Continuous process for the preparation of nonrandom copolymers of ethylene and an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and ionomers prepared from that nonrandom copolymer.

摘要

There is provided a continuous, steady state process for the preparation of nonrandom ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers in at least 2 constant environment, stirred autoclaves in series wherein the first autoclave is maintained at the pressure in the range of 800 to 3000 atmospheres (11.8 to 44.1 kpsi) and at a temperature in the range of 120° to 200°C in a single phase reaction mixture at the given concentration of copolymer in the reaction mixture and at the given acid comonomer content of the copolymer and wherein each succeeding autoclave is maintained at a temperature of at least 30°C in excess of the preceding autoclave. The copolymers thus obtained have a ratio of percent adjacent acid to weight percent acid in the copolymer of from above 0.44 to about 1.0. These copolymers have improved stiffness and are particularly useful in sheeting, blow molding, and packaging applications and for conversion to ionomers which are also useful for similar applications.