Patent GB-782507-A (GB)
Title: A process for the production of polymers, copolymers and telomers
IPC: C08F34/02
Filed: 1954-05-18
Abstract: Polymers and telomers of vinylene carbonate are made by polymerizing the vinylene carbonate alone or in the presence of other monomers and/or chain-terminating agents at a pressure of at least 1,000 lb./sq. inch.  The polymerization may be effected batchwise or by continuous flow techniques, in bulk, solvent, or aqueous emulsion or suspension, and in the presence of polymerization catalysts or ionizing radiations.  The polymerization may be terminated before complete conversion.  The vinylidene carbonate units in the polymers can be hydrolysed and the resulting hydroxyl groups further reacted, e.g. with aldehydes.  Ethylene is the preferred comonomers.  Other monomers mentioned are propylene, isobutylene, pentene-1, acrylic, chloroacrylic, methacrylic, and ethacrylic acids, acrylonitrile, methyl, ethyl, butyl, octyl, cyclohexyl, methoxymethyl, n - butoxyethyl, n - butoxyethoxyethyl, beta - diethylamino - ethyl, or chloroethyl, methacrylate, methyl ethacrylate, methacrylamide, ethyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene fluoride, 1 - fluoro - 1 - chloroethylene, vinyl acetate, vinyl trimethylacetate, vinyl hexanoate, vinyl laurate, vinyl chloroacetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl stearate, N - vinylphthalimide, N - vinylsuccinimide, N-vinyl caprolactam, N-vinyl butyrolactam, styrene, alpha - methylstyrene, chlorostyrenes, vinyl naphthalene, divinylbenzene, methyl vinyl ketone, vinyl pyridine, 2-methyl-5-vinyl-pyridine, 2 - vinylthiophene, vinylpyrrolidone, vinylcarbazole, vinyl ethyl or isobutyl ether, tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluorethylene, trifluoroethylene, 1,1 - dichloro - 2,2 - difluoroethylene, butadiene, 2 - chlorobutadiene, 2 - fluorobutadiene, 2 - phenoxybutadiene, isoprene, diallyl maleate, vinyl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, crotyl methacrylate, methallyl methacrylate, diallyl fumarate, divinyl succinate, divinyl adipate, and diethyl and dimethyl fumarate, and maleate.  Vinylene carbonate may also be heteropolymerized with carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and acetylene and when the carbonate is copolymerized with ethylene a small quantity of hydrogen may be present.  Telomerizing agents mentioned are carbon tetrachloride, isobutyric acid and anhydride, methyl propionate, dioxolane, mercaptans, alcohols, ethers, hydrogen chloride, and silicon halides.  The polymerization catalyst may be oxygen, benzoyl, t-butyl, diacetyl, or hydrogen peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, diethyl peroxycarbonate, dimethylphenyl hydroperoxide, potassium persulphate or perborate, alpha,alpha1 - azodiisobutyronitrile, diazoaminobenzene, azobis - (diphenylmethane) or alpha, alpha1 - azobis - alpha epsilon - dimethyl-valeronitrile.  The ionizing radiation may be alpha- or beta-radiation, gamma-rays or X-rays.  The gamma-radiation may be obtained from cobalt-60, tantalum-182, or potassium-40.  The polymerization may be effected in the presence of acetone, benzene, xylene, cyclohexanone, hexane, dioxane, or methyl ethyl ketone.  The polymers may be made into films. Specifications 774,897 and 781,035 are referred to.