Preparation of low viscosity epoxide resins

Claim 1

A IN THE PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF MONOMERIC GLYCIDYL POLYETHERS OF BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) DIMETHYLMETHANE WHICH CONSISTS OF REACTING AN EPHIHALOHYDRIN AND BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) DIMETHYLMETHANE THROUGH A CATALYTIC CONDENSATION REACTION AND A DEHYDROHALOGENATION REACTION TO FORM THE MONOMERIC GLYCIDYL POLYETHERS USING EPIHALOHYDRIN IN EXCESS IN AN EPIHALOHYDRIN-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) RATIO OF AT LEAST 10:1, 2 MOLS OF CAUSTIC ALKALI PER MOL OF BIS (4-HYDROXYPHENYL) DIMETHYLMETHANE AND AT LEAST A TRACE OF WATER, THE IMPROVEMENT FOR PREPARING SAID MONOMERIC GLYCIDYL POLYHYDRIC ETHERS HAVING VISCOSITIES OF LESS THAN ABOUT 10,000 CENTIPOISES OF 25*C. WHICH CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF THE TWO-STEP PROCESS OF (1) MAXIMIZING THE CATALYTIC CONDENSATION REACTION WHILE CONCOMITANTLY MINIMIZING THE ACCOMPANYING CAUSTIC ALKALI DEHYDROHALOGENATION BY (A) MAINTAINING THE REACTION TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 62*C. TO 85*C., (B) UNIFORMLY ADDING THE CAUSTIC ALKALI AT A RATE OF 1.5 TO 16% OF THE TOTAL CAUSTIC PER HOUR DURING A 2 TO 5 HOUR REACTION PERIOD, UNIFORMLY BEING AT LEAST TWO ADDITIONS PER HOUR INCLUDING CONTINUOUS ADDITIONS, (C) CONTROLLING THE CAUSTIC ALKALI CONSUMED BY DEHYDROHALOGENATION DURING A GIVEN 2 TO 5 HOUR REACTION PERIOD BY REGULATION OF THE CATALYST ADDITION RATE IN INVERSE RELATION TO THE TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE TEMPERATURE RANGE TO FORM AN INTERMEDIATE REACTION PRODUCT. (D) REMOVING THE WATER FROM THE INTERMEDIATE REACTION PRODUCT, AND (2) COMPLETING THE DEHYDROHALOGENATION BY REACTING SAID INTERMEDIATE REACTION PRODUCT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE EXCESS EPIHALOHYDRIN USING THE UNADDED PORTION OF THE TOTAL CAUSTIC ALKALI AS THE DEHYDROHALOGENATING AGENT.