Patent GB-1014241-A (GB)
Title: Copolymers of cyclic oxides
IPC: C08L71/02
Filed: 1961-12-12
Abstract: At least two cyclic oxide monomers each having at least one oxirane or oxetane ring are copolymerized with a catalyst which is either (I) a mixture of A and B or (II) the reaction product of A and B, the ratio of monomers to catalyst being from 100:0.05 to 100:10 mols and the ratio of A to B being from 1:0.05 to 1:1 mol, where A is at least one compound of formula MeR2 where Me is beryllium, cadmium or zinc, and each R is an unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and B is selected from (i) water, (ii) at least one member of the group consisting of appreciably water soluble or miscible aliphatic alcohols, polyhydric alcohols and polyalkylene ether polyols of molecular weights of up to 600, (iii) a mixture of water and at least one member of the group in (ii), and (iv) the acidic oxide aluminium or a mixture thereof with at least one other oxide of a Group II to IV element. Many compounds (A) are specified; zinc diethyl is preferred.  Specified (B) compounds are water, alkanols, glycerol, butane diol, pentaerythritol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, adducts of glycols, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with glycerol, 1,2,4 - hexanetriol and pentaerythritol, g -alumina, boria - alumina, alumina - magnesia, alumina - silica, alumina - thoria, alumina-zirconia, silica - alumina - thoria and silica-alumina-zirconia. Many cyclic oxide monomers are specified including saturated and unsaturated mono- and poly-epoxides, oxetanes and glycidyl ethers.  The copolymers derived from unsaturated monomer(s) are sulphur-curable. The copolymers may be compounded with natural and artificial rubbers, other polymers, reinforcing agents, pigments, fillers, extenders, plasticizers, blowing agents, and antioxidants; many additives are listed.  The examples describe the preparation of copolymers of (1), (6) and (9) propylene oxide with allyl glycidyl, ether, vinylcyclohexene monoxide, and butadiene monoxide, (2) and (8) propylene oxide, butene oxide with, in turn, vinylcyclohexene monoxide, allylglycidyl ether and butadiene monoxide giving terpolmers, (4) propylene oxide with phenyl glycidyl ether, styrene oxide, dodecene oxide and ethylene oxide, (5) 1,2-butene oxide with allylglycidyl ether, and (10) oxetane with allylglycidyl ether and propylene oxide; the products of (1), (2), (5), (6), (8) and (10) were sulphur-cured, e.g. with a mixture of sulphur, zinc oxide, bis-(benzothiazyl) disulphide, tetramethyl thiuram disulphide, stearic acid, carbon black, and phenyl beta naphthylamine.  Uses.-Pneumatic tyres.ALSO:A catalytic composition for the copolymerization of at least two cyclic oxide monomers each having at least one oxirane or oxetane ring, consists of a mixture of, or the reaction product of A and B, wherein A is at least one compound of formula MeR2 where Me is beryllium, cadmium or zinc and R is an unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1-20 carbon atoms, and B is selected from (i) water, (ii) at least one member of the group consisting of appreciably water-soluble or -miscible aliphatic alcohols, polyhydric alcohols and polyalkylene ether polyols of molecular weights up to 600, (iii) a mixture of water and at least one member of the group in (ii), and (iv) the acidic oxide of aluminium or a mixture thereof and at least one other oxide of a Group II to IV element.  Many compounds (A) are specified; zinc diethyl is preferred.  Specified (B) compounds are water, alkanols, glycerol, butane diol, pentaerythritol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, adducts of glycols, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with glycerol, 1, 2, 4-hexanetriol and pentaerythritol, g -alumina, boria-alumina, alumina-magnesia. alumina-silica, alumina-thoria, alumina-zirconia, alumina-silica-thoria, and silica-alumina-zirconia.