Patent GB-1267598-A (GB)
Title: Process for the preparation of graft copolymers
IPC: C08F291/00
Filed: 1969-03-14
Abstract: 1,267,598. Graft polymers. KURARAY CO. Ltd. 14 March, 1969 [14 March, 1968], No. 13688/69. Heading C3G. A graft polymer is prepared by (a) contacting a solid natural, artificial or synthetic organic polymer with a liquid or vaporous first monomeric system consisting of one or more monomers of formula CH 2 : CRX, in which R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and X is -CN, -CONH 2 , -COOR<SP>1</SP> (R<SP>1</SP> being C 1  to C 3 - alkyl), -OCOCH 3 , phenyl, o-, m, or p-toluyl, -CONHCH 2 OH or vinyl, or both R and X are chlorine atoms, with or without an inert diluent, which monomeric system is capable of swelling but not dissolving the polymer, in the presence of 20 to 9000 parts by weight of molecular oxygen per 10<SP>9</SP> parts by weight of the monomeric system and at a temperature of 15 to 150 C., and (b) contacting the resulting solid polymer with a liquid or vaporous second monomeric system consisting of at least one vinyl monomer, with or without an inert diluent, which monomeric system is capable of swelling but not dissolving the polymer, at a temperature of 40 to 120 C. in the absence, or in the presence of not more than 600 parts by weight, of molecular oxygen per 10<SP>9</SP> parts by weight of the second monomeric system. The diluents may be water and/or an organic compound and, like the monomers in each stage, may be in liquid or vapour form. Examples are given in which the polymer and first and second stage monomers are as follows; formalized polyvinyl alcohol fibres, (i) methyl methacrylate and (ii) methyl methacrylate, methylacrylate or styrene; polyvinyl alcohol film, (i) ethyl acrylate and (ii) styrene; polyethyleneterephthalate fibres, (i) methyl methacrylate and (ii) styrene; rayon staple fibres, (i) ethyl methacrylate and (ii) nbutyl acrylate; cotton or paper pulp powder, (i) alpha-methyl styrene and (ii) acrylonitrile; saponified polyvinyl alcohol fibres, (i) methyl methacrylate and (ii) ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile; formalized polyvinyl alcohol film, (i) alpha-methyl styrene and (ii) methyl methacrylate; sheet polyisoprene, (i) acrylamide and (ii) butadiene; powdered polyoxymethylene, (i) acrylamide and (ii) vinyl chloride; polystyrene chips, (i) acrylamide and (ii) butadiene and methyl methacrylate; polypropylene, acetate or polyacrylonitrile fibres, (i) methacrylonitrile and (ii) methyl methacrylate; polyacrylonitrile fibres and (i) and (ii) methacrylonitrile-, 6-nylon fibres, (i) methacrylonitrile and (ii) vinyl acetate; 6,6-nylon, rayon or polyacrylonitrile fibres, (i) ethyl acrylate and (ii) methyl methacrylate; polyacrylonitrile or 6-nylon fibres, (i) ethyl acrylate and (ii) methacrylonitrile; polyvinyl alcohol, 6-nylon, cellulose acetate, rayon or polyacrylonitrile fibres, (i) styrene and (ii) methyl methacrylate; polyvinyl alcohol fibres, (i) styrene and (ii) vinylidene chloride; 6,6-nylon or cellulose acetate fibres, (i) styrene and (ii) methacrylonitrile; polyvinyl chloride fibres, (i) alpha-methyl styrene and (ii) methyl methacrylate; cellulose acetate fibres, (i) alphamethyl styrene and (ii) 2-vinyl pyridine; polyvinyl alcohol fibres, (i) alpha-methyl styrene and (ii) methacrylonitrile; formalized polyvinyl alcohol fibres, (i) methacrylonitrile and (ii) methyl methacrylate.