Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the shaped polymeric article produced by the process when examined in thin sections by electron microscopy is seen to contain domains of vinyl polymer having dimensions not greater than 10 Mu separated by regions composed by polyurethane having dimensions not greater than 1,000 A.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the composition comprises from 5 to 60% by weight of cross-linked polyurethane precursors and from 95 to 40% by weight of at least one vinyl monomer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the composition comprises from 10 to 50% by weight of cross-linked polyurethane precursors and from 90 to 50% by weight of at least one vinyl monomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the composition comprises from 10 to 30% by weight of cross-linked polyurethane precursors and from 90 to 70% by weight of at least one vinyl monomer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the molar ratio of groups reactive with isocyanate groups to isocyanate groups in the cross-linked polyurethane precursors is in the range 0.8:1 to 1:1.1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 6 in which the molar ratio of groups reactive with isocyanate groups to isocyanate groups in the cross-linked polyurethane precursors is in the range 0.8: to 1:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the cross-linked polyurethane precursors comprise an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer and at least one other component capable of cross-linking the prepolymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the isocyanate-terminated prepolymer is formed before the polyurethane precursors are contacted with the vinyl monomer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the precursors of the cross-linked polyurethane are gelled and thereafter the vinyl monomer is polymerized at a temperature higher than that at which the gelation of the precursors is effected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 in which the precursors of the cross-linked polyurethane are gelled at a temperature at or below 30* C and the vinyl monomer is polymerized at a temperature of 40* C or higher.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 11 in which the vinyl monomer is polymerized at a temperature of 50* C or higher.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the gelation of the cross-linked polyurethane precursors is effected in the presence of a catalyst therefor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 13 in which the catalyst is dibutyl tin dilaurate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the composition contains an inhibitor for the polymerization of the vinyl monomer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the polymerization of the vinyl monomer is effected in the presence of an initiator therefor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 16 in which the initiator is di-tertiary-butylperoxide or azobisisobutyronitrile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the precursors of the cross linked polyurethane are chosen so as to form an elastomeric polyurethane after gelation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process as claimed in claim 18 in which the precursors of the cross-linked polymethane are of functionality such that, in theory, a cross-linked polyurethane will be found after gelation having a ratio of molecular weight of the polyurethane to branch points in the range 2,500:1 to 8,000:1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 in which the precursors of the cross-linked polyurethane are of functionality such that, in theory, a cross-linked polyurethane will be formed after gelation having a ratio of molecular weight of the polyurethane to branch points in the range 4,000:1 to 8,000:1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which in the composition the vinyl monomer is polyfunctional.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 21 in which the composition contains at least one monofunctional vinyl monomer and at least one polyfunctional vinyl monomer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the polyfunctional vinyl monomer is present in the composition in an amount up to 20% by weight of the monofunctional vinyl monomer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the polyfunctional vinyl monomer is present in the composition in an amount between 1% and 5% by weight of the monofunctional vinyl monomer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
100 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 which comprises gelling the precursors of a cross-linked polyurethane alone, or in admixture with at least one vinyl monomer, during the gelation of the polyurethane and before the completion thereof adding at least one vinyl monomer, or adding further increments of at least one vinyl monomer, to form a homogeneous composition, thereafter substantially completing the gelation of the cross-linked polyurethane precursors before polymerization of the vinyl monomer is allowed to proceed to the extent that the vinyl polymer so produced forms a separate phase, and thereafter completing the polymerization of the vinyl monomer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the composition is shaped by casting into a mould or by compression moulding.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the vinyl monomer is a vinyl ester, an aryl vinyl compound or a vinyl nitrile.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 27 in which the vinyl monomer is methyl methacrylate or styrene.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process as claimed in claim 27 in which the vinyl monomer is acrylonitrile, glycol dimethacrylate, a mixture of glycol dimethacrylate with nonyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate, or a mixture of any two vinyl monomers selected from methyl methacrylate, styrene and acrylonitrile.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the vinyl monomer is a vinyl halide.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 30 in which the vinyl halide is vinyl chloride.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the polyisocyanate is 4:4''-diphenylmethane diisocyanate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the polyisocyanate is hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, a mixture of hexamethylene diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate, or a mixture of 2:4- and 2:6-toluene diisocyanate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the polyfunctional compound is a polyol or a polyester.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as claimed in claim 34 in which the polyfunctional compound is poly(ethylene terephthalate), trimethylol propane; a mixture of poly(propylene glycol and oxypropylated trimethylol propane; or a mixture of poly(propylene glycol) and oxypropylated trinethylol propane with either butane-1:4-diol, or poly(ethylene adipate) or di(ethylene glycol).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process as claimed in claim 34 in which the polyfunctional compound is a pentaerythritol modified poly(oxyethylene adipate); a condensate of trimethylol propane, 1:2-propylene glycol and sebacic acid; oxypropylated trimethylol propane; or a mixture of oxypropylated trimethylol propane with either poly(ethylene adipate) or a mixture of poly(propylene glycol) and butane-1:4-diamine.