulated material of the present invention can be produced by conventional emulsion polymerization. For the manufacture of the polymer with multiphase structure, core particles are prepared by emulsion polymerizing a desired monomer mixture. Then another monomer mixture is polymerized in the presence of the core particles to form a shell on the sphere of core. Thereafter, a further different monomer mixture is polymerized on the sphere of the particles with core/shell structure to form another shell on the particle. Repeat the same procedures until the desired polymer with multiphase structure has been formed. The kind and an amount of the emulsifier to be used for emulsion polymerization are selected from the view-points of polymerization system stability and desired particle size. Conventional emulsifiers of anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants can be used singly or in a mixed state. An anionic surfactant is preferably used as an emulsifier for emulsion polymerization. Suitable anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as sodium stearate, sodium myristate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sulfonates such as sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, ester sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate, ester phosphates such as sodium mono-n-butylphenylpentaoxyethylene phosphate. In the invention, polymerization initiators for emulsion polymerization are not particularly limited, and include inorganic peroxides such as potassium persulfate and ammonium persulfate, water soluble redox type polymerization initiators such as hydrogen peroxide-ferrous salt system, potassium persulfate-sodium acid sulfite system, and ammonium persulfate-sodium acid sulfite system, water soluble and oil soluble redox type polymerization initiators such as cumen hydroperoxide-sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate system and tert-butyl hydroperoxide-sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate system. Chain transfer agents used when necessary include n-dodecyl mercaptan, n-octyl mercaptan, tert-dodecyl mercaptan and sec-butyl mercaptan. Monomers, emulsifiers, polymerization initiators, chain transfer agents used for emulsion polymerization can be added in any way of collective, divisional and continuous additions. The freeze-coagulation of the present invention will progress according to the following mechanism. When a latex is frozen under the freezing point or less, ice-crystals generated in water phase develop excluding spherical polymer particles and water soluble substances dissolved in water. Spherical polymer particles are confined in ice-crystal interstices, and water soluble substances start to precipitate when the water soluble substances reach at their saturation concentrations. The spherical polymer particles have been compressed according to the development of ice-crystals. Under a further reduction in temperature, the water soluble substances have begun to freeze. According to the progress of freezing, bare spherical polymer particles have been strongly compressed into a press-bonded state. When the latex passed through these steps is melted, the spherical polymer particles can be isolated from water phase as coagulated material without breaking out of press-bonding. The all coagulated materials and the molded products produced thereof necessarily show excellent properties in handling characteristics, impact resistance, optical properties and hydrothermal resistance, depending on the polymer kinds used and freezing conditions applied. Freeze-coagulating a specific polymer with multiphase structure, more preferably that in the specific freezing condition as mentioned below imparts a preferable press-bonding property to the spherical polymer particles, a preferable particle size to the coagulated material, an excellent washed-out property of impurities such as emulsifiers. In the manufacturing process of the present invention, conventional freezing methods, such as air-freezing, contact-freezing, dip-freezing and spray-freezing, can be used, in which a freezing rate of 4 cm/hr or less is preferable. Freezing under this condition improves the handling characteristics in after-treatment and stability at extrusion. Freezing rate is defined as a frozen thickness of a polymer latex per unit freezing period which is defined as the period from the starting point wherein the latex temperature is at 0°C to the ending point wherein that is at -5°C. The polymer obtained by melting at a temperature in the range of 40 to 100°C is preferably washed out with water at a temperature in the range of 0 to 100°C. Further, the present invention relates to an acrylic polymer composition. One of the acrylic polymer compositions of the present invention is a freeze-coagulated material (hereinafter referred to as "coagulated composition") comprising a blend of a latex of a hard polymer formed by emulsion polymerizing a monomer of 50 to 100% by weight of at least one methacrylate unit and 0 to 50% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith having a Tg of 25°C or more (hereinafter called "hard polymer") and a latex of the aforementioned polymer with multiphase structure. With regard to the methacrylate constituting the hard polymer of the coagulated acrylic polymer composition and the other monomer unit copolymerizable therewith, the similar substances used for the hard phase of the aforementioned polymer with multiphase structure are to be used. The hard polymer has been preferably regulated in molecular weight for the improvement of molding, which can be executed with a chain transfer agent such as mercaptan. This coagulated composition has preferably an average particle size of 20 to 2000µm for the same reasons as for the freeze-coagulated material of the polymer having a multiphase structure. Further, the processes for the emulsion polymerization forming the hard polymer and for the freeze-coagulation of the blended latex can be executed as in the case of the aforementioned coagulated material manufacturing processes. Also the preferable freezing conditions for the acrylic polymer compositions are the same as the aforementioned coagulated material. This coagulated acrylic polymer composition prepared by freeze-coagulating the blend of a polymer with multiphase structure obtained by emulsion polymerization and a hard polymer obtained by emulsion polymerization in latex state has an advantage of being more homogeneous than the acrylic polymer composition prepared by blending coagulated materials. The molded product made from a coagulated composition prepared by this method have better impact resistances in addition to having better mutual dispersion of polymer particles. Another acrylic polymer composition of the present invention is a composed product (hereinafter referred to as "resin composition") comprising 1 to 99% by weight of the aforementioned coagulated material and/or the aforementioned coagulated composition, and 1 to 99% by weight of a homopolymer or copolymer which comprises 50 to 100% by weight of methyl methacrylate units and 0 to 50% by weight of other monomer units copolymerizable therewith. The blend ratio is preferably in the range of 5 to 70% by weight of the former and 30 to 95% by weight of the latter for having balanced characteristics of impact resistance, optical properties, weatherability and heat resistance. With regard to the aforementioned latter homopolymers or copolymers, other copolymerizable monomer units include methacrylates such as ethyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate and benzyl methacrylate, acrylates such as methyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate, aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl toluene and α-methyl styrene, N-substituted maleimide compounds such as N-cyclohexyl maleimide, N-o-chlorophenyl maleimide and N-tert-butyl maleimide, vinyl cyanide compounds such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile, and mixtures of the aforegoing. They are used singly or in mixed state. Also the aforementioned homopolymer or copolymer has preferably been regulated in molecular weight for the improvement of moldability, for which a chain transer agent such as mercaptan, can be applied. This homopolymer or copolymer can be prepared by conventional polymerization methods, such as suspension polymerization, solution polymerization, emulsion polymerization, and bulk polymerization. Although the conventional methods to improve acrylic resins in impact resistance using a composition blended with a elastic rubbery phase have a drawback to degrade the substantial characteristics of the basic resin, the second composition of the present invention can improve the acrylic resins in impact resistances without degrading the substantial characteristics of the basic resin such as optical properties, hydrothermal resistance and weatherability, which leads to an extension of application. Blending methods for the manufacture of the latter compositions of the present invention are not particularly limited, and conventional processes such as mixing by a Henschel Mixer and then melt kneading at a temperature in the range of 200 to 300°C by an extruder can be used. According to the present invention, the aforementioned coagulated material and/or coagulated composition can be used to modify synthetic resins such as vinyl chloride resin and styrene resin. In the case that the invention is applied to the modification of these polymers the impact resistances of these resins have been improved without degrading the substantial optical properties, etc. of these basic resins. In these cases, a composition comprising 1 to 80% by weight of the aforementioned coagulated material and/or the aforementioned coagulated composition, and 20 to 99% by weight of at least one monomer unit which is styrene, vinyl chloride or acrylonitrile, and 0 to 50% by weight of another monomer copolymerizable therewith is effective. As for another copolymerizable monomer unit of the latter aforementioned homopolymers or copolymers, the similar monomers as used in second compositions can be used, and the homopolymers or copolymers can be obtained by conventional methods such as suspension polymerization, solution polymerization, emulsion polymerization and bulk polymerization. The present invention further relates to a molded product using the aforementioned coagulated material or the aforementioned composition singly or in admixture therewith. The molded products of the present invention may be molding materials, sheets and films, and further include injection molded articles, thermally processed sheets and films. The molded products of the present invention comprising the aforementioned coagulated materials and the aforementioned composition singly or in admixture therewith, have a YI (Yellow Index) satisfying the following formula: YI ≦ 0.035X + 2.0 wherein X is the ratio (weight percent) of the polymer with multiphase structure based on the weight of molded product. According to the present invention, molded products with excellent characteristics in impact resistances, optical properties, and hydrothermal resistance can be obtained when using the aforementioned coagulated materials, and if the YI-value of the molded products satisfies the formula as described above. If a material other than the aforementioned materials is used, a molded product with excellent characteristics in impact resistance, optical properties, and hydrothermal resistance at the same time cannot be obtained. Further, if molded products obtained by using the aforementioned materials are employed which do not satisfy the requirement of the above YI formula, coloration at molding develops in a pronounced manner, which unpreferably results in a limitation in application. YI can be observed according to ASTM-D1925 using a molded product with a thickness of 3 mm. The molded products of the present invention can be produced by conventional methods such as injection molding, extrusion molding, compression molding and vacuum forming. The conventional molding materials require the addition of a dyestuff for color correction, and of a stabilizing agent for the inhibition of yellowing. These additions can be omitted when using the products of the present invention. The excellent hydrothermal resistance of the products according to the present invention extends the application range of these molded products, for example, to articles used in bath rooms. To the acrylic polymer coagulated material, acrylic polymer compositions and the molded product manufactured therefrom an addition of lubricant, ultraviolet absorber, light stabilizer, oxidative stabilizer, dyestuff and pigment, antistatic agent and flame-retardant, is acceptable when required. The acrylic polymer coagulated materials of the present invention and the compositions thereof, have improved characteristics in filtration, washing and drying and also in extrusion stability so that after-treatments are very easy. These characteristics are very useful in the industry. Also upgrading of the molded products comprising thereof in optical properties such as low thermal coloration, and in chemical and physical properties such as hydrothermal resistance and impact resistance extends the areas of application. EXAMPLES The following Examples are presented to exemplify embodiments of the invention. The observations of properties shown in the following Examples are executed in the following methods. (1) Fusing or blocking after a coagulated material, a coagulated composition or a solid material is dried: Dry a coagulated material, a coagulated composition or a solid material in a tray type dryer at 80°C for 10 hours, then visually evaluate the dried state, and assign the following symbols to the observed result. × : Fusing or blocking being found ○ : No fusing or blocking being found (2) Average particle size of the free flowing material in diameter of coagulated material, coagulated composition or solid material: Observe the particle size in diameter of 200 or more particles of coagulated material, coagulated composition, or solid material under microscope, and calculate the number average particle size in diameter. (3) Extrusion stability: Mix a coagulated material, a coagulated composition or a of solid material with a type of acrylic resin beads (beads of PARAPET EH, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 1:1, extrude a sheet with a thickness of 3 mm using a sheet extruder having a cylinder bore diameter of 50 mm, by melt-kneading at a cylinder temperature of 250°C, evaluate the extrusion stability and show the observed results as follows. Stable: Obtained a good sheet without surging. Unstable: Difficult to obtain a good sheet because of the tendency of surging (4) Izod impact strength: ASTM-D256 (5) Hydrothermal resistance: Dip a test piece of flat sheet with a thickness of 3 mm in hot water at 80°C for 2 hours. Observe the haze on the test piece of flat sheet according to ASTM-D1003 before and after dipping in hot water and get the change of haze before and after dipping in hot water as "Δ haze". (6) Total light transmittance: ASTM-D1003 (on a sheet with a thickness of 3 mm) (7) Yellow Index: ASTM-D1925 (on a sheet with a thickness of 3 mm) (8) Filterability: Filter 500 ml of suspended solution obtained by freezing and melting of a polymer latex having a 29% by weight of solid constituents using a filter paper with a diameter of 11 cm (No.2 type, manufactured by Toyo Roshi Co., Ltd.), under a reduced pressure of 20 mm Hg, and observe the period needed for filtration, and evaluate as follows. ▵ : Filtration time is 5 min. or more ○ : Filtration time is less than 5 min. Abbreviations used in Examples are as follows. Methyl methacrylate (MMA), methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), butyl acrylate (BA), styrene (ST), allyl methacrylate (ALMA), N-cyclohexyl maleimide (CHMI), 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate (BGDMA), cumene hydroperoxide (CHP), n-octyl mercaptan (n-OM), sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate (Rongalite), sodium stearate (SS), sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (SDOSS), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (LSS). Parts and percentages are shown by weight unless otherwise specifically noted. Example 1 A reaction vessel equipped with a reflux condenser was charged with 250 parts of ion-exchanged water, 1.0 part of SS, 29.4 parts of MMA, 0.6 parts of MA, 0.15 parts of ALMA. Then 0.3 parts of a 10% aqueous potassium persulfate solution were added to the reaction mixture. The temperature of the reaction mixture was raised up to 80°C and kept at the temperature for a period of 60 min. In the presence of the resulting latex, 0.5 parts of a 10% aqueous potassium persulfate solution were added, then a monomer mixture of 40.7 parts of BA, 9.3 parts of ST, and 0.25 parts of ALMA was continuously added for a period of 60 min., and further kept for a period of 30 min. Thereafter, in the presence of the resulting latex, 0.2 parts of a 10% aqueous potassium persulfate solution were added, then a monomer mixture of 19.6 parts of MMA, 0.4 parts of MA, and 0.06 parts of n-OM was continuously added for a period of 30 min., and the reaction mixture was further kept for a period of 60 min. Thus a latex comprising a polymer with three-phase structure was obtained. The obtained latex was placed in a container made of stainless steel up to a height of 6 cm, and frozen at -20°C in a freezer. The period between the time when the temperature of the fastest freezing part reached at 0°C and that when the temperature of the slowest freezing part reached at -5°C observed with the aid of a thermo-couple instrument in the latex was found to be 6 hours. That is, the freezing rate was 1 cm/hr. The latex was kept in a frozen state for an additional period of 2 hours after the time when the temperature of the slowest freezing part passed at -5°C, thereafter the frozen latex was unloaded from the container. After the frozen latex was melted at 70°C, the coagulated material was isolated by filtration, followed by 3 times of washing with water at 70°C, and then dried at 80°C for 10 hours. The coagulated material was a free-flowing material without fusing or blocking having an average particle size in diameter of 200 µm. The obtained dried coagulated material was mixed with a type of acrylic resin beads (beads of PARAPET EH, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 1:1, and the mixture was kneaded using an extruder with a cylinder bore diameter of 50 mm at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and extruded into a sheet with a thickness of 3 mm. At that time, the mixture showed superior extrusion stability without surging. The observed results are shown in Table 1. Isolation method or Coagulation agent for solidification Fusing or blocking at drying Extrusion stability Example 1 Freeze-coagulation ○ Stable Comparative Example 1 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution × Unstable Comparative Example 2 3% Sodium chloride aqueous solution × Unstable Comparative Example 3 2% Magnesium sulfate aqueous solution × Unstable Comparative Example 4 1% Sulfuric acid aqueous solution × Unstable Comparative Example 5 Spray-drying - Unstable Example 6 Freeze-coagulation ○ Stable Comparative Example 6 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution × Unstable Comparative Example 7 1% Sulfuric acid aqueous solution × Unstable Comparative Example 8 Spray-drying - Unstable Comparative Example 1 The polymer in the final latex obtained by Example 1 was salted out at 70°C with a 1% aqueous aluminum chloride solution in an amount of two times of the latex, followed by 3 times of washing with water at 70°C and dehydrating, and dried at 80°C for a period of 10 hours. The obtained dried solid material was found to have fusing and blocking. Accordingly, the solid material was separately dried at 60°C for a period of 15 hours, and the obtained dried solid material was found to have an average particle size of 20µm. The obtained dried solid material was mixed with an type of acrylic resin beads (beads of PARAPET EH, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 1:1, and the mixture was kneaded using an extruder with a cylinder bore diameter of 50 mm at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and extruded into a sheet with a thickness of 3 mm. At that time, the extruded sheet tended to surge and it was difficult to obtain a good sheet. These observed results on the extruded sheet are shown in Table 1. Comparative Examples 2-4 Comparative Example 1 was repeated except that a 1% aqueous aluminum chloride solution was replaced by a 3% aqueous sodium chloride solution, a 2% aqueous magnesium sulfate solution or a 1% aqueous sulfuric acid respectively in Comparative Examples 2, 3 and 4, The obtained dried solid materials were evaluated as in Comparative Example 1. The observed results are shown in Table 1. Comparative Example 5 The polymer in the final latex obtained by Example 1 was spray-dried in a spray-dryer having a inlet hot air temperature of 170°C. The isolated dried solid material was in very fine powder state. The obtained dried solid material was mixed with a type of acrylic resin beads (beads of PARAPET EH, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 1:1, and the mixture was kneaded at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and extruded into a sheet with a thickness of 3 mm using an extruder with a cylinder bore diameter of 50 mm. At that time, the extruded sheet tended to surge, and it was difficult to obtain a good sheet. These observed results are shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, the freeze-coagulated material shows excellent handling characteristics and superior extrusion stability. Examples 2-5 The final latex obtained by Example 1 was respectively frozen under the conditions as described in Table 2. After the respective frozen latex has been melted at 70°C, the coagulated material was isolated by filtration, and at the same time filterability was tested. The respective filtrate was observed in light transmittance at 600 nm using a glass-cell with a thickness of 1 cm. The results observed as Example 1 except the aforementioned subject are shown in Table 2. Example No. Freeze-coagulation Condition Particle Size of Coagulated Material (µm) Filterability Light Transmittance of Filtrate (%) Fusing or Blocking of Coagulated Material at Drying Extrusion Stability Freezing Temperature (°C) Freezing Rate (cm/ hr) 2 -10 0.7 215 ○ 80 ○ Stable 3 -30 1.3 180 ○ 65 ○ Stable 4 -50 2.0 150 ○ 55 ○ Stable 5 -190 5.0 15 Δ 40 ○ Stable Example 6 A reaction vessel equipped with a reflux condenser, was charged with 250 parts of ion-exchanged water, 1.0 part of LSS, 47 parts of MMA, 3 parts of MA, 0.15 parts of n-OM. Then, 0.5 parts of a 10% aqueous potassium persulfate solution were added to the reaction mixture. The temperature of the reaction mixture was raised up to 80°C and kept at the temperature for a period of 90 min. Thereafter, in the presence of the resulting latex, 0.5 parts of a 10% potassium persulfate solution were added, then a monomer mixture of 47 parts of MMA, 3 parts of MA and 0.15 parts of n-OM was continuously added for a period of 30 min., and the reaction mixture was kept at the temperature for 60 min. to give a latex. The obtained latex was mixed with the latex obtained by Example 1 in a ratio of 1:1. Thereafter the same procedures as Example 1 were executed. The observed results are shown in Table 1. Comparative Examples 6-8 The procedures of Comparative Examples 1, 4, and 5 were respectively repeated except that the final latex of Example 1 was replaced by the blended latex of Example 6. The observed results are shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, the freeze-coagulated compositions show excellent handling characteristics and superior extrusion stabilities. Example 7 The dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was mixed with a type of methacrylic resin (beads of PARAPET HR-L, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 1:1. The blended mixture was melt-kneaded at a cylinder temperature of 250°C using an extruder with a cylinder bore diameter of 40 mm, and extruded into pellets. The obtained pellets were injection-molded at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and a mold temperature of 50°C to give test-pieces for izod impact strength according to ASTM and a flat sheet having a size of 50 x 50 x 3 mm. The observed results on these test-pieces are shown in Table 3. Comparative Examples 9-13 The procedures of Example 7 were repeated except that the dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was respectively replaced by the dried solid material obtained by Comparative Examples 1-5. The results observed as in Example 7 are shown in Table 3. Isolation Method or Coagulation Agent for Solidification Izod Impact Strength (Kg-cm /cm) Total Light Transmittance (%) Yellow Index Hydrothermal Resistance (Δ haze) Ex.7 Freeze-coagulation 7.0 92.0 2.0 4. 5 Com. Ex. 9 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 6.5 91.4 7.0 35.0 Com. Ex.10 3% Sodium chloride aqueous solution 6.6 91.5 5.0 37.0 Com. Ex.11 2% Magnesium sulfate aqueous solution 6.6 91.8 2.5 40.0 Com. Ex.12 1% Sulfuric acid aqueous solution 6.5 91.5 4.5 10.0 Com. Ex. 13 Spray-drying 6.7 91.6 6.0 6.0 Ex.9 Freeze-coagulation 7.5 92.1 3.0 4.0 Com. Ex.18 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 6.8 91.5 10.0 36.0 Com. Ex. 19 1% Sulfuric acid aqueous solution 6. 8 91.6 6.5 10.5 Com. Ex. 20 Spray-drying 6. 9 91.6 8.0 6.0 Ex.12 Freeze-coagulation 6.6 91.6 2. 7 4.0 Ex.13 Freeze-coagulation 9.0 91.0 3. 2 5.0 Com. Ex.23 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 6. 2 90.9 8.0 40.0 Com. Ex.24 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 8. 5 90.5 10.0 45.0 Note: Ex.=Example, Com.Ex.=Comparative Example As shown in Table 3, the molded products obtained from the coagulated composition and the resin composition show excellent optical properties, hydrothermal resistances and impact resistances as compared with others. Example 8 The dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was compression-molded at 190°C, under a pressure of ≈ 980kPa (10 kg/cm 2 ), for a period of 10 min. to give a flat sheet with a thickness of 3 mm. The test sheet was tested with respect to the Yellow Index and the total light transmittance. The observed results were a Yellow Index of 3.5 and a total light transmittance of 90.0%, which are shown in Table 4. Isolation method or Coagulation agent for solidification Molded product Characteristics Yellow Index Total light transmittance (%) Example 8 Freeze-coagulation 3.5 90.0 Comparative Example 14 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 12.0 89. 5 Comparative Example 15 3% Sodium chloride aqueous solution 9.0 89.6 Comparative Example 16 1% Sulfuric acid aqueous solution 7. 5 89. 4 Comparative Example 17 Spray-drying 10.0 89.1 Example 14 Freeze-coagulation 3.6 89.8 Example 15 Freeze-coagulation 4.8 89.9 Comparative Example 25 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 12.5 88.0 Comparative Example 26 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 15.0 88.2 Comparative Examples 14-17 The procedures of Example 8 were repeated except that the dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was respectively replaced by the dried solid material obtained by Comparative Examples 1, 2, 4 and 5. The results observed as in Example 8 are shown in Table 4. As shown in Table 4, the molded products using the freeze-coagulated materials show excellent optical properties as compared with others. Example 9 The dried coagulated composition obtained by Example 6 was kneaded at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and extruded into pellets using an extruder with a cylinder bore diameter of 40 mm. The obtained pellets were injection-molded at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and a mold temperature of 50°C to give test-pieces for izod impact strength according to ASTM and a flat sheet with a size of 50 x 50 x 3 mm. The observed results in various characteristics on these test-pieces are shown in Table 3. Comparative Examples 18-20 The same procedures as Example 9 were repeated except that the dried coagulated composition obtained by Example 6 was respectively replaced by the dried solid materials obtained by Comparative Examples 6, 7 and 8. The observed results are shown in Table 3. As shown in Table 3, the molded products using freeze-coagulated compositions have excellent optical properties, hydrothermal resistances and impact resistances. Examples 10 and 11, and Comparative Examples 21 and 22 The coagulated materials and the solid materials respectively obtained by the procedures as Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 except that using the compositions of the polymer with multiphase structure and the emulsifier in kind and in an amount shown in Table 5 were evaluated according to the procedures respectively as Example 1 and Comparative Example I. The observed results are shown in Table 6. Emulsifier (part) Polymer Composition of Multiphase Structure Example 10 SS MMA-MA-ALMA/BA-ST-ALMA/MMA-MA-BGMDA/MMA-MA-n-OM Comparative Example 21 1.0 29.7-0.3-0.15/24.5-5.5-0.2/ 19.8-0.2-0.1/19.8-0.2-0.05 Example 11 SDOSS BA-ST-ALMA/MMA-EA-n-OM Comparative Example 22 1.0 49.0-11.0-0.3/39.0-1.0-0.1 Isolation method or Coagulating agent for solidificaion Average Particle Size (µm) Fusing or blocking at drying Extrusion Stability Ex. 10 Freeze-coagulation 150 ○ Stable Ex. 11 Freeze-coagulation 220 ○ Stable Com. Ex.21 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 20 × Unstable Com. Ex.22 1% Aluminum chloride aqueous solution 25 × Unstable Note: Ex.=Example, Com. Ex. =Comparative Example In Table 5, hyphen (-) is used to show the monomer unit construction in a phase and slash (/) is used to separate the phases showing from the inner-most phase to the outer-most phase in the order from left to right. Example 12 and Comparative Example 23 The same procedures as Example 7 were repeated except that the dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was respectively replaced by the dried coagulated material obtained by Example 10 and the solid material obtained by Comparative Example 21 and respectively mixed with a type of methacrylic resin (beads of PARAPET HR-L, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. ) in a ratio of 7:3. The obtained results are shown in Table 3. Example 13 and Comparative Example 24 The same procedures as Example 7 were repeated except that the dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was respectively replaced by the coagulated material obtained by Example 11 and the solid material obtained by Comparative Example 22 and respectively mixed with a type of methacrylic resin (beads of PARAPET HR-L, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 1:1. The obtained results are shown in Table 3. Examples 14 and 15, and Comparative Examples 25 and 26 The same procedures as Example 8 were repeated except that the dried coagulated material obtained by Example 1 was respectively replaced by the coagulated material obtained by Example 10 and 11, and the solid material obtained by Comparative Example 21 and 22. The obtained results are shown in Table 4. Example 16 A reaction vessel equipped with a reflux condenser was charged with 250 parts of ion-exchanged water and 1.0 part of SDOSS. Then 0.1 part of Rongalite was added to the reaction mixture with stirring, in oxygen-free state by purging with nitrogen gas, and the temperature of the reaction mixture had been raised up to 70°C. Then, a monomer mixture comprising 46.4 parts of BA, 16.2 parts of ST, 0.6 parts of ALMA, and 0.13 parts of CHP was continuously added for a period of 200 min., and further kept for a period of 90 min. Thereafter, in the presence of the resulting latex, a monomer mixture comprising 31.5 parts of MMA, 1.5 parts of ST, 4.5 parts of CHMI, 0.07 parts of n-OM, and 0.04 parts of CHP was continuously added for a period of 30 min., and the reaction mixture was further kept for an additional period of 60 min. Thus a latex comprising a polymer with double-phase structure was obtained. The obtained latex was frozen at -20°C for a period of 8 hours. After the frozen latex was melted at 70°C, the polymer was isolated by filtration, followed by 3 times of washing with water at 70°C, and dried at 90°C for 10 hours to give a free-flowing coagulated material without fusing or blocking having an average particle size in diameter of 220 µm. The obtained coagulated material was mixed with an acrylic resin comprising 80% of MMA, 5% of ST, and 15% of CHMI in a ratio of 1:1. Then, the mixture was melt-kneaded and extruded into pellets at a cylinder temperature of 250°C using an extruder with a cylinder bore diameter of 40 mm. The obtained pellets were injection-molded at a cylinder temperature of 250°C and a mold temperature of 50°C to give a flat-sheet with a size of 50 x 50 x 3 mm. The observed results using this test flat-sheet were a total light transmittance of 91.8% and a Yellow Index of 3.5 in optical properties, and a Δ haze value of 5.0 in hydrothermal resistant characteristics. Comparative Example 27 The final latex obtained by Example 16 was salted out at 70°C with a 3% sodium chloride solution in an amount of 2 times of the latex, followed by drying at 90°C for 10 hours. In the obtained dried solid material, a fused or blocked state was found. Accordingly, the drying condition was changed to a drying temperature of 60°C for 15 hours. The evaluation was carried out by the same procedures as Example 16 except the aforementioned conditions. The obtained results were a total light transmittance of 91.5%, a Yellow Index of 9.0, and a Δ haze value of 45 in hydrothermal resistance, which are inferior as compared with the values of Example 16.

Claims: An acrylic polymer coagulated material which is a free-flowing material having an average particle size of 20 to 2000 µm obtainable by a method comprising (a) preparing a latex of a polymer (A) having a multiphase structure formed by emulsion polymerization, which polymer (A) is characterized by (1) an outer-most phase being a hard phase comprising 40 to 100% by weight of at least one methacrylate unit and 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith, the polymer of the hard phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, having a glass transition temperature of 25°C or more; and (2) at least one inner phase being a soft phase comprising 40 to 99.9% by weight of at least one acrylate ester unit, 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer copolymerizable therewith, and 0.1 to 5% by weight of a polyfunctional monomer unit, the polymer of the soft phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, having a glass transition temperature of less than 25°C; (b) isolating polymer (A) from the latex by freezing said latex at a rate of 4 cm/h or less; (c) melting the frozen latex at a temperature in the range of 40 to 100°C; and (d) dehydrating the product thus obtained; said freezing rate being defined as the thickness of frozen latex per freezing period, wherein the latex temperature is from 0°C to -5°C. The material according to claim 1, wherein the inner phase (2) has a multiphase structure comprising a soft phase and a hard phase as defined in claim 1. The material according to claim 2 having the structure from inside to outside (from left to right): (1)/(2)/(1), (2)/(1)/(2)/(1) or (1)/(2)/(2)/(1). A process for producing an acrylic polymer coagulated material which is a free-flowing material having an average particle size of 20 to 2000 µm comprising (a) preparing a latex of a polymer (A) having a multiphase structure formed by emulsion polymerization, which polymer (A) is characterized by (1) an outer-most phase being a hard phase comprising 40 to 100% by weight of at least one methacrylate unit and 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith, the polymer of the hard phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, having a glass transition temperature of 25°C or more; and (2) at least one inner phase being a soft phase comprising 40 to 99.9% by weight of at least one acrylate ester unit, 0 to 60% by weight of another monomer copolymerizable therewith, and 0.1 to 5% by weight of a polyfunctional monomer unit, the polymer of the soft phase, if formed in the absence of other phases, having a glass transition temperature of less than 25°C; (b) isolating polymer (A) from the latex by freezing said latex at a rate of 4 cm/h or less; (c) melting the frozen latex at a temperature in the range of 40 to 100°C; and (d) dehydrating the product thus obtained; said freezing rate being defined as the thickness of frozen latex per freezing period, wherein the latex temperature is from 0°C to -5°C. An acrylic polymer coagulated composition having an average particle size of 20 to 2000 µm obtainable according to the method of claim 1, wherein step (a) is carried out in the presence of a latex of a polymer (B) formed by emulsion polymerization of 50 to 100% by weight of at least one methacrylate monomer unit and 0 to 50% by weight of another monomer unit copolymerizable therewith and having a glass transition temperature of 25°C or more, which latex is blended with the latex of polymer (A), and wherein step (b) comprises the isolation of a polymer composition comprising polymer (A) and polymer (B). An acrylic polymer composition comprising 1 to 99% by weight of a homopolymer or a copolymer formed by polymerizing 50 to 100% by weight of methyl methacrylate monomer units and 0 to 50% by weight of another monomer copolymerizable therewith, and 1 to 99% by weight of the acrylic polymer coagulated material of any one of claims 1 to 3, and/or of an acrylic polymer coagulated composition of claim 5. A molded product comprising the material of any one of claims 1 to 3, an acrylic polymer coagulated composition of claim 5, the composition of claim 6, or a mixture thereof, wherein the Yellow Index of the molded product satisfies the following formula YI ≤ 0.035 X + 2.0 wherein YI and X represent the Yellow Index according to ASTM-D1925 (thickness of 3mm) and the ratio (weight percent) of the polymer with a multiphase structure based on the molded product, respectively.

Inventors: FUJIE KOUICHI, INOMATA NAOKIYO, OOTANI MITSUO, SUGA CHOUJI, FUJIE, KOUICHI, INOMATA, NAOKIYO, OOTANI, MITSUO, SUGA, CHOUJI
Applicants: KURARAY CO, KURARAY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C08F265
IPC codes: C08F2, C08F265, C08L33, C08F285, C08F6, C08F220, C08F20