Novel elastomer composition and processes therefor

Claim 2

A vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising a copolymer of: (a) 89 to 40%, by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an acrylic acid ester, or mixture of acrylic acid esters, represented by the formula ##STR3## wherein R represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, --CH 2 --CH 2 OR', wherein R' represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or --CH 2 CH 2 CN; (b) 10 to 45%, by weight, same basis, of an α,β-unsaturated diester selected from bis(2-methoxyethyl)-fumarate, bis(2-methoxyethyl)maleate, or mixtures thereof; (c) 1 to 10%, by weight, same basis, of an unsaturated monomer containing either a halogen atom or an epoxy group; and (d) less than about 5%, by weight, same basis, of polybutadiene, polychloroprene, or polyisoprene having a molecular weight of from about 500 to 4000.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein said (a) is ethyl acrylate and said (c) is vinyl chloroacetate.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 2 wherein said composition comprises about 63%, by weight, of ethyl acrylate, 30%, by weight, of bis(2-methoxyethyl)fumarate, 6%, by weight, of vinyl chloroacetate and 1%, by weight of polybutadiene resin.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 1 wherein said (a) comprises a mixture of n-butyl acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl acrylate and 2-cyanoethyl acrylate in the weight percent ratio of about 65:25:10 to about 75:25:5 respectively.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 1 wherein said mixture comprises about 53 to 54%, by weight, of n-butyl acrylate, 23 to 22%, by weight, of 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, 7%, by weight, of 2-cyanoethyl acrylate, 10%, by weight, of bis(2-methoxyethyl)fumarate, 6%, by weight, of vinyl chloroacetate, and 1%, by weight, of polybutadiene resin.

Claim 7

The cured composition of claim 1.

Claim 8

The cured composition of claim 2.

Claim 9

The cured composition of claim 3.

Claim 10

The cured composition of claim 4.

Claim 11

The cured composition of claim 5.

Claim 12

A process for preparing a vulcanizable elastomer which comprises copolymerizing, in the presence of an effective amount of a free radical initiator, a mixture of (a) 89 to 40%, by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an acrylic acid ester, or mixture of acrylic acid esters, represented by the formula ##STR4## wherein R represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, --CH 2 --CH 2 OR', wherein R' represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or --CH 2 CH 2 CN; (b) 10 to 45%, by weight, same basis, of an α,β-unsaturated diester selected from bis(2-methoxyethyl)-fumarate, bis(2-methoxyethyl)maleate, or mixtures thereof; (c) 1 to 10%, by weight, same basis, of an unsaturated monomer containing either a halogen atom or an epoxy group; and (d) less than about 5%, by weight, same basis, of polybutadiene, polychloroprene, or polyisoprene having a molecular weight of from about 500 to 4000.

Claim 13

A process for preparing a vulcanizable elastomer which comprises copolymerizing, in the presence of an effective amount of a free radical initiator, a mixture of (a) 89 to 40%, by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an acrylic acid ester, or mixture of acrylic acid esters, represented by the formula ##STR4## wherein R represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, --CH 2 --CH 2 OR', wherein R' represents C 1 -C 4 alkyl, or --CH 2 CH 2 CN; (b) 10 to 45%, by weight, same basis, of an α,β-unsaturated diester selected from bis(2-methoxyethyl)-fumarate, bis(2-methoxyethyl)maleate, or mixtures thereof; (c) 1 to 10%, by weight, same basis, of an unsaturated monomer containing either a halogen atom or an epoxy group; and (d) less than about 5%, by weight, same basis, of polybutadiene, polychloroprene, or polyisoprene having a molecular weight of from about 500 to 4000.

Claim 14

The process according to claim 11 wherein said free radical initiator comprises about 0.01 to 5%, by weight, of azobisisobutyronitrile, based on the total weight of the reactants.

Claim 15

The process according to claim 11 wherein said mixture comprises 63%, by weight, of ethyl acrylate, 30%, by weight, of bis(2-methoxyethyl)fumarate, 6%, by weight, of vinyl chloroacetate and 1%, by weight, of polybutadiene resin.

Claim 16

The composition of claim 11 wherein said mixture comprises about 53 to 54%, by weight, of n-butyl acrylate, 23 to 22%, by weight, of 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, 7%, by weight, of 2-cyanoethyl acrylate, 10%, by weight, of bis(2-methoxyethyl)fumarate, 6%, by weight, of vinyl chloroacetate, and 1%, by weight, of polybutadiene resin.