Alkyl Vinyl Ether Copolymers

GAP Corporation, as described earlier, markets a series of water-soluble methyl vinyl ether-MA resins called Gantrez AN materials. 

Gantrez AN resins have been suggested as a replacement for sodium tripolyphosphate and other phosphates commonly used as detergent builders.The copolymers also function very well as stabilizer additives for heavy-duty liquid detergent formulations and as deflocculants for hard water detergents. As polymeric additives, these resins prevent scale formation or precipitation of alkaline hardness salts from saline waters. If such uses could be fully developed, a substantial market for Gantrez resins could be realized. However, lack of biodegradability and economic considerations would appear to preclude this future. 

Gantrez resins and other alkyl vinyl ether-MA copolymers, after substantial study, have also been found to be potentially useful as polysoaps, with excellent dispersant strength or emulsifying power. Ester derivatives of the materials function very effectively as polymerization dispersants. 

The resins also perform very well as aqueous thickening agents for latex paints and other applications. 

The uses of Gantrez AN resins in cosmetic preparations, such as gels. 

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Carlson, D.P. Heat stable tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymers US Patent 4,599,386, Assigned to DuPont Co., July 8, 1986. 

Phase Separation in Solutions of Maleic Acid—Alkyl Vinyl Ether Copolymers... 

In studies on hydrophobic interactions and conformational transitions of selected hydrolyzed maleic anhydride-alkyl vinyl ether copolymers (I, 2), we found that under certain conditions neutralization by base caused phase separation in aqueous solutions of the hexyl and octyl copolymers. Both the hexyl and octyl copolymers are insoluble at low pH and require partial neutralization by a base for complete dissolution. Under certain conditions, these copolymers will again precipitate as their degree of neutralization is raised with more base. Insolubility at low pH has been reported for other polyacids (3, 4). However, the phase separation at high pH contradicts the wealth of data indicating that neutralization increases the water affinity of polyacids. 

For the gasket, instead of PP, poly(phenylene sulfide), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(amide), liquid crystal polymer, tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro-alkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin, PEEK, and poly-(ether nitrile) have been found to be free of explosions and other drawbacks at the reflow temperature [47]. 

Acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene alkyl vinyl ethers copolymer, AES, alloyed with unknown pol3rmer(s)... 

Analogous to the styrene and olefin copolymers, alkyl vinyl ether copolymers may be treated with ammonia amines and alcohols to obtain a large number of derivatives. Properties of these derivatives will not be discussed here but will be touched on briefly under the application section. 

Quasi-living Carbocationic Polymerization of Alkyl Vinyl Ethers and Block Copolymer Synthesis... 

Fluorinated polymers, especially polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and perfluorinated alkyl vinyl ethers (PFAVE) as well as other fluorine-containing polymers are well known as materials with unique inertness. However, fluorinated polymers with functional groups are of much more interest because they combine the merits of pefluorinated materials and functional polymers (the terms functional monomer/ polymer will be used in this chapter to mean monomer/polymer containing functional groups, respectively). Such materials can be used, e.g., as ion exchange membranes for chlorine-alkali and fuel cells, gas separation membranes, solid polymeric superacid catalysts and polymeric reagents for various organic reactions, and chemical sensors. Of course, fully fluorinated materials are exceptionally inert, but at the same time are the most complicated to produce. 

The interactions of a-olefins or styrene with sulfur dioxide (16) or a-olefins (24, 58, 78), frans-stilbene (64), styrene (1,63), p-dioxene (52), 2,2-dimethyl-l,3-dioxole (17), or alkyl vinyl ethers (1, 63) with maleic anhydride yield charge transfer complexes which are stable and generally readily detectable either visually or by their ultraviolet absorption spectra. However, under the influence of a sufficiently energetic attack in the form of heat or free radicals, the diradical complexes open, and alternating copolymers are formed. 

Some of block copolymers with styrene derivatives are also amphiphilic, such as methyl vinyl ether-p-alkoxystyrene [88] and alkyl vinyl ether-p-hydroxystyrene (from p-r-butoxystyrene) [89] (Fig. 6). 

Dubin, P., and U. P. Strauss Hydrophobic hypercoiling in copolymers of maleic add and alkyl vinyl ethers. J. Phys. Chem. 71, 2757 (1967). 

Adhesive compositions for reducing, inhibiting and/or preventing calculus, tartar, plaque and/or microbes in the oral cavity comprise from about 15 to 70% of an alkyl vinyl ether maleic copolymer or terpolymer denture adhesive component, an effective amount of a quaternary ammoiuum antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of cetylpy ridinium chloride, domiphenbromide or mixtures thereof, and a non-aqueous vehicle. 

Separation into two phases may occur not only in solids but also in solution. This has been observed in copolymers of maleic acid with alkyl vinyl ethers by U. P. Strauss and P. Lane. The microstructure of two-phase poly (methyl methacrylate) is the subject of D. T. Turner and R. P. Kusy. 

Table 16. Phase behavior of block copolymers of (perfluorooctyl)ethyl vinyl ether and n-[(4 -(4"-cyanophe-nyl)phenoxy)alkyl]vinyl ethers (PR,-PCNVEn) or 2-f(4 -biphenyloxy)ethyl]vinyl ether (PRf-PbiPHVE2) (Scheme 31) [317],...

When the reactivity of the two monomers is similar and steric factors are absent sequential block copolymerization can be used successfully. Alkyl vinyl ethers have similar reactivity and therefore a large variety of AB or BA type diblock copolymers could be prepared by sequential block copolymerization. A recent review is available [172]. Typical examples are shown [173] in Figure 26.1. 

Cationic polymerization is a very important procedure that has been adopted to prepare block copolymers consisting of monomeric units that cannot be polymerized by other methods, such as isobutylene (IB) and alkyl vinyl ethers (VEs), thus enhancing the potential of macromolecular engineering. Cationic polymerization proceeds through carbenium (or oxonium) sites in a controlled/living mode if appropriate conditions such as initiation/coinitiation (Lewis acid), additives, solvent, and temperature have been chosen. 

Acrylate rubber, based on ethyl acrylate with other acrylics Acrylic elastomer, e.g., alkyl acrylate-2-chloroethyl vinyl ether copolymer... 

On the other hand, copolymers of maleic acid with various vinyl monomers had been investigated in studying the influence of local charge density on polyelectrolyte properties, and some alternating copolymers of maleic acid with n-alkyl vinyl ethers were found to undergo the conformational transitions from the compact form to the extended coil upon ionization of primary carboxyl groups in maleic acid. " The hydrophobic interaction seems to be responsible for stabilization of the compact form. Viscometric, potentiometric and calorimetric measurements have been used to study the transition mechanisms. 

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