A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A CROSSLINKABLE COPOLYMER OF A LACTONE AND A POLYFUNCTIONAL ACRYLATE, THE SO OBTAINED COPOLYMER, A METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES THEREFROM AND THE SO FORMED ARTICLES

摘要

Thermoplastic, crosslinkable copolymer is produced by reacting an active-hydrogen containing initiator with a lactone monomer, such as epsilon-caprolactone, and a polyfunctional acrylate, such as neopentyl glycol diacrylate. The copolymer can be crosslinked by exposure to ionizing or actinic radiation or by free-radical peroxide catalysts. The degree of crosslinking can be controlled to produce a material which is thermoplastically processable and displays modified rheological properties which make it more easily processable than the corresponding lactone homopolymer.