Process for the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers containing sulpho groups

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 4064088
  • Patent Number
    4,064,088
  • Date Filed
    Friday, September 10, 1976
    47 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 20, 1977
    46 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Anderson; Harold D.
    • Danison, Jr.; W. C.
    Agents
    • Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack
Abstract
The invention relates to the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers containing sulpho groups. The starting material is a urea-formaldehyde precondensate, and a condensation polymer of naphthalenesulphonic acid and formaldehyde is used as the acid catalyst for the subsequent polycondensation of the urea-formaldehyde precondensate. The peculiarity of this polycondensation is that the condensation catalyst is incorporated into the polymer structure of the UF polymer.The products obtained according to the invention are distinguished by improved surface affinity coupled with interparticle porosity. They can be used as fillers, as adsorbents, as carriers and as thickeners.
Description

Several processes for the manufacture of highly disperse urea-formaldehyde polycondensation products of large specific surface area have already been disclosed. In this context reference may be made, for example, to a publication by A. Renner "Kondensationspolymere aus Harnstoff und Formaldehyd mit grosser spezifischer Oberflaeche" ("Condensation Polymers of Urea and Formaldehyde, having a large specific surface area") in "Die makromolekulare Chemie" 149 (1971) 1-27. Further communications on the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers are to be found in the reference book "Methoden der organischen Chemie" ("Methods of Organic Chemistry") (Houben-Weyl); Makromolekulare Stoffe (Macromolecular Substances), part 2, 320 et seq. (Page 316 of this volume also mentions the condensation of formaldehyde with sulphonated naphthalene, to give soluble products). The following specifications may be mentioned as relevant patents and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,115; German Auslegeschrift 1,907,914, Austrian Pat. No. 315,493 and British Pat. No. 1,318,244.
In these known processes for the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde polycondensation products, the starting materials are either the monomeric components urea (U) and formaldehyde (F), or UF precondensates. The polycondensation is carried out in aqueous solution in the presence of acid catalysts.
Usable polymers are obtained, for example, by employing sulphamic acid or a water-soluble ammonium bisulphate as the catalyst. However, using the process for the manufacture of UF polycondensation products according to the state of the art, highly disperse substances are obtained, which do not possess the optimum properties inherently desired in connection with certain applications. Thus, many of these products do not adequately exhibit certain surface affinity properties which result in particularly good bonds in rubber mixtures, or bonds to certain dyestuffs. Some of the UF polycondensation products manufactured in accordance with these known processes can admittedly be used readily as active fillers for rubber, but the ability of these materials to absorb oil or active compounds is limited. Furthermore, the manufacture of pellets or granules of these UF polycondensation products is rather expensive and difficult, since the material tends to crumble. The known processes for the manufacture of such UF polymers furthermore still require improvement in respect of the fact that the acid catalyst must be removed from the end product by laborious washing.
It is the object of the invention to provide modified urea-formaldehyde polycondensation products with improved properties. The products should as far as possible not exhibit the abovementioned disadvantages with respect to surface affinity and absorbency. It is a further object of the invention so to design the process of manufacture of such polymers that the laborious washing-out of the acid condensation catalyst is unnecessary.
The object of the invention has been achieved by using a urea-formaldehyde precondensate as the starting material and employing, as the acid catalyst for the polycondensation of this precondensate, a condensation polymer of naphthalenesulphonic acid and formaldehyde. The peculiarity of the solution of the invention is that this condensation catalyst is incorporated into the chain molecule of the UF polymer.
Accordingly, the subject of the invention is a process for the manufacture of highly disperse, solid urea-formaldehyde condensation products which are modified by sulpho groups and consist of compact, spherical, agglomerated primary particles of diameter less than 1 .mu.m, which is characterised in that a precondensate (P) of urea and formaldehyde and a condensation polymer (N) of naphthalenesulphonic acid and formaldehyde are polycondensed in aqueous solution at temperatures of 20.degree. to 100.degree. C to form a gel, the components being used in such ratio that the molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea in the reaction mixture at the moment of gelling is 1.25 to 2, these molar ratios taking into account both the free starting products (formaldehyde and urea) and the monomeric starting products chemically bound in the intermediate products, and that the resulting gel is optionally comminuted, suspended, optionally neutralised, filtered off and dried, and the product thus obtained is optionally deagglomerated by means of a mill or worked up into granules by a build-up granulation process, preferably by extrusion.
According to the process of the invention, the condensation polymer (N) should preferably be present in the reaction mixture in such amount as to provide 10 to 150 milliequivalents of the group --SO.sub.3 H per mol of urea. In general, particularly advantageous results are obtained with 20 to 50 milliequivalents of the group --SO.sub.3 H per mol of urea. This procedure therefore represents a particularly preferred form of the invention.
The concentration of the aqueous reaction mixture, with respect to the sum of the precondensate (P) and the condensation polymer (N), should preferably be 15 to 40% by weight (based on the solution). Particularly good polymers are obtained with a concentration of 20 to 25% by weight.
The precondensates (P) are manufactured in accordance with known processes by condensation of F and U in aqueous solution. According to the invention, precondensates (P) which contain F and U in the molar ratio of 1.3 to 1.8, and precondensates which have been manufactured by precondensation of the reactants in the pH range of 6 to 9 and in the temperature range of 20.degree. to 100.degree. C, are employed.
The condensation polymer (N) should preferably contain the components in such ratios as to provide 0.7 to 2.2 mols of formaldehyde per mol of naphthalenesulphonic acid. The best results are obtained if the molar ratio of F to naphthalenesulphonic acid is 1.0 to 1.5.
The condensation polymer (N) is manufactured in accordance with known processes by condensation of naphthalenesulphonic acid with formaldehyde in aqueous solution. In general, technical naphthalenesulphonic acid which, as is known, predominantly contains the 2-sulphonic acid, and also a little free sulphuric acid, is employed. The naphthalenesulphonic acid can also be manufactured in situ during the manufacture of the condensation polymer (N).
The polycondensation according to the invention can also be carried out in such a way that comonomers partially replace urea (namely in up to one-third of the molar amount), that is to say that such comonomers are also incorporated into the chain molecule. These comonomers are substances which, like urea, can form polycondensates with formaldehyde or methylol compounds. The following substances may be mentioned individually: phenol, resorcinol, alkylphenols (such as the cresols), aniline, benzoguanamine, acid amides (such as formamide, acrylamide, dicyandiamide and oxalic acid diamide), salicylic acid, biuret and hydantoins (such as, for example, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin). Mixtures of individual substances of this type can also be used as comonomers.
The comonomers can be incorporated in two ways. Either a precondensate (P), in which up to one-third of the amount of urea inherently envisaged is replaced by a corresponding molar amount of comonomer, is employed, or a precondensate (P) with a correspondingly lower urea content (up to one-third lower than that inherently envisaged) is employed and the requisite amount of the particular comonomer is added to the reaction mixture, containing the precondensate (P) and the condensation polymer (N), before or during the polycondensation.
The products manufactured by the process according to the invention show strong hydrogen bridge bonds and are therefore not soluble in customary organic solvents. On the other hand, they are soluble in hot formic acid and in saturated aqueous solutions of lithium bromide and magnesium perchlorate. They can be reprecipitated from these solutions. They melt around 250.degree. C, with evolution of formaldehyde.
The products manufactured according to the invention can be used as reinforcing fillers for elastomers, as adsorbents for sewage purification, particularly for breaking spent oil emulsions, as carriers for active compounds in agricultural chemistry, and as thickeners and solidifying agents for lacquers, printing inks, liquid feedstuffs and the like. They are particularly effective when used for this purpose, because of their improved surface affinity coupled with interparticle porosity.
The products obtainable by using the process according to the invention can be converted surprisingly advantageously into pellets or granules. The known processes for build-up granulation such as, for example, tableting, extrusion or build-up by means of a granulating disc, can be used for this purpose. In contrast to known UF polycondensates, the products manufactured according to the invention show astonishingly little tendency to crumble.
The successful solution of the object of the invention was surprising if previous experience with condensation catalysts containing sulpho groups is taken into account. In fact, using the known processes for the manufacture of UF polycondensation products employing sulphamic acid or water-soluble ammonium bisulphates as catalysts it has never proved possible to build these catalysts into the molecule of the condensation polymer.
A further surprising feature of the process according to the invention is that to achieve the large surface area and good properties of the end products it is, in contrast to other known UF polycondensation processes, not necessary to add surface-active substances or protective colloids. Admittedly this does not mean that such addition has an adverse effect on the process according to the invention. There may be cases in which an addition of such substances is desirable, for example for technological reasons.
A further subject of the invention are highly disperse solid urea-formaldehyde polycondensation products which are modified by sulpho groups and consist of compact, spherical, agglomerated primary particles of diameter less than 1 .mu.m, and which are manufactured in accordance with the process of the invention. The UF polycondensation products according to the invention preferably have a specific surface area of 5 to 100 m.sup.2 /g, a sulphur content of 0.2 to 2% by weight and an average diameter of the primary particles of 0.04 to 1 .mu.m. The UF polycondensation products according to the invention can contain a comonomer as a partial replacement for urea, the molar ratio of comonomer to urea being up to 1/2.
In the examples which follow, parts denote parts by weight and percentages denote percentages by weight.





EXAMPLES
A. Manufacture of the condensation polymers (N)
a. Condensation polymer (N) - A
Naphthalene: H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 : formaldehyde = 1:1:1 (molar ratio)
128 parts of naphthalene and 100 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid are heated for 6 hours to 160.degree. C, whilst stirring. The mixture is cooled to 100.degree. C and 100 parts of an aqueous 30% strength formaldehyde solution are added dropwise. The temperature is kept at 100.degree. C by the heat of reaction which is liberated. After boiling for 30 minutes under reflux, the mixture is diluted with 100 parts of water. After a further 16 hours' boiling under reflux, a formaldehyde conversion of 94.5% is reached. The mixture is diluted with a further 100 parts of water and 510 parts of a brown, viscous solution having a solids content of 45.5% and an acid content of 2.17 equivalents/kg are obtained. The acid resin solution can be diluted with water in any desired ratio.
b. Condensation polymer (N) - B
Naphthalene: H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 : formaldehyde = 1:1:1.5
128 parts of naphthalene are sulphonated with 100 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid for 6 hours at 160.degree. C and then condensed with 150 parts of aqueous 30% strength formaldehyde solution at 100.degree.-110.degree. C. The mixture was diluted, and the conversion determined, after the times shown.
______________________________________Hours at Addition of parts of CH.sub.2 O conversion100-110.degree. C H.sub.2 O (%)______________________________________12.5 40 --17.0 -- 79.619.5 60 --23.5 -- 81.724.0 100 --40.0 -- 8548.0 -- 85.2______________________________________
After cooling, 512 parts of a viscous brown resin are obtained, which is miscible with water in any desired ratio and gives colloidal solutions. The resin has a solids content of 44.5% and an acid content of 2.12 equivalents/kg.
c. Condensation polymer (N) - C
C.sub.10 H.sub.8 : H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 : CH.sub.2 O = 1:1:2
Following the procedure described in the preceding examples, 128 parts of naphthalene are sulphonated with 100 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid and then condensed with 200 parts of 30% strength aqueous formaldehyde solution for 22 hours at 100.degree. C and diluted with 100 parts of water. Thereafter, the conversion of the formaldehyde is 76.6%. 472 parts of a resin which is almost solid but is miscible with water in any desired ratio and gives colloidal solutions, are obtained. The solids content is 50% and the acid content is 2.09 equivalents/kg.
d. Condensation polymer (N) - D
C.sub.10 H.sub.8 : H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 : CH.sub.2 O = 1:1:0.75
128 parts of naphthalene are sulphonated with 100 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid for 6 hours at 160.degree. C and then condensed with 75 parts of 30% strength aqueous formaldehyde solution for 29 hours at 110.degree.-120.degree. C. Towards the end of this reaction time, the mixture was diluted twice with 100 parts of water.
______________________________________Yield 475 partsSolids content 45%Acid content 2.2 equivalents/kgDilutability with H.sub.2 O .infin.______________________________________
e. Condensation polymer (N) - E
C.sub.10 H.sub.8 : H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 : CH.sub.2 O = 1:1.4:1.1
128 parts of naphthalene are sulphonated with 110 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid for 6 hours at 160.degree. C and condensed with 110 parts of 30% strength aqueous formaldehyde solution at 100.degree.-110.degree. C. After the reaction times shown, the mixture was diluted as shown and the formaldehyde conversions shown were determined:
______________________________________Hours at Addition of parts of CH.sub.2 O conversion100-100.degree. C H.sub.2 O (%)______________________________________3 100 --26.5 -- 81.830 100 --45 -- 87.572 -- 90.978 50 90.9Yield 570 partsSolids content 43%Acid content 2.16 equivalents/kgDilutability with H.sub.2 O: .infin.______________________________________
f. Condensation polymer (N) - F
Naphthalenesulphonic acid: CH.sub.2 O = 1 (molar ratio).
343.8 parts of technical naphthalenesulphonic acid (predominantly the 2-acid, 5.82 equivalents of --SO.sub.3 H/kg) and 200 parts of 30% strength aqueous formaldehyde solution are condensed at 100.degree. C.
______________________________________Hours at addition of parts of CH.sub.2 O conversion100-102.degree. C H.sub.2 O (%)______________________________________5 100 --21.5 56 --22.0 -- 76.323.0 34 --41.0 100 --46.0 -- 78.353.0 -- 79.868.0 10 80.0Yield 877 partsSolids content 42.5%Acid content 2.255 equivalents/kgDilutability with H.sub.2 O .infin.______________________________________
g. Condensation polymer (N) - G
Naphthalenesulphonic acid: CH.sub.2 O = 1.5 (molar ratio).
343.8 parts of technical naphthalenesulphonic acid (predominantly the 2-acid, 5.82 equivalents of --SO.sub.3 H/kg) and 300 parts of 30% strength aqueous formaldehyde solution are condensed at 100.degree. C.
______________________________________Hours at Addition of parts of CH.sub.2 O conversion100.degree. C H.sub.2 O (%)______________________________________4.5 100 --21.5 -- 55.842.0 -- 66.764.0 10 74.4Yield 686 partsSolids content 57.2%Acid content 3.00 equivalents/kgDilutability with H.sub.2 O .infin.______________________________________
B. Manufacture of the urea-formaldehyde polycondensation products
EXAMPLES 1 - 3
900 parts of urea are dissolved in 2,100 parts of water, the solution is warmed to 70.degree. C, 2,250 parts of 30% strength aqueous formaldehyde solution are added, condensation is carried out for 30 minutes at pH 7 and 70.degree. C, and the mixture is cooled to 50.degree. C. This precondensate is divided into 3 equal parts which are mixed with solutions of the condensation polymer (N)-B at 50.degree. C, and converted into polymer gels, in accordance with the conditions indicated below.
______________________________________Example No. 1 2 3______________________________________Parts of condensation polymer (N)-B 47.2 53.1 59.1dissolved in parts of H.sub.2 O 303 530 815gelling concentration (% by weightof U + F) 25 22.5 20milliequivalents of SO.sub.3 H/mol of urea 20 22.5 25gelling time (sec.) 25 27 29gelling pH 2.1 2.1 2.1temperature rise to .degree. C: 65 64 63______________________________________
Each gel is kept at 65.degree. C for 2 hours, comminuted, stirred thoroughly with 2,000 parts of water and adjusted to pH 7.5 with 2 N NaOH. The polymers are filtered off, dried overnight in a stream of air at 110.degree. C and deagglomerated by passing them through an air jet mill with an input pressure of 40 atmospheres. Very bulky white polymer powders are obtained.
______________________________________Example No. 1 2 3______________________________________Yield (parts) 400 404 401specific surface area (m.sup.2 /g) 67.8 80.8 78.8average diameter of the primaryparticles (A) 600 510 520agglomerates (.mu.m) 3.7 3.8 4.4residual moisture (%) 5.6 5.8 5.4bulk density (g/l) 124 100 125oil absorbency (% DBP) 200 228 174sulphur content (%) 0.4 0.7 0.9______________________________________ (The oil absorbency was determined by the method of Wolff and Toeldte).
EXAMPLES 4 - 6
The same precondensate as in Examples 1 - 3 is prepared and divided into 3 equal parts; these are mixed, at 50.degree. C, with the amounts of the condensation polymer (N)-A indicated below, and the mixtures are converted into polymer gels.
______________________________________Example No. 4 5 6______________________________________parts of condensation polymer (N)-A 46.2 52.0 58.0dissolved in parts of H.sub.2 O 300 530 820gelling concentration (% by weightof U + F) 25 22.5 20milliequivalents of SO.sub.3 H/mol of urea 20 22.5 25gelling time (sec.) 20 22 25gelling pH 2.0 2.0 2.0______________________________________
After comminution, each gel is stirred with 2,500 parts of water but is otherwise treated like the gels in Examples 1 - 3.
______________________________________Example No. 4 5 6______________________________________Yield (parts) 393 393 396specific surface area (m.sup.2 /g) 58.1 85.6 62.5average diameter of the primaryparticles (A) 660 480 660agglomerates (.mu.m) 3.8 3.4 3.0residual moisture (%) 3.5 3.6 3.6bulk density (g/l) 39.6 33.0 24.0oil absorbency (% DBP) 371 391 424sulphur content (%) 0.7 0.7 0.85______________________________________
______________________________________Example 7Precondensate:Urea 180 partsformaldehyde (30%) 450 partsdeionised water 300 parts30 minutes at pH 7.0 and 70.degree. Ccondensation polymer (N)-C 28.7 partsdissolved in H.sub.2 O 300 partsgelling concentration (%) 25milliequivalents of SO.sub.3 H/mol of urea 20gelling time (sec.) 18temperature variation (.degree. C) 50 .fwdarw. 65gelling pH 2.1parts of H.sub.2 O used to work up the gel 1500further working up as in Examples 1 - 3yield (parts) 237specific surface area (m.sup.2 /g) 70average diameter of the primaryparticles (A) 590average diameter of the agglomerates(.mu.m) 4.3residual moisture (%) 2.1bulk density (g/l) 130oil absorbency (% DBP) 227sulphur content (%) 0.7______________________________________
______________________________________Example 8urea (parts) 300deionised water 700formaldehyde, 30% strength 75030 minutes at pH 7 and 70.degree. Cparts of condensation polymer (N)-E 57.9dissolved in parts of H.sub.2 O 816gelling concentration (% U + F) 20milliequivalents of SO.sub.3 H/mol of urea 25gelling time (sec.) 25gelling pHtemperature variation, .degree. C 50 .fwdarw. 62parts of H.sub.2 O used to work up the gel 2500at pH 7.5drying and working up as in examples 1 - 3yield (parts) 397specific surface area (m.sup.2 /g) 63.7average diameter of primary particles (A) 650average diameter of agglomerates (.mu.m) 3.5residual moisture (%) 3.5bulk density (g/l) 37oil absorbency (% DBP) 339sulphur content (%) 0.75______________________________________
EXAMPLES 9 to 20
Table I shows further examples in which the condensation polymers (N), type F (Examples 9 - 14) and type G (Examples 15 - 20) are employed. Both series of experiments show that the properties of the polycondensates which can be prepared in this way are dependent on the molar ratio of formaldehyde/urea.
EXAMPLES 21 to 31
These examples are shown in Table II. The condensation polymer (N), type G, is employed in various concentrations. The gelling concentrations and the catalyst concentration are also varied.
EXAMPLES 32 to 44
These examples are shown in Table III and relate to the manufacture of the urea-formaldehyde polycondensation products according to the invention in the presence of various comonomers. According to Examples 39 to 44, the particular comonomer is essentially built into the molecule already during the manufacture of the precondensate (P), that is to say the total amount of comonomer is already present in the reaction mixture during the precondensation (P).
According to Examples 32 to 38, in contrast to the above method, the comonomer is only added to the reaction mixture for the final polycondensation after the manufacture of the precondensate (P) and of the condensation polymer (N). Here, therefore, the comonomer is only built into the polycondensate in the final stage.
Table I______________________________________Example No. 9 10 11 12 13 14parts of urea 300 300 300 300 300 300parts of H.sub.2 O 600 600 600 600 600 600parts of 30% strengthformaldehyde 650 700 750 800 850 900CH.sub.2 O/urea 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8precondensation 30 minutes at pH 7 and 70.degree. Ccondensation polymer(N) - type F F F F F Fpartsdissolved in partsof H.sub.2 O 55.3 55.3 55.3 55.3 55.3 55.3gelling concen-tration (% by weight) 870 895 920 945 970 995milliequivalents ofcondensation polymer(N) per mol of urea 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0gelling time (sec.) 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0gelling pH 22 20 24 29 31 44temperature rise from50 to .degree. C 62 63 62 62 59 57working up of the poly-mer as in Examples 1 - 3yield (parts) 370 382 360 399 403 393specific surface area(m.sup.2 /g) 39.7 59.3 64.7 77.9 78.8 44.9d of the primaryparticles (A) 1040 720 660 530 525 920d of the agglomerates(.mu.m) 3.4 4.9 3.7 4.7 5.3 4.4residual moisture (%) 3.6 3.5 4.0 3.8 4.2 3.8bulk density (g/l) 80 50 50 78 150 250oil absorbency (% DBP) 202 309 292 234 195 101sulphur content (%) 0.75 0.95 0.8 0.75 0.7 0.75methylol groupcontent (%) 0.06 0.57 0.86 2.06 2.29 2.98Example No. 15 16 17 18 19 20parts of urea 300 300 300 300 300 300parts of H.sub.2 O 600 600 600 600 600 600parts of 30% strengthformaldehyde 650 700 750 800 850 900CH.sub.2 O/urea 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8precondensation 30 minutes at pH 7 and 70.degree. C condensation polymer(N) - typeparts G G G G G Gdissolved in partsof H.sub.2 O 37.5 37.5 37.5 37.5 37.5 37.5gelling concen-tration (% by weight) 612.5 627.5 645.5 662.5 677.5 694.5milliequivalents ofcondensation polymer(N) per mol of urea 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5gelling time (sec.) 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5gelling pH 19 20 22 23 28 37.5temperature rise from50 to .degree. C 64 60 65 64 60 60working up of the poly-mer as in Examples 1 - 3yield (parts) 369 391 390 388 402 391specific surface area(m.sup.2 /g) 36.0 49.5 64.3 76.4 85.9 44.9d of the primaryparticles (A) 1180 830 640 540 480 920d of the agglomerates(.mu.m) 3.5 4.3 4.9 4.7 3.9 6.6residual moisture (%) 4.1 3.1 3.3 4.6 5.3 3.1bulk density (g/l) 42 39 44 60 73 250oil absorbency (% DBP) 338 418 405 330 278 103sulphur content (%) 0.95 0.75 0.80 0.70 0.70 0.70methylol groupcontent (%) 0.06 0.09 1.36 2.06 1.72 3.15______________________________________
Table II______________________________________Various gelling concentrations and amounts of catalyst atF/U = 1.7______________________________________Example No. 21 22 23 24 25parts of urea 180 180 180 180 180parts of H.sub.2 O 500 500 500 500 150parts of 30% strengthformaldehyde 510 510 510 510 510precondensation 30 minutes at pH 7 and 70.degree. Cparts of condensationpolymer (N)-G 33.3 29.0 25.0 22.5 20.0dissolved in parts ofH.sub.2 O (% by weight) 998 685 450 270 472gelling concen-tration (% by weight) 15.0 17.5 20.0 22.5 25.0milliequivalents ofcondensation polymer(N) per mol of urea 33.3 28.6 25.0 22.5 20.0gelling time (sec.) 50.0 44 38 36 33temperature rise from50 to .degree. C 58 58 61 61 63yield (parts). 223 224 230 230 238specific surface area(m.sup.2 /g) 53.9 68.9 78.6 76.6 74.8residual moisture (%) 4.2 4.8 4.3 4.3 3.5bulk density (g/l) 280 230 133 122 90oil absorbency (% DBP) 99 121 203 233 319methylol group content(%) 2.52 -- 2.36 -- 2.04______________________________________Example No. 26 27 28 29 30 31parts of urea 180 180 180 180 180 180parts of H.sub.2 O 150 150 150 -- -- --parts of 30% strengthformaldehyde 510 510 510 510 510 510precondensation 30 minutes at pH 7 and 70.degree. Cparts of condensationpolymer (N)-G 18.5 17.0 15.5 14.3 13.4 12.5dissolved in parts ofH.sub.2 O (% by weight) 355 260 170 248 185 130gelling concen-tration (% by weight) 27.5 30.0 32.5 35 37.5 40.0milliequivalents ofcondensation polymer(N) per mol of urea 18.2 16.7 15.4 14.3 13.3 12.5gelling time (sec.) 28 25 26 23 21 19temperature rise from50 to .degree. C 65 66 67 67 69 70yield (parts) 240 242 237 216 228 235specific surface area(m.sup.2 /g) 70.4 69.4 66.2 64.4 65.2 62.7residual moisture (%) 5.8 5.1 4.7 3.1 3.3 3.1bulk density (g/l) 80 89 88 101 94 105oil absorbency (% DBP) 379 399 409 336 350 353methylol group content(%) -- 2.61 2.30 3.09 3.32 3.25______________________________________
Table III______________________________________Additional use of condensation comonomers______________________________________Example No. 32 33 34 35parts of urea 162 135 162 135parts of H.sub.2 O 421 450 412 486parts of 30% strengthformaldehyde 510 510 510 510 m-comonomer, a) type phenol phenol cresol m-cresolb) parts 28.2 70.5 32.4 81c) present during FPC* FPC FPC FPCprecondensation, minutesat pH 7 and 70.degree. C 30 30 30 30parts of condensationpolymer (N)-G 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5parts of H.sub.2 O 405 405 405 405gelling concentration*** (% by weight) 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5milliequivalents ofcondensation polymer(N) per mol of urea/comonomer 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5gelling time (sec.) 31 47 18 90gelling pH 1.7 1.5 1.8 1.5temperature rise from50.degree. C to 60 58 61 62yield (parts) 251 260 254 259specific surface area(m.sup.2 /g) 67.9 45.8 35.7 29.3residual moisture (%) 3.6 2.6 3.6 3.6bulk density (g/l) 86 53 49 86oil absorbency (% DBP) 446 313 496 294Example No. 36 37 38 39parts of urea 162 135 162 180parts of H.sub.2 O 414 510 443 408parts of 30% strengthformaldehyde 510 510 510 510comonomer, a) type resorc- resorc- salicy- forma- inol inol lic acid mideb) parts 33 82.5 41.4 13.5c) present during FPC* FPC FPC UF-PC**precondensation,minutes at pH 7 and70.degree. C 30 30 30 120parts of condensationpolymer (N)-G 22.5 22.5 22.5 24.8parts of H.sub.2 O 405 405 405 405gelling concentration*** (% by weight) 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5milliequivalents ofcondensation polymer(N) per mol of urea/comonomer 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5gelling time (sec.) 7 5 32 31gelling pH 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5temperature rise from50.degree. C to 65 71 58 61yield (parts) 248 277 237 239specific surface area(m.sup.2 /g) 58.1 26.2 50.3 73.6residual moisture (%) 2.0 3.2 3.1 2.6bulk density (g/l) 51 44 197 176oil absorbency (% DBP) 520 551 158 168______________________________________Example No. 40 41 42 43 44parts of urea 180 135 300 135 162parts of H.sub.2 O 474 434 600 472 433parts of30% strengthformaldehyde 510 510 700 510 510comonomer, a) type form- oxalic acryl- biu- 5,5- amide acid amide ret dimethyl- diamide hydantoinb) parts 33.8 66 35.5 77.3 38.4c) present during UF- UF-PC UF-PC UF- UF-PC PC PCprecondensation,minutes at pH 7 and70.degree. C 120 120 120 120 120parts ofcondensationpolymer (N)-G 28.1 22.5 41 22.5 22.5parts of H.sub.2 O 405 405 625 405 405gelling concen-tration*** (% byweight) 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5milliequivalents ofcocdensation polymer(N) per mol of urea/comonomer 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5gelling time (sec.) 37 32 26 102 53gelling pH 1.6 -- 1.5 -- --temperature risefrom 50.degree. C to 61 55 60 58 58yield (parts) 247 244 250 227specific surfacearea (m.sup.2 /g) 56.2 49.4 47.4 44.9 70.6residual moisture(%) 3.7 3.2 1.8 2.1 3.5bulk density (g/l) 203 215 320 207oil absorbency(% DBP) 137.5 149 102 131.2______________________________________ *FPC = final polycondensation **UF-PC = urea-formaldehyde precondensation ***urea/formaldehyde-comonomer
Claims
  • 1. In a process for the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde condensation products the improvement according to which highly disperse, solid urea-formaldehyde condensation products are formed which contain sulpho groups and consist of compact, spherical, agglomerated primary particles having a diameter of less than 1 .mu.m, the process comprising polycondensing a precondensate (P) of urea and formaldehyde said precondensate being a cocondensate in which up to one-third of the urea is replaced by the corresponding molar amount of a comonomer selected from the group consisting of phenol, resorcinol, a cresol, salicylic acid, an acid amide, biuret, a hydantoin and a mixture thereof and a condensation polymer (N) of naphthalenesulphonic acid and formaldehyde in aqueous solution at temperatures of 20.degree. to 100.degree. C to form a gel, the components being added in such ratio that the molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea and the comonomer in the reaction mixture at the moment of gelling is 1.25 to 2, these molar ratios taking into account both the free starting products, formaldehyde, urea and comonomer, and the monomeric starting products chemically bound in the intermediate products.
  • 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein up to one-third of the urea is replaced by the corresponding molar amount of the comonomer by employing a precondensate (P) of a correspondingly lower urea content and adding the particular comonomer to the reaction mixture before or during the polycondensation.
  • 3. Highly disperse solid urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers which contain sulpho groups, consist of compact, spherical, agglomerated primary particles of diameter less than 1 .mu.m, and are manufactured in accordance with the process of claim 1.
  • 4. Pulverulent urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers according to claim 3, wherein the products have a specific surface area of 5 to 100 m.sup.2 /g, a sulphur content of 0.2 to 2.0% by weight and an average diameter of the primary particles of 0.04 to 1 .mu.m.
  • 5. Urea-formaldehyde condensation polymers according to claim 3, the molar ratio of comonomer to urea being up to 1/2.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
7809/74 Jun 1974 CH
Parent Case Info

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 576,938, filed May 12, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,132

US Referenced Citations (2)
Number Name Date Kind
2944046 Sellet Jul 1960
3553115 Curchod et al. Jan 1971
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number Date Country
315,493 Sep 1973 OE
1,907,914 Oct 1969 DT
1,361,045 Jul 1974 UK
515,517 Dec 1939 UK
1,318,244 May 1973 UK
462,846 Aug 1975 SU
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
Renner, Die Makromolekulare Chemie, 149, (1971).
Billmeyer, Textbook of Polymer Science, Interscience Publishers, N.Y. (1962), pp. 326-330.
Divisions (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 576938 May 1975