GB620963A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of carbon dioxide-modified polymers of ethylene - Google Patents

Abstract

Carbon dioxide-modified ethylene polymers are prepared by heating ethylene and carbon dioxide in a weight ratio of 0.5-5 to 1 at 50-400 DEG C. under a pressure above 100 atmospheres in the presence of a compound which generates free radicals and which catalyses the polymerization of ethylene. Interpolymers and telomers may be similarly modified. The process may be carried out continuously in bulk, using a liquid medium, e.g. benzene, chlorobenzene, iso-octane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane and water, or in emulsion or granular systems. Catalysts specified are diacetyl, acetyl benzoyl, dipropionyl, dilauroyl, benzoyl, dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl, di-(tert.-butyl) tetrahydronaphthalene, cyclohexanone and acetone peroxides; hydrazine hydrochloride and sulphate, dibenzoyl- and dimethylhydrazines, trimethyl - hydrazinium iodide; pyridine, trimethylamine and dimethylaniline oxides; alkali metal and ammonium persulphates, perborates and percarbonates; benzalazine, heptaldazine, diphenylketazine; acetone, d-camphor, a -benzil, butyrald, a -benzoin and dimethylglyamines; phenylhydrazones of benzaldehyde, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, acetophenone, benzophenone, menthane and camphor; semicarbazones of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, biacetyl, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, propiophenone, benzophenone and camphor; Schiff's bases, e.g. benzalamine, benzol-o- and p-toluidine benzaldehyde derivatives of methylamine, ethylamine and heptylamine; acetaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde and heptaldehyde anils; tetramethyl lead; oxygen. The products may be formed into films or used in making polishes, e.g. by compounding with paraffin wax and turpentine, inks, lubricants, coating and impregnating agents. Specification 581,899 is referred to.