Amorphous complexes of polythioethers with salts

Claim 2

A polymeric material which comprises an amorphous solid solution formed between a metallic salt and a polymer by virtue of a multiplicity of thioether linkages present in the backbone of said polymer or in pendant groups of said polymer or both, the metal of the metallic salt being selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Al, La and other lanthanides.

Claim 3

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which, when the metal of the metallic salt is zinc, the non-metallic moiety of the metallic salt is other than chlorine.

Claim 4

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the polymer comprises at least 5 mole % thioether linkages.

Claim 5

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the polymer comprises no more than 50 mole % thioether linkages.

Claim 6

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the polymer is a polythioether, and a copolymer of a polyether and a polythioether.

Claim 7

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the polymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of: a sulfide analogue of an alkylene oxide, a vinylether, phenylene oxide, styrene oxide, formaldehyde or epichlorohydrin.

Claim 8

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the metal in the metallic salt is Zn, Co, Sn, Ni, Fe, Hg, Zr, Al, Mg, or Ag.

Claim 9

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the metallic salt comprises an anion selected from the group consisting of F - , Cl - , Br - , I - , No 3 - , CNS - , NCS - , SO - , ClO 3 - , ClO 4 - , CO - , phosphates, acetate or other organic anion.

Claim 10

A polymeric material according to claim 8, in which the anion is other than I - , ClO 3 - , or a phosphate.

Claim 11

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the metallic salt is zinc bromide.

Claim 12

A polymeric material according to claim 10, in which the metallic salt is zinc bromide and the polymer is poly (propylene sulfide).

Claim 13

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the concentration of the metallic salt in the polymer is at least 2 mole % of the total thioether linkages.

Claim 14

A polymeric material according to claim 1, in which the concentration of the metallic salt in the polymeric material is no greater than 50 mole % of the total thioether linkages.

Claim 15

An electret film comprising a polymeric material according to claim 1.

Claim 16

A dielectric absorber comprising a polymeric material according to claim 1.

Claim 17

A microwave oven seal comprising a material according to claim 1.

Claim 18

A dielectric welding material comprising a material according to claim 1.

Claim 19

A process for the production of an amorphous solid solution formed between a metallic salt and a polymer, by virtue of a plurality of thioether linkages which are present in the backbone of said polymer or in pendant groups of said polymer or in both, which comprises: preparing a solution of a polymer and a metallic salt in a solvent, wherein the metal of said metallic salt is in its atmospherically stable oxidation state and is selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Al, La and other lanthanides; removing the solvent from said solution at a rate such that the resulting polymeric product remains predominantly in a single phase; and recovering an amorphous solid solution of said metallic salt in said polymer.

Claim 20

A process for the production of an amorphous solid solution formed between a metallic salt and a polymer, by virtue of a plurality of thioether linkages which are present in the backbone of said polymer or in pendant groups of said polymer or in both, which comprises: preparing a solution of a polymer and a metallic salt in a solvent, wherein the metal of said metallic salt is in its atmospherically stable oxidation state and is selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Al, La and other lanthanides; removing the solvent from said solution at a rate such that the resulting polymeric product remains predominantly in a single phase; and recovering an amorphous solid solution of said metallic salt in said polymer.

Claim 21

The process of claim 18, wherein the removal of said solvent is carried out at a temperature of about 100° C. or less.

Claim 22

The process of claim 18, wherein said solvent is removed by passage of a stream of gas over the surface of said solution.

Claim 23

The process of claim 18, wherein said solvent is a mixture of a polar solvent and a less polar cosolvent.

Claim 24

The amorphous solid solution prepared by the process of claim 18.