Inventors:
Waylon L. Jenkins - Kingsport TN
James M. Hawkins - Kingsport TN
I. Daniel Sand - Jonesborough TN
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY
International Classification:
C08G 8100, C08G 8300
Abstract:
The present invention relates to novel graft copolymers and to a novel process for the preparation thereof. The polymeric compositions provided by the present invention comprise the reaction product of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a carboxylated cellulose ester having an acid number of at least about 5, an inherent viscosity of from about 0. 01 to about 1. 00 and wherein the anhydroglucose units thereof have ring substituents comprising by weight based on total polymer weight, of from about 0. 05 to about 20% hydroxyl groups, from about 0. 5 to about 44% acetyl groups, from 0 to about 54% butyryl groups, from 0 to about 47% propionyl groups, from about 0. 4 to about 4. 0% total carboxyl groups wherein from about 20% to about 100% of these carboxyl groups are non-saponifiable backbone, and wherein the material has a lactone level of from about 4. 52. times. 10. sup. -15 to about 6. 13. times. 10. sup. -4. Preferred carboxylated cellulose esters include carboxylated cellulose acetate, carboxylated cellulose acetate propionate, carboxylated cellulose acetate butyrate, and mixtures thereof.