Vinyl polymerization particle size control

Abstract: Particle Size Distribution (PSD) of polymer produced from styrene, methylmethacrylate, vinyl chloride, diethylaminoethylmethacrylate and butyl methacrylate vinyl monomers is controlled above 60% with less than 0.1% latex production using tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) in combination with a thickening agent which is one or more: (a) hydroxyethylcellulose molecule weight 300,000 to 1,000,000; (b) hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose molecular weight 100,000 to 800,000; (c) carboxymethylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose or carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose molecular weight 20,000 to 140,000.

Description: The invention relates to control of particle size for polymers prepared from vinyl monomers. In particular, a cellulose ether allows preparation of a homogenous particle size distribution of the polymer. Suspension polymerization is a technique used to produce micron size and larger particles, whereas emulsion polymerization produces latices having a particle size less than 1.0 micron. In suspension polymerization a non-water soluble initiator is dissolved in the monomer, whereas in emulsion polymerization a water soluble initiator forms an initiator radical in the aqueous phase. Differences between suspension polymerization and emulsion polymerization are discussed in U.S. patents 4,229,569; 4,093,776 and 4,552,939 as well as in technical encyclopedias. It is known to use cellulose ethers and other polysaccharide polymer thickeners to control vinyl monomer polymerization. U.S. patent 3,786,115 describes a process for styrene polymerization in the presence of 0.01 to 1% hydroxyethylcellulose, 0.01 to 3% substantially water insoluble inorganic phosphate and/or carbonate and 0.001 to 0.02% anionic surface active agent. EPO publication 0 068 298 discloses styrene suspension polymerization employing calcium or magnesium phosphate in a water phase. U.S. patent 4,352,916 discloses latex formation from vinyl monomers in the presence of a hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose wherein the vinyl monomer is selected from styrene, methylmethacrylate, vinyl chloride, diethylamino ethylmethacrylate and butylmethlacrylate. U.S. patent 4,609,512 discloses particle size control with an aqueous phase including such salts as calcium chloride, iron (III) chloride, copper nitrate, zinc sulfate, calcium chloride, cobalt (III) chloride and magnesium chloride. U.S. patent 4,833,198 discloses the preparation of a laurylmethacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer and use of copolymer in combination with fumed silicon dioxide as a suspension agent for vinyl polymerization. U.S. patent 4,868,238 discloses suspension polymerization of a vinyl monomer in the presence of 0.01 to 2.0% carboxymethyl hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose and optionally an electrolyte or polyelectrolyte. U.S. Patent 4,910,273 discloses a partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol to serve as a suspension stabilizer for vinyl chloride polymerization. Yet in spite of what was known in the art, a need still remained for a means to provide polymer particles with a more homogeneous particle size distribution. It is in meeting this need that the present invention provides an advance in the state of the art of vinyl monomer polymerization. A process for controlling particle size of polymers prepared from vinyl monomers in the presence of a thickening agent of a cellulose ether derivative is characterized in that the cellulose ether derivative is one or more of: (a) hydroxyethylcellulose with a molecular weight of 300,000 to 1,000,000 and a molar substitution (M.S.) of 1.5 to 3.5; (b) hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose with a molecular weight of 100,000 to 800,000 and an M.S. of 1.5 to 4.1 with a hydrophobic modification chain of C 4 to C 22 in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose, which is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.6% by weight; (c) carboxymethylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose or carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose with a molecular weight of 20,000 to 400,000 with a degree of carboxymethyl substitution of from 0.05 to 1.0 which is used in an amount of 0.01-0.50% by weight based on the weight of the vinyl monomer; such that a polymer prepared from the vinyl monomer has a homogeneity of particle size distribution (PSD) which is 60% or higher and the weight percentage of latex is below 0.1% by weight based on the starting weight of vinyl monomer selected from the group of styrene, methylmethacrylate, vinyl chloride, diethylaminoethylmethacrylate and butyl methacrylate. It is preferred that the thickening agent be used in combination with tri-calcium phosphate (TCP). It has been discovered that improved particle homogeneity can be obtained without the use of metal salts via the careful selection of suitable cellulose ether derivatives. It was a surprising result to find that out of all available polysaccharide derivatives there were only a few cellulose ethers derivatives with limited molecular weight range and type and degree of substitution which were effective in the process of the invention. Effective amounts of hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose and carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose in a polymerization reaction range from 0.01 to 0.50% by weight based on the weight of vinyl monomer, whereas in the case of hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose the effective amount ranges from 0.01 to 0.60% by weight. A preferred range is 0.05 to 0.30% by weight. All of these materials are available from the Aqualon Company. Preferably, the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose is modified with hexadecyl, butyl or decyl in an amount of 0.2 to 0.7% by weight based on the total weight of the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose. Carboxymethyl degree of substitution (D.S.) should be from 0.05 to 1.0, preferably from 0.2 to 0.6. Hydroxypropyl substitution should be from 2 to 12% by weight and hydroxyethyl substitution from 1 to 15% by weight. The carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose or carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose has a preferred degree of carboxymethyl substitution of 0.2 to 0.8 and a methoxyl substitution of 20 to 30%. Suspension polymerizations were run to test the effectiveness of the suspending agent using variations of the following recipe: Vinyl monomer 300 - 610g Deionized water 740 - 1050 g Initiator 0.6 - 2.0 g Stabilizer 0.1 - 3.0 g Tri-calcium phosphate 0 - 0.25 Reaction temperature 75°C Reaction time 5 - 8 hours Stirrer speed 600 rpm In each case the polymerization was run at atmospheric conditions under a nitrogen blanket. After cooling to room temperature the suspension was filtered through a Büchner funnel and washed with deionized water, methyl alcohol and finally with deionized water. The following examples illustrate the practice of the invention which has industrial applicability for vinyl polymerization. Example 1 Styrene Polymerized with High Molecular Weight HEC The following formulation was used with hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) available from the Aqualon Company to give the results shown in Table 1. Styrene 610 g Deionized water 740 g Initiator 2 g Stabilizer Varied towards average PS-particle size of 400 µm Reaction temperature 90°C Reaction time 8 hours Stirrer speed 600 rpm Example Molecular Weight of HEC Use Level HEC (% w/w) PSD (%) Emulsion Polystyrene (% w/w) Control 290000 (250 G) 0.28 64 0.2 Ex. 1A 690000 (250 M) 0.20 66 0.1 Ex. 1B 1000000 (250 HH) 0.18 70 0.1 The above examples 1A and 1B demonstrate the positive effect of these high MW types over the standard type Natrosol® 250G hydroxyethylcellulose with respect to stabilizing efficiency and homogeneity of the particle size distribution. Example 2 Methylmethacrylate Polymerized With High Molecular Weight HEC The following formulation was used with hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) available from the Aqualon Company as shown in Table 2. Methylmethacrylate 300 g Deionized water 1050 g Initiator 0.6 g Stabilizer Varied towards average PMMA -particle size of 400 µm Reaction temperature 75°C Reaction time 5 hours Stirrer speed 600 rpm Example Molecular Weight of HEC Use Level HEC (% w/w) PSD (%) Control 290000 (250 G) 0.18 63 Ex. 2 690000 (250 M) 0.14 70 From above table we can draw the conclusion that in the methylmethacrylate system the same advantages were observed as in Example 1 with styrene polymerization. Example 3 Effect of Hydrophobic Modification and Molecular Weight of HMHEC and its combination With a Water Insoluble Salt Like Tri-Calcium Phosphate Using the formulation of Example 1, a positive effect was observed for hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose (HMHEC) over non-modified HEC when combining these products with a water insoluble salt like tri-calciumphosphate (TCP). Moreover particle size control of the polystyrene beads could be accomplished by controlling the hydrophobic modification in HMHEC with respect to type and amount in combination with the molecular weight of the HEC backbone. Table 3 contain comparative results. HMHEC VERSUS HEC IN COMBINATION WITH TCP Hydrophobe TCP (% w/w) WSP (% w/w) PSD (%) Type w/w (%) Control Natrosol® 250G HEC - - - 0.28 64 Example 3A HMHEC Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 - 0.25 73 Control Natrosol® 250G HEC - - 0.25 0.32 51 Example 3B HMHEC Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 0.25 0.23 75 The above table demonstrates the positive influence of hexadecyl modification on particle size control and stabilizing efficiency. Example 4 Example 3 was varied by using different hydrophobic alkyl chains on the hydrophobically modified HEC. Table 4 gives comparative results. THE EFFECT OF THE LENGTH OF THE HYDROPHOBIC ALKYL CHAIN Hydrophobe WSP (% w/w) TCP (% w/w) PSD (%) Type w/w (%) Control Natrosol® 250G - - 0.28 0.25 51 Example 4A Butyl 0.4-0.6 0.27 0.25 66 Example 4B Decyl 0.4-0.6 0.25 0.25 65 Example 4C Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 0.23 0.25 75 Despite the fact that a length of the alkyl chain longer than C16 has not been tested yet, a clear tendency can be observed, i.e., an improvement in stabilizing efficiency as well as particle size control resulting in a more homogeneous particle size distribution. Example 5 Example 3 was varied by using varying amounts of hexadecyl modification. Table 5 gives comparative results. THE EFFECT OF VARYING HEXADECYL MODIFICATION Hydrophobe TCP (% w/w) WSP (% w/w) PSD (%) Type w/w (%) Control Natrosol® 250G - - 0.28 0.25 51 Example 5A Hexadecyl 0.2-0.4 0.18 0.25 62 Example 5B Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 0.23 0.25 75 Example 5C Hexadecyl 0.6-1.0 0.22 0.25 72 As can be observed from the above table, an optimum hydrophobe level exists in the order of 0.5% w/w with respect to particle size distribution. Example 6 Example 3 was varied by using different molecular weight HEC backbone with equivalent hexadecyl substitution. Table 6 gives comparative results. EFFECT OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF HEC BACKBONE Hydrophobe Molecular Weight WSP (% w/w) TCP (% w/w) PSD (%) Type w/w (%) Reference Example 6A Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 90000 0.18 0.25 62 Example 6B Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 290000 0.23 0.25 75 Example 6C Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 690000 0.22 0.25 72 The experimental data shows that an optimum molecular weight exists for the HMHEC for an effective particle size control. The examples 4, 5 and 6 demonstrate how the suspension polymerized polystyrene beads can be controlled by means of molecular weight of HEC backbone, type and amount of hydrophobic modification in combination with an inorganic pickering stabilizer like TCP. On top the formation of emulsion polystyrene appeared to be very low: <0.1% w/w on styrene monomer. Example 7 The methylmethacrylate formulation of Example 2 was used with a hexadecyl hydrophobe HEC. Comparative results are shown in Table 7. Hydrophobe Molecular Weight WSP (% w/w) TCP (% w/w) PSD (%) Type w/w (%) Control 250G 0.4-0.6 290000 0.32 0.25 51 Example 7 Hexadecyl 0.4-0.6 290000 0.08 0.25 70 Example 7 shows that the hydrophobically modified HEC of Example 6 is also an effective stabilizer in the S-polymerization of methylmethacrylate. Example 8 Carboxymethylated cellulose derivatives were evaluated in combination with tri-calcium phosphate for effective stabilization in suspension polymerization. Table 8 gives comparative results where all polymers are available from Aqualon Company. COMBINATIONS OF CARBOXYMETHYLATED CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES WITH TRI-CALCIUM PHOSPHATE WSP (% w/w) TCP (% w/w) Particle Size (microns) PSD (%) Control Blanose™ 7M31D 0.25 - Coagulum Control Blanose™ 7M31D 0.25 0.25 Coagulum Ex. 8A Blanose™ 7M31D/Natrosol® 250G 0.25/0.1 0.25 335 63 Ex. 8B CMHEC 420G 0.25 0.25 563 50 Ex. 8C CMMHEC 0.25 400 48 Ex. 8D CMMHEC 0.18 0.25 400 62 Ex. 8E CMMHPC 0.14 - 400 26 Ex. 8F CMMHPC 0.11 0.25 400 78 The above samples show several combinations of carboxymethylated cellulose derivatives with TCP. From these examples it was shown that a combination of carboxymethylated MHEC and TCP as well as carboxymethylated with TCP gave excellent particle size control with narrow PSD's. These combinations performed much better than these cellulose derivatives alone.

Claims: A process for controlling particle size of polymers, prepared by a suspension polymerization process, from vinyl monomers in the presence of an initiator and a thickening agent, characterized in that the thickening agent is a cellulose ether derivative of one or more of: (a) hydroxyethylcellulose with a molecular weight of 300,000 to 1,000,000 and a molar substitution (M.S.) of 1.5 to 3.5 which is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.50% by weight based on the weight of vinyl monomer; (b) hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose with a molecular weight of 100,000 to 800,000 and an M.S. of 1.5 to 4.1 with a hydrophobic modification chain of C 4 to C 22 in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose which is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.6% by weight; (c) carboxymethylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose or carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose with a molecular weight of 20,000 to 400,000 with a degree of carboxymethyl substitution of from 0.05 to 1.0 which is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.50% by weight based on the weight of vinyl monomer; such that a polymer prepared from the vinyl monomer has a homogeneity of particle size distribution (PSD) with 60% or higher and the weight percentage of latex is below 0.1% by weight based on the starting weight of the vinyl monomer selected from the group of styrene, methylmethacrylate, vinyl chloride, diethylaminoethylmethacrylate and butylmethacrylate. The process of claim 1 where the hydroxyethylcellulose has a molecular weight above 500,000 and an M.S. of 2.0 to 3.0. The process of claim 2 where tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) is used in combination with hydroxyethylcellulose. The process of claim 1 where the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose is modified with hexadecyl, butyl or decyl. The process of claim 4 where the modification is in an amount of 0.2 to 0.7 percent by weight based on the total weight of the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose. The process of claim 5 where the hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose is used in combination with TCP. The process of claim 1 where carboxymethylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose or carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose have a degree of carboxymethyl substitution of 0.2 to 0.6. The process of claim 7 where the thickening agent is used in combination with TCP. The process of claim 1 where carboxymethylcellulose has a degree of carboxymethyl substitution of 0.2 to 0.8 and a methoxyl substitution of 20 to 30%. The process of claim 1 where carboxymethylmethylhydroxypropylcellulose has a degree of carboxymethyl substitution of 0.2 to 0.8 and a methoxyl substitution of 20 to 30%. The process of claim 1 where carboxymethylmethylhydroxyethylcellulose has a degree of carboxymethyl substitution of 0.2 to 0.8 and a methoxyl substitution of 20 to 30%.

Inventors: KROON GIJSBERT, KROON, GIJSBERT
Applicants: AQUALON CO, AQUALON COMPANY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C08F2
IPC codes: C08F251, C08F2