Abstract:
Graft polymers are produced by polymerizing one or more alkenyl aromatic monomers of the formula: CH2=CGAr wherein G is hydrogen or methyl and Ar is a C6-C10 aromatic radical, if desired in admixture with up to 100 mole per cent of one or more acrylic monomers of the formula wherein R may be hydrogen or methyl and Q may be a nitrile, amido, carboxyl or methyl or ethyl carboxyester group, in the presence of an elastomeric copolymer of ethylene and one or more vinyl ether and/or vinyl ester monomers. The polymerization is preferably carried out by dissolving the ethylene copolymer in the monomer, the reaction being accelerated by means of heat, peroxide catalysts or high energy irradiation. The examples describe: (1) polymerizing styrene with a copolymer of ethylene and the divinyl ether of diethylene glycol by heating; (2) as in (1) but employing vinyl toluene as the alkenyl aromatic monomer; (3) polymerizing styrene with a terpolymer of ethylene and the mono- and di-vinyl ethers of ethylene glycol by heating; (4) polymerizing styrene or vinyl toluene with a copolymer of ethylene and the monovinyl ether of diethylene glycol; (5) polymerizing vinyl toluene with a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate; (6) polymerizing styrene with a terpolymer of ethylene, vinyl acetate and diethylene glycol divinyl ether in the presence of tert. butyl hydroperoxide; and (7) vinyl toluene is polymerized in the presence of a terpolymer as in (6).