Patent GB-721154-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to epoxyalkoxy aryl resin polymeric compositions
IPC: D01F1/10
Filed: 1951-05-17
Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for forming shaped articles consists of an epoxyalkoxyaryl resin as claimed in Specification 721,149 or Specification 721,151, and either an active hydrogen-containing fibre-forming polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, or regenerated cellulose or a cellulose ester or ether, e.g. cellulose nitrate, acetate, formate, propionate, butyrate, acetate-butyrate, methyl, ethyl or benzoyl cellulose, b -hydroxy ethyl cellulose or cellulose half esters of maleic, succinic or fumaric acid.  Polymers mentioned are polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetals, partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate, polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid, maleic acid, fumeric acid, maleic or fumeric half esters, acrylamide, hydroxyamino- or carboxy-styrene, and copolymers of acrylonitrile, styrene, acyrlates, or vinyl esters with acids such as acrylic, maleic or itaconic.  The epoxy resins may be incorporated into spinning compositions containing the polymers and cross-linking effected by heat or catalysts during or after the spinning operation, or fibres formed from the polymers may be impregnated with a solution of epoxy resin, the solvent evaporated and the product treated with heat or catalysts to effect reaction between the polymer and the epoxy resin.  Preferably the proportion of epoxy resin in the mixture varies from 1-5 per cent in the case of fibre manufacture but for moulded products the proportion may be up to 50 per cent.  Catalysts for the cross-linking reaction between the two resins are oxalic, maleic or phthalic acid, diethylamine, dibutylamine, diethylene triamine, piperidine, piperidine benzoate, trimethylamine, triethylamine, triethanolamine, methyl di-n-propylamine, guanidine, aluminium chloride or bromide, zinc chloride or bromide, boron trifluoride, silicon tetrachloride, stannic chloride or bromide, titanium tetrachloride, bismuthtrichloride, alkali hydroxides, calcium hydroxide or sodium amide.  The catalysts may be added with the epoxy resin or, as a solution subsequently.  The epoxy resin may be added as a solution, e.g. in acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl, ethyl or n-butyl acetate, propylene oxide, dioxane, chloroform, ethylene, dichloride, dichloro ethyl ether, b -hydroxyethyl acetate, b  - butoxyethanol, toluene-alcohol mixtures, or a mono-epoxy alkane such as phenyl glycidyl ether, isopropylphenyl glycidyl ether, o- or p-monobutylm-cresyl glycidyl ether, glycidyl acetate, or mono- or di-glycidyl phthalate.  Mixed epoxy resins of different molecular weights may be used.  In the examples: (1) copolymers of acrylonitrile with 1 and 5 per cent itaconic acid are prepared in emulsion in presence of ammonium benzene sulphonate.  They are dissolved in N,N-dimethyl formamide and a glycidyl ether of a formaldehyde-p-cresol condensate is added.  Fibres are spun by dry or wet methods, freed from solvent, dried, cold-drawn and then heated at 150 DEG  C. for 1 hour; (2) cellulose acetate is dissolved in acetone and the glycidyl ether used in example 1 is added. Fibres were spun by dry-spinning and heat-treated at 75 DEG  C. forabout 2 hours. Specification 721,153 also is referred to.