Patent GB-947610-A (GB)
Title: Polymeric material
IPC: C08F36/20
Filed: 1961-06-26
Abstract: Polymerizable alkenyl ethers of N-methylol amides of organic acids containing at least one polymerizable carbon-to-carbon double bond and containing a group of formula: <FORM:0947610/C3/1> where R1 is hydrogen or a saturated aliphatic radical containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkenyl radical containing up to 6 carbon atoms are polymerized in bulk, solution or emulsion. Specified ethers are derivatives of acrylamide and methacrylamide in which R1 is methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl and R2 is allyl, The ethers may be copolymerized with acrylic and methacrylic acids and the esters, amides and nitriles thereof, vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons and the alkyl and halogen substitution products thereof, vinyl and vinylidene halides, vinyl esters, vinyl ketones, vinyl ethers and conjugated diolefines, many suitable comonomers being listed. Polymerization may be effected at 0 to 70 DEG C. in the presence of catalysts such as alkali metal and ammonium persalts, organic peroxides and hydro peroxides and azo compounds, or redox systems comprising lower valency sulphur compounds, amines and heavy metal salts; and modifiers such as C8-18 alkyl mercaptans and diisopropyl xanthogen disulphide: and at controlled pH e.g. of 3 to 9. Anionic cationic and non-ionic emulsifiers may be present, and long lists of suitable emulsifiers are given. Examples describe the copolymerization in aqueous media of (1) the allyl ether of N-methylol methacrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene in the presence of potassium persulphate, triethanolamine, a sodium paraffin sulphonate, a polyoxyethylated fatty alcohol and sodium hydroxide; (2) the allyl ether of N-methylol-methacrylamide, butyl acrylate, acrylonitrile and styrene in the presence of potassium persulphate, sodium pyrosulphite, a formaldehyde-naphthalene sulphonic acid condensate and a polyoxyethylated fatty alcohol; (3) the allyl ether of N-methylolacrylamide, butadiene, butyl acrylate, acrylic acid and acrylonitrile in the presence of potassium persulphate, sodium pyrosulphite, dodecyl mercaptan, a cetyl alcohol-ethylene oxide condensate and a formaldehyde-naphthalene sulphonic acid condensate; (4) the allyl ether of N-methylol methacrylamide and acrylamide in the presence of potassium persulphate and the sodium salt of ethylenediamine tetracetic acid; and (5) the allyl ether of N-methylol-methacrylamide, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid and styrene in the presence of dodecyl mercaptan, an oxydiphenylmethane-ethylene oxide condensate and a formaldehyde-naphthalene sulphonic acid condensate.  The polymers may be cross-linked by heating, by the action of acids or acid acting substances, or with polyfunctional compounds able to react with the methylol ether groups or the hydrolysis products thereof formed under the action of hydrolysing agents.  Specified hydrolysing agents are hydrochloric, sulphuric, phosphoric, oxalic, acetic and trichloracetic acids, and ammonium chloride or phosphate.  The polymers may be used in moulding, impregnating and coating and as adhesives, particularly in fields where cross-linking is required in the presence of heat-sensitive supports as in textile printing, leather dressing and paper coating.