Imido copolymers

Claim 2

An imido copolymer consisting essentially of the reaction product of copolymerization between (i) a bis-maleimide having the structural formula (I): ##STR6## wherein A is phenylene or a divalent radical having the structural formula (II): ##STR7## in which T is --CH 2 --, --C(CH 3 ) 2 --, --O--, or --SO 2 --; and (ii) a (meth)-acrylic acid amide comonomer copolymerizable therewith, with the ratio of the number of imide functions to the number of moles of (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) ranging from 0.25 to 8.

Claim 3

The copolymer as defined by claim 1, wherein the bis-maleimide (i) is selected from the group comprising N,N'-metaphenylene bis-maleimide, N,N'-4,4'-diphenylether bis-maleimide, N,N',4,4'-diphenyl-2,2-propyl bis-maleimide, N,N',4,4'-diphenylsulfone bis-maleimide and N,N',4,4'-diphenylmethane bis-maleimide.

Claim 4

The copolymer as defined by claim 2, wherein the bis-maleimide (i) is N,N',4,4'-diphenylmethane bis-maleimide.

Claim 5

The copolymer as defined in claim 1, said ratio ranging from 1.6 to 3.5.

Claim 6

The copolymer as defined by claim 1, said (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) being selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

The copolymer as defined by claim 5, said (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) being acrylamide.

Claim 8

The copolymer as defined by claim 5, said (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) being methacrylamide.

Claim 9

The copolymer as defined by claim 5, said (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) being a mixture of acrylamide and methacrylamide.

Claim 10

The copolymer as defined by claim 5, the same being a thermoset copolymer.

Claim 11

A shaped article comprising the copolymer as defined by claim 9.

Claim 12

A process for preparing the copolymer as defined by claim 1, comprising heating said comonomers (i) and (ii) to a temperature of from 90° to 250° C.

Claim 13

The process as defined by claim 11, comprising bulk copolymerizing said comonomers until a homogeneous liquid results.

Claim 14

The process as defined by claim 12, said heating being at a temperature not in excess of 160° C.

Claim 15

The process as defined by claim 11, said comonomers being admixed with an inert organic diluent.

Claim 16

The process as defined by claim 11, further comprising heating the copolymer resulting therefrom to hardening temperatures.

Claim 17

The process as defined by claim 11, wherein said comonomers are homogenized prior to heating.

Claim 18

The process as defined by claim 11, comprising a solution copolymerization.

Claim 19

The process as defined by claim 11, comprising a suspension copolymerization.

Claim 20

The process as defined by claim 11, wherein the heating of the comonomers (i) and (ii) is conducted in the presence of a free-radical inhibitor.

Claim 21

The process as defined by claim 11, wherein the heating of the comonomers (i) and (ii) is conducted in the presence of a copolymerization catalyst.

Claim 22

A coating composition comprising the copolymer as defined by claim 5.

Claim 23

An adhesive composition comprising the copolymer as defined by claim 5.

Claim 24

An imido copolymer, comprising the reaction product of copolymerization obtained upon reacting the monomers consisting essentially of (i) a bis-maleimide having the structural formula ##STR8## wherein A is phenylene or a divalent radical having the structural formula (II): ##STR9## in which T is --CH 2 --, --C(CH 3 ) 2 --, --O--, or --SO 2 --; and (ii) a (meth)acrylic acid amide comonomer copolymerizable therewith, with the ratio of the number of imide functions to the number of moles of (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) ranging from 0.25 to 8.

Claim 25

An imido copolymer, comprising the reaction product of copolymerization obtained upon reacting the monomers consisting essentially of (i) a bis-maleimide having the structural formula ##STR8## wherein A is phenylene or a divalent radical having the structural formula (II): ##STR9## in which T is --CH 2 --, --C(CH 3 ) 2 --, --O--, or --SO 2 --; and (ii) a (meth)acrylic acid amide comonomer copolymerizable therewith, with the ratio of the number of imide functions to the number of moles of (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) ranging from 0.25 to 8.

Claim 26

The copolymer as defined by claim 23, wherein the bismaleimide (i) is N,N',4,4'-diphenylmethane bis-maleimide.

Claim 27

An imido copolymer, comprising the reaction product of copolymerization between (i) a bis-maleimide having the structural formula (I): ##STR10## wherein A is phenylene or a divalent radical having the structural formula (II): ##STR11## in which T is --CH 2 --, --C(CH 3 ) 2 --, --O-- or --SO 2 --, in admixture with a mono-imide, the number of imide functions in said mono-imide being up to 30% of the total number of imide functions in said admixture; and (ii) a (meth)acrylic acid amide comonomer copolymerizable therewith, with the ratio of the number of imide functions to the number of moles of (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) ranging from 0.25 to 8.

Claim 28

An imido copolymer, comprising the reaction product of copolymerization between (i) a bis-maleimide having the structural formula (I): ##STR10## wherein A is phenylene or a divalent radical having the structural formula (II): ##STR11## in which T is --CH 2 --, --C(CH 3 ) 2 --, --O-- or --SO 2 --, in admixture with a mono-imide, the number of imide functions in said mono-imide being up to 30% of the total number of imide functions in said admixture; and (ii) a (meth)acrylic acid amide comonomer copolymerizable therewith, with the ratio of the number of imide functions to the number of moles of (meth)acrylic acid amide (ii) ranging from 0.25 to 8.