Polymeric matrix containing β-eliminating polymer and process for preparing same

Claim 2

A polymeric product adapted to utilization in a diffusion control layer, comprising a preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix material comprising recurring units from diacetone acrylamide, butylacrylate and acrylic acid, said matrix material having polymerized therein a polymer of a mixture of a β-elimination monomer capable of undergoing β-elimination in an alkaline environment and a copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer, said product having been obtained by polymerizing said β-elimination monomer and said copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer in the presence of said preformed emulsion polymer matrix, said β-elimination monomer having the formula ##STR10## wherein R is an ethylenically unsaturated group of two or three carbon atoms; A, D and E are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and phenyl provided that no more than one of A, E or D may be methyl or phenyl; and Y is an activating group which activates said β-elimination.

Claim 3

The polymeric product of claim 1 wherein said mixture of β-elimination monomer and copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer comprises a mixture of 2-cyanoethyl acrylate and diacetone acrylamide.

Claim 4

A process for preparing a polymeric product adapted to utilization in a diffusion control layer which comprises preparing a preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix by the aqueous emulsion polymerization of a mixture of copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated monomers comprising diacetone acrylamide, butylacrylate and acrylic acid; upon substantial completion of said polymerization, introducing to said preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix a mixture of a β-elimination monomer capable of undergoing β-elimination in an alkaline environment and a copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer; and conducting the polymerization of said mixture of β-elimination monomer and copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer in the presence of said preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix; said β-elimination monomer having the formula ##STR11## wherein R is an ethylenically-unsaturated group of two or three carbon atoms; A, D and E are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and phenyl provided that no more than one of A, E or D may be methyl or phenyl; and Y is an activating group which activates said β-elimination.

Claim 5

A process for preparing a polymeric product adapted to utilization in a diffusion control layer which comprises preparing a preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix by the aqueous emulsion polymerization of a mixture of copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated monomers comprising diacetone acrylamide, butylacrylate and acrylic acid; upon substantial completion of said polymerization, introducing to said preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix a mixture of a β-elimination monomer capable of undergoing β-elimination in an alkaline environment and a copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer; and conducting the polymerization of said mixture of β-elimination monomer and copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer in the presence of said preformed aqueous emulsion polymer matrix; said β-elimination monomer having the formula ##STR11## wherein R is an ethylenically-unsaturated group of two or three carbon atoms; A, D and E are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and phenyl provided that no more than one of A, E or D may be methyl or phenyl; and Y is an activating group which activates said β-elimination.

Claim 6

The process of claim 3 wherein said mixture of β-elimination monomer and copolymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer comprises a mixture of 2-cyano-ethyl acrylate and diacetone acrylamide.

Claim 7

The polymeric product of claim 1 wherein said activating group is selected from the group consisting of --SO 2 W, ##STR12## and --CN where W is C 6 H 5 CH 3 , --CH 3 , --OC 2 H 3 , --C 6 H 5 , --NR 2 , --N(CH 2 C 6 H 5 ) 2 ; T is --OC 2 H 5 , --CH 3 , --H, --NH 2 , --NR 2 ; G is phenyl, methyl or ethyl and R is alkyl.

Claim 8

The process of claim 3 wherein said activating group is selected from the group consisting of --SO 2 W, ##STR13## and --CN where W is C 6 H 5 CH 3 , --CH 3 , --OC 2 H 3 , --C 6 H 5 , --NR 2 , --N(CH 2 C 6 H 5 ) 2 ; T is --OC 2 H 5 , --CH 3 , --H, --NH 2 , --NR 2 ; G is phenyl, methyl or ethyl and R is alkyl.