Ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymers

The formulation for Impet from Ticona (a Division of the Hoechst Celanese Corporation) is described in United States Patent 6 020414 [43], The latter discloses toughened PET formulations based on an ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer and an ethylene-alkyl methacrylate copolymer. The crux of this patent is to use a combination of an elastomeric terpolymer functionalized with glycidyl acrylate or glycidyl methacrylate and an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate (the latter forming the major part of the combination - up to 40wt%). For instance,... 

The Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Ethylene-Alkyl Acrylate Copolymers... 

Poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) yields truly compatible blends with poly(vinyl acetate) up to 20% PEMA concentration (133). Synergistic improvement in material properties was observed. Poly(ethylene oxide) forms compatible homogeneous blends with poly(vinyl acetate) (134). The T of the blends and the crystaUizabiUty of the PEO depend on the composition. The miscibility window of poly(vinyl acetate) and its copolymers with alkyl acrylates can be broadened through the incorporation of acryUc acid as a third component (135). A description of compatible and incompatible blends of poly(vinyl acetate) and other copolymers has been compiled (136). Blends of poly(vinyl acetate) copolymers with urethanes can provide improved heat resistance to the product providing reduced creep rates in adhesives used for vinyl laminating (137). 

The homopolymers, which are formed from alkyl cyanoacrylate monomers, are inherently brittle. For applications which require a toughened adhesive, rubbers or elastomers can be added to improve toughness, without a substantial loss of adhesion. The rubbers and elastomers which have been used for toughening, include ethylene/acrylate copolymers, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) copolymers, and methacrylate/butadiene/styrene (MBS) copolymers. In general, the toughening agents are incorporated into the adhesive at 5-20 wt.% of the monomer. 

An example of this improvement in toughness can be demonstrated by the addition of Vamac B-124, an ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer from DuPont, to ethyl cyanoacrylate [24-26]. Three model instant adhesive formulations, a control without any polymeric additive (A), a formulation with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (B), and a formulation with Vamac B-124 (C), are shown in Table 4. The formulation with PMMA, a thermoplastic which is added to modify viscosity, was included to determine if the addition of any polymer, not only rubbers, could improve the toughness properties of an alkyl cyanoacrylate instant adhesive. To demonstrate an improvement in toughness, the three formulations were tested for impact strength, 180° peel strength, and lapshear adhesive strength on steel specimens, before and after thermal exposure at 121°C. 

Aqueous, removable, pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions, useful for high-performance applications, comprise a mixture of a copolymer of alkyl (meth)acrylate and N-substituted (poly)amide of (meth)acrylic acid and a copolymer of alkyl (meth)acrylate and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, where at least one of the copolymers is an emulsion copolymer. Polyoxyalkyl-enes and phosphate esters may be used as surfactants [234]. 

Several flexible polymers, such as natural rubber (NR) synthetic rubber (SR) polyalkyl acrylates copolymers of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene, (ABS) and polyvinyl alkyl ethers, have been used to improve the impact resistance of PS and PVC. PS and copolymers of ethylene and propylene have been used to increase the ductility of polyphenylene oxide (PPO) and nylon 66, respectively. The mechanical properties of several other engineering plastics have been improved by blending them with thermoplastics. 

Tphis paper is concerned with the effect of ionizing radiation on the physical and mechanical properties of copolymers of ethylene with alkyl acrylates, such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and 2-ethvlhexyl acrylate (J, 2, 3). These polymers are made by the free radical copolymerization of ethylene under high pressure with alkyl esters of acrylic acid (9). They are more flexible than polyethylene and because of the polar nature of the comonomer, they are more compatible with fillers and with other polymers than is polyethylene. 

By polymerization of mixtures of monomers of ethylene and the acid in a tubular reactor, and hydrolysis of copolymers of ethylene and alkyl acrylates, which converts the ester groups to carboxylic acid groups. 

In order to produce a resin with excellent impact strength and at the same time excellent weather resistance and aging resistance, it is essential to eliminate the unsaturated ethylene polymer from the graft copolymer. Therefore, ASA polymers that are crosslinked with the alkyl acrylate rubber polymer are preferred (17). 

Polymeric steric stabilizer such as poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPo),poly(acrylic acid), poly(hydroxypropyl)cellulose, etc., are used to prepare monodisperse polymer in dispersion polymerization of monomers such as alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, and styrene in polar media. AB and ABA block copolymers are a second type of steric stabilizer which can be used in dispersion polymerization. For example, the poly(styrene-h-ethylene oxide) was recently used by Winnik et al. [6] in the dispersion polymerization of styrene in methanol. 

There exist many alternating copolymerizations ethylene or propene with alkyl acrylates [244], vinyl acetate with maleic anhydride [245], styrene with acrylonitrile [246], styrene with fumaronitrile [247], vinyl carbazol with fumaronitrile, vinyl ferrocenne with diethylfumarate [248], and further pairs or systems of three monomers [238, 249-253]. External conditions can support or hinder alternation. At not too high temperatures, vinyl acetate forms a donor—acceptor complex with maleic anhydride. Under these conditions (and in the presence of a radical initiator), an alternating copolymer is formed. The concentration of the complex decreases with increasing temperature above 363 K the complex cannot exist. Under these conditions, copolymerization yields a statistical copolymer whose composition depends on the composition of the monomer mixture [245]. 

Chlorinated, sulfonated, chlorosulfonated or epoxidized polymers, homopolymers and copolymers of functionalized monomers, e.g. poly(methacryl aldehyde), poly(2,3-epoxypropyl acrylate), poly(4-vinylphenol), poly(propylene-co-10-unde-cene-l-ol), poly(butadiene-co-methacryl aldehyde), poly(butadiene-co-acrylic acid), poly(ethylene-co-alkyl acrylate), poly(alkyl acrylate-co-2,3-epoxypropyl acrylate), poly(alkyl acrylate-co-maleic anhydride), poly(styrene-co-4-vinylbenzyl chloride)... 

The halide-containing (co)polymers, such as PVC or PVDC, recovered from commingled polymer scrap were contaminated by low melting point PA S [e.g., PA-6, PA-1212 or PARA]. The recyclate was compatibilized and impact modified by addition of an acrylic copolymer of ethylene, alkyl(meth)acrylate, vinylacetate, (meth)acrylic acid, CO and MA. To prevent degradation, the blends were processed at T < 220°C, then formed by extrusion or injection molding into a variety of articles [Hofmann, 1994]. 

Acetyl tri butyl citrate Acetyl triethyl citrate Acetyl trimethyl citrate Cellulose acetate butyrate Cellulose acetate propionate Ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate Ethylene/acrylic acid/vinyl acetate copolymer PVM/MA copolymer, isopropyl ester Trihexyl citrate Trimethyl citrate film-former, colored cosmetics Diisostearoyl trimethylolpropane siloxy silicate film-former, conditioners Hydrolyzed wheat protein Polyquaternium-6 film-former, conditioning shampoo Polyquaternium-2 film-former, cosmetic emulsions Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer film-former, cosmetic topicals PEG-8/SMDI copolymer PPG-51/SMDI copolymer... 

Acetylated lecithin Aery I ates/C 10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer Calcium liqnosulfonate Carbomer 934 Carbomer 940 Carbomer 941 Ceteareth-6 Ceteareth-50 Cholesteryl stearate C13-15 pareth-30 Dihydroxyethyl cocamine oxide Ethoxyethanol Ethylene/acrylic acid, copolymer EthyleneA A copolymer Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose... 

Polar copolymers of ethylene, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and ethylene-ethyl acrylate (EEA), are readily crosslinked upon exposure to high energy irradiation [88]. In fact, the melt index of EVA can be controlled by the use of low doses (<50 kGy) of irradiation [89]. The presence in polar ethylene copolymers of comonomer units such as vinyl acetate or alkyl acrylates (methyl, ethyl and n-butyl) proportionately reduces the level of crystallinity, and since the majority of radiation responses of interest take place in the amorphous phase, the responses are more uniform throughout the polymer mass. When the irradiation is done at room temperature, the physical properties after irradiation follow the same trend as polyethylene [90]. 

Heat-shrinkable film comprised single-site catalyzed Babrowicz et al. (1994) copolymer of ethylene and a 3-8C alpha-olefin, LLDPE with p > 9(X) kg m blended with another polymer of ethylene and a 3-8C alpha-olefin and a second comonomer [e.g., vinyl acetate, alkyl acrylate, CO, butadiene, styrene, acrylic acid, and a metal salt of an acrylic acid], or an alpha-olefin homopol3uner. The films had improved shrinkability, impact resistance, and optical properties as compared to prior art and were used in packaging... 

Oligomer and polymer additives with a primary or secondary amino group or with tertiary nitrogen able to bind water-soluble dyes containing acid groups, assortment palette of which is very wide. This function is fulfilled, e.g. by ethylene copolymers with alkyl amino-acrylates, vinylpyridine, N-vinylcarbazole and acrylamide, further acrylate copolymers, copolyamides with the derivatives of piperazine, polyaminotriazoles, polyureas and styrene-amine resins. They are added to PP before spinning in an amount up to lOwt.%... 

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