Improvements in the Production of Chlorinated and Sulphochlorinated Polyethylene.

摘要

1,172,664. Chlorosulphonating polyethylene. E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO. 4 June, 1968 [5 June, 1967; 7 May, 1968], No. 26622/68. Heading C3P. Polyethylene is continuously chlorosulphonated and chlorinated in an elongated reaction zone in which both liquid and gas phases exist by a process wherein a solution of polyethylene in an inert solvent, sulphuryl chloride and a free radical initiator are fed into one end of the reaction zone and at least 0.08 part, per part by weight of sulphuryl chloride, of chlorine is introduced near the other end, the pressure being such as to allow the escape of hydrogen chloride and sulphur dioxide from the liquid phase in the form of gas bubbles. Reaction may be effected in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. a tertiary amine, and further chlorine may be introduced and off gas removed from the reaction zone at intermediate points. Apparatus suitable for carrying out the process is described and illustrated, and examples describe the reaction of polyethylene dissolved in carbon tetrachloride and optionally chloroform, with chlorine and sulphuryl chloride in the presence of pyridine, polydimethylsiloxane and azodiisobutyronitrile, azodicyclohexane carbonitrile.