Process and composition for polymerizing and curing methyl methacrylate monomer-polymer syrups in the presence of metal salts of hemi-peresters of maleic acid

Claim 2

An improved mixture for preparing polymeric articles consisting of a syrup containing 1-40% by weight of a polymer substantially dissolved in an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or mixtures thereof, and a small amount of a metal salt of a hemi-perester of maleic acid having the formula ##STR3## wherein Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals, Group IIA metals, zinc, lead, cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper; x is an integer having a value of from 1 to the valence of the metal; and R is a saturated tertiary alkyl radical wherein the improvement comprises the presence of a salt of an oxo acid of sulfur activator selected from the group consisting of bisulfite, metabisulfite and thiosulfate salts or the free acid and the presence of a polar liquid.

Claim 3

The improved mixture of claim 1 containing in said syrup 10-40% by weight of said polymer.

Claim 4

The improved mixture of claim 2 wherein said polymer component of said syrup is an addition polymer or a condensation polymer.

Claim 5

The improved mixture of claim 1 wherein said ethylenically unsaturated monomer is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, esters, amides and nitriles of acrylic and methacrylic acids, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, ring-substituted styrenes, vinyl esters, alpha-olefins, conjugated dienes, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, trichlorofluoroethylene, and mono- and dialkyl esters of maleic, fumaric, and itaconic acids, with the proviso that said monomers or mixtures of monomers are capable of homopolymerization or copolymerization.

Claim 6

The improved mixture of claim 3 wherein said activator and said polar liquid are present as an aqueous solution of sodium bisulfite or sodium metabisulfite.

Claim 7

An improved mixture for preparing polymeric articles consisting essentially of a syrup containing 10-40% by weight of a polyester substantially dissolved in an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated compound or mixtures thereof, and a small amount of a metal salt of a hemi-perester of maleic acid having the formula ##STR4## wherein Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals, Group IIA metals, zinc, lead, cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper; x is an integer having a value of from 1 to the valence of the metal; and R is a saturated tertiary alkyl radical wherein the improvement comprises the presence of a salt of an oxo acid of sulfur activator selected from the group consisting of bisulfite, metabisulfite and thiosulfate salts or the free acid and the presence of a polar liquid.

Claim 8

An improved mixture for preparing polymeric articles consisting essentially of a syrup containing 10-40% by weight of a polyester substantially dissolved in an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated compound or mixtures thereof, and a small amount of a metal salt of a hemi-perester of maleic acid having the formula ##STR4## wherein Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals, Group IIA metals, zinc, lead, cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper; x is an integer having a value of from 1 to the valence of the metal; and R is a saturated tertiary alkyl radical wherein the improvement comprises the presence of a salt of an oxo acid of sulfur activator selected from the group consisting of bisulfite, metabisulfite and thiosulfate salts or the free acid and the presence of a polar liquid.

Claim 9

The mixture of claim 6 wherein said salt of an oxo acid of sulfur activator is present in a ratio to said salt of hemi-perester of maleic acid of from approximately 1:7 to approximately 4:1 by weight.