Patent ID: 11578159

Abstract:
The invention relates to the use of low levels of glycols and short chain diols to control air void formation in any polymerization reaction having carbonyl-containing monomers, and preferably carboxylic acid ester monomers, at a level of at least 10% of total monomer, where the monomer has a peak polymerization exotherm temperature of greater than the boiling point of the monomer. The glycols and short chain diols are used in the polymization mixture at levels of 0.5 to 10 weight percent, based on the carboxylic acid ester-containing monomer. It is believed the glycols and short chain diols hydrogen bond with the —(C═O)O— containing monomer to increase the monomer boiling point, and decrease or even eliminate the formation of air voids due to monomer boiling. The invention is especially useful in polymerization of methyl methacrylate polymers and copolymers, either neat, or as a polymer composite system.