Inventors:
Russell Biss - Wayne NJ
Jeffrey Cohen - Fair Lawn NJ
John Zamora - Paramus NJ
Krystyna Plochocka - Scotch Plains NJ
Jeffrey A. Lynn - West Milford NJ
Assignee:
ISP Investments Inc. - Wilmington DE
International Classification:
C08F 3402
Abstract:
A continuous, solvent-free process for obtaining solvent-free, fine white powders of high molecular weight alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and a C -C alkyl vinyl ether, without odor or taste, having the molecular structure (AâB) , where A is maleic anhydride, B is an alkyl vinyl ether and n is an integer indicative of the molecular weight of the copolymer, which comprises feeding alkyl vinyl ether as reactant and solvent in excess over the desired 1:1 mole ratio of A:B in the copolymer, molten maleic anhydride and a free radical initiator, continuously at predetermined feeding rates into a reactor heated at a reaction temperature of about 50° to 100° C. , charging the reactor and withdrawing reaction product, residual alkyl vinyl ether and initiator from the reactor at the same rate as the feed rate of reactants into the reactor simultaneously thereby maintaining a constant volume in the reactor, stripping residual alkyl vinyl ether from the reaction product, drying the copolymer obtained of any remaining traces of alkyl vinyl ether, and recycling recovered alkyl vinyl ether back into reactor as reactant and solvent.