Synthetic resin composition and process for producing the same

Claim 2

A synthetic resin composition comprising at least one lanthanon compound selected from oxides, hydroxides, inorganic and/or organic acid salts and complexes, and a polymer comprising from 50 to 100% of vinyl polymer units.

Claim 3

A resin composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is a homopolymer or a copolymer obtained by polymerising at least one monomer selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and esters thereof or a copolymer obtained by polymerising a monomer mixture of the above-mentioned monomers with another copolymerisable ethylenic monomer.

Claim 4

A resin composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is a styrene homopolymer or copolymer.

Claim 5

-A resin composition according to claim 3 wherein the lanthanon is neodymium.

Claim 6

A resin composition according to any preceding claim wherein the lanthanon compound is a sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, phosphate or hydrochloride.

Claim 7

A resin composition according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the lanthanon compound is an acetate, octylate, caproate, caprylate, laurate, isoburyrate or isovalerate or a double salt thereof.

Claim 8

A synthetic resin composition according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the lanthanon compound is a salt of an organic acid of the general formula wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, or of the general formula: wherein R' is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R" is or , and n is 1 to 2.

Claim 9

A synthetic resin composition according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the complex of lanthanon compound is a complex obtained by reacting a lanthanon compound with a a-diketone or cupferron.

Claim 10

A synthetic resin composition according to any preceding claim wherein the concentration of the lanthanon compound is 0.001 to 10 wt.% based on the total composition.

Claim 11

A process for producing a synthetic resin composition according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises dispersing or dissolving at least one said lanthanon compound in a resin-forming starting material selected from vinyl monomers, monomer mixtures mainly comprising a vinyl monomer and partial polymers thereof and then polymerising the resin-forming starting material.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 10 wherein the vinyl monomer comprises at least one member of the group selected from methacrylic acid, acrylic acid and esters thereof.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 10 wherein the vinyl monomer is styrene or a monomer mixture mainly comprising styrene.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein the polymerisation is effected in a solvent capable of dissolving both the starting material and the lanthanon compound.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 13 wherein the solvent is represented by one of the following formulae: wherein R 1 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein R 2 is a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue having 1 to 9 carbon atoms and R 3 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; wherein R 4 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, A 1 is an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and is an integer of 1 to 10; wherein R 5 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R 6 is an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; wherein R 7 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue having 3 to 10 carbon atoms; and wherein R 8 is a hydroxyl group or a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, A 2 is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and m is an integer of 2 to 10.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the solvent is selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, esters containing a hydroxyl group, unsaturated or saturated alcohols and glycols.

Claim 17

A process according to any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the amount of the solvent added is up to 40 wt.%.

Claim 18

A process for producing a synthetic resin composition according to any of claims 1 to 9 which comprises blending at least one said lanthanon compound with a said polymer.