Claims
- 1. A method for preparing graft copolymers of acrylic acid and a poly(oxyalkylene) which comprises adding in separate feed streams from about 3 percent to 15 percent by weight, based on the total weight of poly(oxyalkylene) charged, of acrylic acid and a catalytic amount of t-butyl perbenzoate, di-t-butyl peroxide or t-butyl hydroperoxide to an agitated bath of poly(oxyalkylene) whereby all of said components are intimately admixed at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C. and maintaining said temperature until a graft copolymer of acrylic acid on said poly(oxyalkylene) is obtained which is substantially free of insoluble homopolymerized acrylic acid, said poly(oxyalkylene) having the formula:
- R"[(OC.sub.n H.sub.2n).sub.z OR'].sub.a
- wherein R" is a hydrocarbon radical containing up to 10 carbons which is free of aliphatic unsaturation and has a valence of a, a is an integer having a value of 1 to 4, R' is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing up to 6 carbons which is free of aliphatic unsaturation, n has a value of 2 to 4, inclusive, and z is an integer having a value of about 8 to about 800.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) is derived from a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the poly(oxyethylene) is started with a saturated aliphatic alcohol having up to 4 carbons.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) is propylene oxide started with a saturated aliphatic alcohol having up to 4 carbons.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the separate acrylic acid and/or catalyst-containing reactant feed streams are added in a mixture with the poly(oxyalkylene).
- 6. Graft copolymer made by the method claimed in claim 1 which is substantially free of insoluble homopolymerized acrylic acid (contains less than 1% by weight of said insoluble homopolymer).
- 7. A homogeneous graft copolymer of acrylic acid on poly(oxyalkylene) having the formula
- R"[OC.sub.n H.sub.2n).sub.z OR'].sub.a
- wherein R" is a hydrocarbon radical containing up to 10 carbons which is free of aliphatic unsaturation and has a valence of a, a is an integer having a value of 1 to 4, R' is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing up to 6 carbons which is free of aliphatic unsaturation, n has a value of 2 to 4, inclusive, and z is an integer having a value of about 8 to about 800, wherein the acrylic acid is in an amount of about 3 to 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of poly(oxyalkylene) and the graft copolymer is substantially free of insoluble homopolymer of acrylic acid (contains less than 1% by weight of said insoluble homopolymer).
- 8. The graft copolymer of claim 7 wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) is derived from a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
- 9. The graft copolymer of claim 7 wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) is poly(oxyethylene) started with a saturated aliphatic alcohol having up to 4 carbons.
- 10. The graft copolymer of claim 7 wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) is poly(oxypropylene) started with a saturated aliphatic alcohol having up to 4 carbons.
- 11. The graft copolymer of claim 7 wherein the molecular weight (number average) of the poly(oxyalkylene) is in the range of about 1500 to about 4000.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 307,229, filed Sept. 30, 1981, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 234,094, filed Feb. 12, 1981, now abandoned, which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 963,408, filed Nov. 24, 1978, now abandoned, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3418354 |
Wheeler, Jr. |
Dec 1968 |
|
3546321 |
Jabloner et al. |
Dec 1970 |
|
3950317 |
Patton, Jr. et al. |
Apr 1976 |
|
3963805 |
Chu |
Jun 1976 |
|
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
963408 |
Nov 1978 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
307229 |
Sep 1981 |
|
Parent |
234094 |
Feb 1981 |
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