Copolymers of ethylene and their use in the preparation of foamable plastics

US4246357A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ruhrchemie Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• John Hobes · Dinslaken, DE
• Wolfgang Payer · Ulm, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 1979
• Grant date: Jan 20, 1981
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08J2323/08
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A foamable copolymer comprising 40 to 98 percent by weight units of ethylene, 1 to 30 weight percent units of vinyl alcohol, 1 to 30 weight percent units of acrylic acid ester of a secondary or tertiary alcohol, and up to 2 percent by weight of vinyl acetate units is described together with a process for the manufacture thereof. The same is useful in the formation of a foamed mass which is relatively highly cross-linked. The copolymer can be foamed to form a foam by heating the same at 250.degree. to 350.degree. C. for 5 to 60 minutes in the absence of oxygen.