Continuous production of hydroxylated addition polymers with reduced gel content (Continuous production of reduced gel content hydroxylated addition polymers)

摘要

The present invention relates to a composition comprising an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one free hydroxyl group such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, from about 0 to about 5 wt% of an alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid ] And a free radical addition polymer from the remaining anomers [e.g., styrene, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate] which are free radical-addition copolymerizable compounds, while reducing gel formation. The free radical addition polymerization is carried out at from about 150 to about 310 DEG C under an atmospheric pressure in the presence of at least one solvent. The solvent or volume average of the solvent mixture generally calculates the mean square root of the hydrogen bond polarity contribution of the solubility parameter of each solvent in the range of from about 6 to about 15. The entire solvent or solvents have sufficient volatility under the conditions used to effect polymerization to form a particular liquid condensate of the vapor mixture on the inner surface of the reactor apparatus located on the surface of the monomer reactant. This method enables continuous polymerization of the polymer over a long period of time with reduced formation of gel particles and gel deposits.