Epoxy-modified polyolefin wax, process for preparation thereof and thermosetting resinous composition comprising said wax

Claim 2

An epoxy--modified polyolefin wax, which consists of a low-molecular-weight polyolefin grafted, copolymerized and modified with an epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound represented by the following formula (A) or (B): ##STR3## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group containing a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, or ##STR4## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group having a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, and R' stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms, and has a number average molecular weight of from 600 to 10,000 and an epoxy equivalent of from 200 to 100,000.

Claim 3

An epoxy-modified polyolefin wax as set forth in claim 1 wherein the number average molecular weight is in the range of from 700 to 6,000 and the epoxy equivalent is in the range of from 200 to 10,000.

Claim 4

An epoxy-modified polyolefin wax as set forth in claim 1 wherein the low-molecular-weight polyolefin is a low-molecular-weight polyolefin having an ethylene content of at least 70 mole %.

Claim 5

An epoxy-modified polyolefin wax as set forth in claim 1 wherein the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is a compound represented by the following formula: ##STR5## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group containing a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Claim 6

An epoxy-modified polyolefin was as set forth in claim 4 wherein the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is allyl glycidyl ether or 2-methylallyl glycidyl ether.

Claim 7

An epoxy-modified polyolefin wax as set forth in claim 4 wherein the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is isopropenylphenyl glycidyl ether or allylphenyl glycidyl ether.

Claim 8

An epoxy-modified polyolefin wax as set forth in claim 1 wherein the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is a compound represented by the following formula: ##STR6## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group having a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, and R' stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms.

Claim 9

An epoxy-modified polyolefin was as set forth in claim 7 wherein the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is 2-(allylphenyl)ethylene oxide.

Claim 10

An epoxy-modified polyolefin wax as set forth in claim 1 which has a haze less than 3.1% in the molten state.

Claim 11

A process for the preparation of epoxy-modified waxes which comprises reacting a polyolefin wax with an epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound in the presence of a radical initiator, wherein (1) the reaction is carried out substantially in the absence of a solvent, (2) the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is a member selected from compounds represented by the following formula: ##STR7## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group containing a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, and compounds represented by the following formula: ##STR8## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group having a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, and R' stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms, and (3) the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is fed at a rate of 10 -5 to 10 -2 mole/hr per gram of the starting polyolefin wax, whereby an epoxy-modified polyolefin wax having a number average molecular weight of from 600 to 10,000 and an epoxy equivalent of from 200 to 100,000 is obtained.

Claim 12

A process for the preparation of epoxy-modified waxes which comprises reacting a polyolefin wax with an epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound in the presence of a radical initiator, wherein (1) the reaction is carried out substantially in the absence of a solvent, (2) the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is a member selected from compounds represented by the following formula: ##STR7## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group containing a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, and compounds represented by the following formula: ##STR8## wherein R stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group having a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond, and R' stands for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having up to 4 carbon atoms, and (3) the epoxy group-containing, ethylenically unsaturated compound is fed at a rate of 10 -5 to 10 -2 mole/hr per gram of the starting polyolefin wax, whereby an epoxy-modified polyolefin wax having a number average molecular weight of from 600 to 10,000 and an epoxy equivalent of from 200 to 100,000 is obtained.