Method for producing copolymers

Claim 2

IN THE METHOD OF PRODUCING AN OLEFIN-UNSATURATED ACID ANHYDRIDE COMPOLYMER WHEREIN AN OLEFIN AND AN UNSATURATED ACID ANHYDRIDE ARE POLYMERIZED IN THE PRESENCE OF A RADICAL TYPE POLYMERIZATION CATALYST IN A SOLVENT WHICH DISSOLVE REACTANT MONOMERS BUT DOES NOT DISSOLVE THE COPOLYMER PRODUCTS SUBSTANTIALLY, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INCORPORATING INTO THE POLYMERIZATION REACTION MIXTURE, AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT, NOT LESS THAN 0.001 PERCENT OF THE WEIGHT OF THE UNSATURATE ACID ANHYDIDE, OF A MOLECULAR WEIGHT LOWERING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF

Claim 3

GROUPS I TO IV METAL SALTS, HYDROXIDES OR OXIDES, AND

Claim 4

GROUPS I TO IV METAL SALTS, HYDROXIDES OR OXIDES, AND

Claim 5

COMPOUNDS HAVING PRIMARY, SECONDARY OR TERTIARY ALIPHATIC AMINE, PRIMARY OR SECONDARY AROMTIC AMINE OR AMMONIUM GROUPS, WHEREBY THE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF THE COPOLYMER IS LOWERED.

Claim 6

COMPOUNDS HAVING PRIMARY, SECONDARY OR TERTIARY ALIPHATIC AMINE, PRIMARY OR SECONDARY AROMTIC AMINE OR AMMONIUM GROUPS, WHEREBY THE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF THE COPOLYMER IS LOWERED.

Claim 7

compounds having primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic amine, primary or secondary aromatic amine or ammonium groups, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 8

compounds having primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic amine, primary or secondary aromatic amine or ammonium groups, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein the anhydride is maleic acid anhydride.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin is a C4 hydrocarbon.

Claim 11

In the method of producing an olefin-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer wherein an olefin and an unsaturated aliphatic acid anhydride are polymerized in the presence of a radical type polymerization catalyst and a solvent which dissolves reactant monomers but does not dissolve the copolymer products substantially, the improvement which comprises incorporating into the polymerization reaction mixture an effective amount, not less than 0.001 percent based on the weight of tHe anhydride, of a molecular weight lowering agent selected from the group consisting of Groups I to IV metal salts, hydroxides or oxides, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 12

In the method of producing an olefin-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer wherein an olefin and an unsaturated aliphatic acid anhydride are polymerized in the presence of a radical type polymerization catalyst and a solvent which dissolves reactant monomers but does not dissolve the copolymer products substantially, the improvement which comprises incorporating into the polymerization reaction mixture an effective amount, not less than 0.001 percent based on the weight of tHe anhydride, of a molecular weight lowering agent selected from the group consisting of Groups I to IV metal salts, hydroxides or oxides, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 13

The method of claim 4 wherein the anhydride is maleic acid anhydride.

Claim 14

The method of claim 4 wherein the olefin is a C4 hydrocarbon.

Claim 15

The method of claim 4 wherein the agent is an hydroxide.

Claim 16

The method of claim 4 wherein the agent is an oxide.

Claim 17

In the method of producing an olefin-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer wherein an olefin and unsaturated acid anhydride are polymerized in the presence of a radical type polymerization catalyst and a solvent which dissolves reactant monomers but does not dissolve product polymers substantially, the improvement which comprises incorporating into the polymerization reaction mixture, an effective amount not less than 0.001 percent of the weight of the anhydride, of a molecular weight lowering agent selected from the group consisting of compounds having primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic amine, primary or secondary aromatic amine or ammonium groups, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 18

In the method of producing an olefin-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer wherein an olefin and unsaturated acid anhydride are polymerized in the presence of a radical type polymerization catalyst and a solvent which dissolves reactant monomers but does not dissolve product polymers substantially, the improvement which comprises incorporating into the polymerization reaction mixture, an effective amount not less than 0.001 percent of the weight of the anhydride, of a molecular weight lowering agent selected from the group consisting of compounds having primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic amine, primary or secondary aromatic amine or ammonium groups, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 19

The method of claim 9 wherein the molecular weight lowering agent is a member selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic amine.

Claim 20

The method of claim 9 wherein the molecular weight lowering agent is an amide.

Claim 21

The method of claim 9 wherein the molecular weight lowering agent is an ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid.

Claim 22

In the method of producing an olefin-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer wherein an olefin and an unsaturated acid anhydride are polymerized in the presence of a radical type polymerization catalyst, in a solvent which dissolves reactant monomers but does not dissolve the copolymer product substantially, the improvement which comprises incorporating into the polymerization reaction mixture, an effective amount not less than 0.001 percent based on the weight of the anhydride, of a molecular weight lowering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium sulfate, sodium oxalate, sodium maleate, potassium carbonate, potassium acetate, potassium nitrate, copper nitrate, cuprous chloride, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, zinc acetate, calcium hydroxide, aluminum chloride, aluminum acetate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide and stannous chloride, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 23

In the method of producing an olefin-unsaturated acid anhydride copolymer wherein an olefin and an unsaturated acid anhydride are polymerized in the presence of a radical type polymerization catalyst, in a solvent which dissolves reactant monomers but does not dissolve the copolymer product substantially, the improvement which comprises incorporating into the polymerization reaction mixture, an effective amount not less than 0.001 percent based on the weight of the anhydride, of a molecular weight lowering agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium sulfate, sodium oxalate, sodium maleate, potassium carbonate, potassium acetate, potassium nitrate, copper nitrate, cuprous chloride, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, zinc acetate, calcium hydroxide, aluminum chloride, aluminum acetate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide and stannous chloride, whereby the molecular weight of the copolymer is lowered.

Claim 24

The method of claim 9 wherein the molecular weight lowering agent is a member selected from the group consisting of triethyl amine, diethyl amine, methylene diamine, ethyl amine, aniline, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, ammonium acetate, acetamide and urea.

Claim 25

The method of claim 9 wherein the molecular weight lowering agent is urea.

Claim 26

The method of claim 13 wherein the solvent is a member selected from the group consisting of (1) isopropyl acetate, (2) a mixed solvent of isopropyl acetate and n-hexane, (3) a mixed solvent of ethyl acetate and tert-butanol, (4) a mixed solvent of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane, (5) a mixed solvent of methyl acetate and n-hexane, (6) benzene and (7) dioxane.

Claim 27

The method of claim 16 wherein the solvent is isopropyl acetate.

Claim 28

The method of claim 16 wherein the solvent is a mixed solvent of 60 to 90 weight percent of ethyl acetate and 40 to 10 weight percent of tert-butanol.